Happy almost 2021! I can’t think of a better way to round out this blogging year than by moving some trash out with my latest batch of empties. Here's a look at everything I've used up over the last several months...
Showing posts with label Trilogy. Show all posts
A Year of Empties {Part #3: Body Care}
2 March 2018
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
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
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!DEODORANT
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.
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.
Winter Hand Heroes (ft. Trilogy, Leaves of Trees, Satya + Paula's Choice)
9 January 2018
The weather’s rebounded nicely the last couple days, but before that we were stuck in a record breaking cold spell for quite some time. Cold weather, for me anyways, immediately translates to dry hand problems, since it seems like the moisture gets sucked out of my hands as soon as I step outside. Needless to say, I’ve learned a few tricks to surviving Canadian winter over the years.
First, the biggest thing for me is consistency. I can slather on rich occlusive balms before bed and they do a great temporary job, but I also need products that I can reapply and work with throughout the day. That means: nothing too greasy, oily, or overly fragranced. My current lineup includes four stellar products to suit all my daytime hand needs. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll likely have already seen some of these mentioned over the last couple months.
First, the biggest thing for me is consistency. I can slather on rich occlusive balms before bed and they do a great temporary job, but I also need products that I can reapply and work with throughout the day. That means: nothing too greasy, oily, or overly fragranced. My current lineup includes four stellar products to suit all my daytime hand needs. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll likely have already seen some of these mentioned over the last couple months.
I recently cracked into my second tube of the Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream, which I discovered in the middle of my blogging lull last winter, and it just might be the very best hand cream I’ve used to date. The cream is made with hydrating aloe vera, humectant honey and glycerin, moisturizing coconut, marula, and rosehip oils, and soothing oat kernel, chamomile, and calendula extracts. It packs a serious moisturizing punch and also creates a non-greasy, dry-to-the-touch protective barrier on the skin. I notice a big difference when I remember to slap this on immediately before venturing out into the cold. The scent, described as a blend of sweet orange, amber, and vanilla, is sweet but mild and not overbearing or sickly.
Technically the Moisture Renewal Booster is a face oil, but, as I've discovered over the last couple months, it’s also pretty magical as a cuticle treatment. The unscented Booster is made with a blend of nine plant oils including favourites like jojoba, argan, and cranberry seed, and it also includes added ceramides and cholesterol. These two C’s, the building blocks of a healthy skin barrier, are fantastic for repairing and rebuilding damaged skin, so it only makes sense that they would work equally well to heal dry and dehydrated cuticles. In addition to healthy cuticles, the plant oils also help keep the nails flexible and supple, and therefore less prone to brittleness and breaking in the cold.
Frankincense-infused argan oil and cocoa butter create a deeply nourishing base for Leaves of Trees’ Frankincense Argan Lotion, made locally here in Toronto with just eight simple ingredients. The lotion, which is waterless, offers the rich benefits of a balm but skips over the greasy, can’t-touch-anything phase. The lotion sinks in quickly, does a great job reviving dry winter hands, and offers some anti-aging benefits from the argan and frankincense oils too. Plus, it smells lovely -- mild, earthy and calming.
I received this mini Organic Eczema Relief from Social Nature in the fall and it’s basically lived in my purse ever since. It’s a solid salve/balm made from just five organic ingredients: beeswax, sweet almond and jojoba oils, colloidal oatmeal, and calendula, and it works for a lot more than just eczema. I wouldn't consider it a moisturizer as much as a healing salve, so it's best for fixing chapped or irritated skin. Basically, it’s a great heavy hitter if my hands are in especially rough shape or if I’ve not kept up with the other products for a day or two.
The Bottom Line
Clearly I take hand care pretty seriously in the winter and these four have been doing the trick for me through our recent cold spell. Honourable mentions go to warm gloves, non-drying hand soaps (Ground Soap and Everyday Shea have been my go-to's) and to drinking lots of water and consistently taking omegas (these are my favorite).
What do you do to combat dry hands in the winter months?
What do you do to combat dry hands in the winter months?
Contains affiliate links.
Green Beauty Wishlist: The Spring/Summer Edit
31 May 2015
I've been on a low-buy since the beginning of the year and I've got to say, five months in, I'm pretty proud of how well it's been going! I realize that budgeting and limited spending is a lot more effective for me than going on a total no-buy or spending ban. Being able to spend - even conservatively - doesn't leave me feeling horribly deprived, which takes a lot of the pressure off and makes the whole process much less stressful. It's kind of like the difference between a lifestyle change and the ups and downs of binging and dieting.
Regardless of spending, between reading blogs and scrolling through my Instagram feed, I'm constantly adding products to my wishlist. Here's a look at what's caught my eye recently:
Under Eye Concealer
I'm still struggling to find a replacement for the discontinued Une Skin Glow Pencil I used to love. Most days, I only wear concealer under my eyes, so I tend to like something that is illuminating and lightweight, but also decently long wearing. I'm currently debating between three: da lish Illumination Concealer, Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer, and Studio 78 Off We Go Concealer. I really don't want to accumulate any more concealer rejects than I already have, so if you've used any of these - or have any other concealer recommendations - I'd love to know.
Aquarian Bath Tooth Powder
In my ongoing search for more glycerin free toothpaste options, I keep coming across Aquarian Bath's tooth powders. The powders have a non-abrasive base of food-grade Bentonite clay, activated charcoal and myrrh powder and unlike a lot of other tooth powders, do not contain any baking soda, which can - over time - damage tooth enamel. The clay and charcoal have detoxifying properties and help to wash away bacteria, while myrrh powder has been shown to improve gum health. I'm torn between the Mint and Berry Hibiscus flavors - both sound pretty great!
Trilogy CoQ10 Eye Concentrate
Along with a concealer, I've yet to find an eye product that I've been happy with in regards to both dark circles and puffiness. I've enjoyed Trilogy products in the past and the CoQ10 Eye Concentrate - which claims to brighten and tone with CoQ10, caffeine, licorice root, and horse chestnut - sounds very promising.
Josh Rosebrook
Josh Rosebrook products have phenomenal ingredients and are packed with unique botanicals, and while they've been on my radar for quite some time, I've yet to actually try anything from the line. Lift is a hair texturizer and volume spray that's garnered rave reviews across the board since it's release earlier this year. The Moisturizing Cleanser is a pH-balanced cleanser made with aloe, African black soap and various plant oils and herbal infusions that has been on my wishlist for considerably longer. I'm nearing the bottom of a couple other cleansers, so it's sprung to mind again recently.
Pacifica 7-Free Nail Polish
I've been using the Gloss Top & Base Coat for several weeks now and I like it a lot, which has me eyeing up a couple of Pacifica's actual polishes now. Pictured above are Turquoise Tiara, a turquoise cream that looks perfect for a summer pedicure, and Unicorn Horn, a sheer, irridescent/pearly color that I think would be pretty both on its own and over other polishes.
Have you used any of these? What goodies are on your wishlist this summer?
Regardless of spending, between reading blogs and scrolling through my Instagram feed, I'm constantly adding products to my wishlist. Here's a look at what's caught my eye recently:
Under Eye Concealer
I'm still struggling to find a replacement for the discontinued Une Skin Glow Pencil I used to love. Most days, I only wear concealer under my eyes, so I tend to like something that is illuminating and lightweight, but also decently long wearing. I'm currently debating between three: da lish Illumination Concealer, Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer, and Studio 78 Off We Go Concealer. I really don't want to accumulate any more concealer rejects than I already have, so if you've used any of these - or have any other concealer recommendations - I'd love to know.
Aquarian Bath Tooth Powder
In my ongoing search for more glycerin free toothpaste options, I keep coming across Aquarian Bath's tooth powders. The powders have a non-abrasive base of food-grade Bentonite clay, activated charcoal and myrrh powder and unlike a lot of other tooth powders, do not contain any baking soda, which can - over time - damage tooth enamel. The clay and charcoal have detoxifying properties and help to wash away bacteria, while myrrh powder has been shown to improve gum health. I'm torn between the Mint and Berry Hibiscus flavors - both sound pretty great!
Trilogy CoQ10 Eye Concentrate
Along with a concealer, I've yet to find an eye product that I've been happy with in regards to both dark circles and puffiness. I've enjoyed Trilogy products in the past and the CoQ10 Eye Concentrate - which claims to brighten and tone with CoQ10, caffeine, licorice root, and horse chestnut - sounds very promising.
Josh Rosebrook
Josh Rosebrook products have phenomenal ingredients and are packed with unique botanicals, and while they've been on my radar for quite some time, I've yet to actually try anything from the line. Lift is a hair texturizer and volume spray that's garnered rave reviews across the board since it's release earlier this year. The Moisturizing Cleanser is a pH-balanced cleanser made with aloe, African black soap and various plant oils and herbal infusions that has been on my wishlist for considerably longer. I'm nearing the bottom of a couple other cleansers, so it's sprung to mind again recently.
Pacifica 7-Free Nail Polish
I've been using the Gloss Top & Base Coat for several weeks now and I like it a lot, which has me eyeing up a couple of Pacifica's actual polishes now. Pictured above are Turquoise Tiara, a turquoise cream that looks perfect for a summer pedicure, and Unicorn Horn, a sheer, irridescent/pearly color that I think would be pretty both on its own and over other polishes.
Have you used any of these? What goodies are on your wishlist this summer?
Contains affiliate links
April Empties / Products I've Used Up
4 May 2015
April was another good month for empties. I'm still keeping to a low-buy and working to finish things I already have in the hopes of (at least somewhat) streamlining my products, so it's nice to actually see some progress. This latest batch includes staple products that I've featured many times before, some new things I've never written about, and even a few makeup items!
Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz [Review]
Kinky-Curly's Spiral Spritz is great lightweight gel. I think this is the fourth or fifth bottle I've gone through, and while I sometime need something with a little more hold to get me through the summer humidity, it's fantastic the rest of the year.
Repurchase? If you saw last month's iHerb Haul, you'll know I already did!
Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner [Review]
This conditioner - and it's matching shampoo - are firm favorites of mine. My hair needs a good amount of moisture and the Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner does the trick with just a small amount of product.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste [Review]
I've been experimenting with other glycerin-free toothpaste options, but Earthpaste is still always on hand as my fallback. I've tried all the flavours now, and the Wintergreen is my favorite.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream
Every since finding this $50 moisturizer for a steal at $12.99, I've been periodically stalking Winners for more Trilogy products. No luck so far, but I'm still optimistic. The day cream boasts a lot of great ingredients and I enjoyed using it, but it didn't have the magical line smoothing properties I was hoping for. It's a great moisturizer, but I didn't notice a difference in my fine lines in the three months it took to go through this tube.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie* [Review]
This is a nice hand cream. It has a rich, buttery consistency right out of the tube, but easily melts into the skin and is absorbed quickly. Ingredients like calendula and aloe vera feel very soothing, while avocado oil, cocoa butter, and sea buckthorn extract deeply nourish the skin. I liked the lemongrass scent initially, but it did wear on me a little towards the end of the tube.
Repurchase? Probably not. I'm pretty smitten with Andalou's hand creams right now.
Body Lotion Minis
With the intention of not hoarding samples, I used up all my lotion minis this month. The Honest Face + Body Lotion is unscented and very fast-absorbing, making it the perfect purse hand lotion, but it's not something I'd want in a larger size to use at home or all over my body. Weleda's lotions are pretty thin in consistency, but they do a great job moisturizing nonetheless and I love the scent of the Sea Buckthorn range. Nourish Organics' Coconut & Argan Body Lotion isn't available anymore, which is a shame as I really enjoyed it. Nourish's other lotions - from what I've tried - are a lot less rich and really don't compare.
Repurchase? Maybe the Weleda Sea Buckthorn. The other three, I don't think so.
Bare English & Co. Vanilla Almond Lip Balm
Bare English have become one of my favorite lip balms these last several months. The Vanilla Almond scent reminds me of marzipan and was just okay, but the actual lip balm formula was great, as always.
Repurchase? Other flavours, yes. This particular one, probably not.
Young Living Tranquil
Tranquil is a mix of lavender, cedarwood, and roman chamomile essential oils that smells just incredible. If you have any trouble falling asleep or turning your mind off, it's a great blend to have on hand. The rollerball also makes for very easy application.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Acure Organic Argan Oil
I always run a small amount of oil through the ends of my hair after washing and pure argan oil is one of my favorites. Acure's, which is both high quality and affordable, is great not only for hair, but also face and body. I like to mix a pump or two into face masks, and also sometimes use it on my cuticles or other dry spots.
Repurchase? Yes, after I work through a few other oils.
John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler (sample)
John Masters' detanglers are lighter conditioners and they just don't do a whole lot for my hair. The Citrus & Neroli did smell good though.
Repurchase? No.
Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss in Innocent
Revolution Organics' lip glosses are like a lip treatment and gloss in one. They aren't the absolute glossiest product out there, but they're completely non-sticky and give a lot of moisture and a sheer wash of color.
Repurchase? Not currently available, but if the glosses are re-released, I definitely would.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 1 and Beige 1 (samples)
Alima Pure is the mineral foundation of the green beauty world, but I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed. Both colours were a fine match for my skin - especially Neutral 1 - and the foundation looked good when I first applied it, but it disappeared off my face very quickly. By lunchtime, my skin was shiny and I could see a good amount of redness coming through on my nose and cheeks, and by about 3PM, I might as well not have been wearing foundation at all. I don't have oily skin and foundations lasting throughout the day is not something I usually have a problem with, so it was surprising.
Repurchase? No.
Vapour Organic Beauty Concealer in 010* [Review]
Vapour's concealer is brightening, but has pretty sheer coverage. The sheerness means you often need to build up a few layers to get decent coverage, but it layers nicely without getting cakey. It does have a tendency to settle into lines under the eyes, but the luminosity is great in that area, so as long as you don't mind minor touch ups throughout the day, it does the job.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Cheeky Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Pink Champagne and Moonlit Rose (samples) [Review]
Cheeky Cosmetics is a lovely Canadian mineral makeup company and their eye shadows are both smooth and pigmented. I used Pink Champagne as an inner corner - and sometimes even face - highlight and Moonlit Rose was a great mauvey-pink lid and crease shade.
Repurchase? No, but only because I have other similar colours in my stash.
Earth's Beauty Satin Rose Blush (sample)
Earth's Beauty was one of the first companies I tried when making the switch to natural makeup, but it's not one that's ever impressed me very much. Satin Rose is a pretty pale pink, but the blushes have an arrowroot base that makes them sheer and slightly chalky. They also only last a few hours on the cheeks.
Repurchase? No.
Darling Girl Cosmetics Hope Blush (sample)
Darling Girl's eye shadows have been favorites for years, but this was my first time using one of their blushes. Hope was a beautiful bronzy-peach that gave the skin a very natural, luminous, sun-kissed look. It looks like it's been discontinued, but if you're looking for something along the same lines, Ecco Bella's Bronzer in Hibiscus gives a very similar effect.
Repurchase? No longer available.
Total Products Used Up in April
Skincare: 2 (Lip Balms: 1)
Bodycare: 3
Haircare: 3
Makeup: 2
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 5
Makeup Samples: 6
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 13 (Lip Balms: 5)
Bodycare: 15
Haircare: 4
Makeup: 7
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 29
Makeup Samples: 8
Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz [Review]
Kinky-Curly's Spiral Spritz is great lightweight gel. I think this is the fourth or fifth bottle I've gone through, and while I sometime need something with a little more hold to get me through the summer humidity, it's fantastic the rest of the year.
Repurchase? If you saw last month's iHerb Haul, you'll know I already did!
Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner [Review]
This conditioner - and it's matching shampoo - are firm favorites of mine. My hair needs a good amount of moisture and the Argan Stem Cell + Argan Oil Conditioner does the trick with just a small amount of product.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Earthpaste Wintergreen Toothpaste [Review]
I've been experimenting with other glycerin-free toothpaste options, but Earthpaste is still always on hand as my fallback. I've tried all the flavours now, and the Wintergreen is my favorite.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream
Every since finding this $50 moisturizer for a steal at $12.99, I've been periodically stalking Winners for more Trilogy products. No luck so far, but I'm still optimistic. The day cream boasts a lot of great ingredients and I enjoyed using it, but it didn't have the magical line smoothing properties I was hoping for. It's a great moisturizer, but I didn't notice a difference in my fine lines in the three months it took to go through this tube.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie* [Review]
This is a nice hand cream. It has a rich, buttery consistency right out of the tube, but easily melts into the skin and is absorbed quickly. Ingredients like calendula and aloe vera feel very soothing, while avocado oil, cocoa butter, and sea buckthorn extract deeply nourish the skin. I liked the lemongrass scent initially, but it did wear on me a little towards the end of the tube.
Repurchase? Probably not. I'm pretty smitten with Andalou's hand creams right now.
Body Lotion Minis
With the intention of not hoarding samples, I used up all my lotion minis this month. The Honest Face + Body Lotion is unscented and very fast-absorbing, making it the perfect purse hand lotion, but it's not something I'd want in a larger size to use at home or all over my body. Weleda's lotions are pretty thin in consistency, but they do a great job moisturizing nonetheless and I love the scent of the Sea Buckthorn range. Nourish Organics' Coconut & Argan Body Lotion isn't available anymore, which is a shame as I really enjoyed it. Nourish's other lotions - from what I've tried - are a lot less rich and really don't compare.
Repurchase? Maybe the Weleda Sea Buckthorn. The other three, I don't think so.
Bare English & Co. Vanilla Almond Lip Balm
Bare English have become one of my favorite lip balms these last several months. The Vanilla Almond scent reminds me of marzipan and was just okay, but the actual lip balm formula was great, as always.
Repurchase? Other flavours, yes. This particular one, probably not.
Young Living Tranquil
Tranquil is a mix of lavender, cedarwood, and roman chamomile essential oils that smells just incredible. If you have any trouble falling asleep or turning your mind off, it's a great blend to have on hand. The rollerball also makes for very easy application.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.
Acure Organic Argan Oil
I always run a small amount of oil through the ends of my hair after washing and pure argan oil is one of my favorites. Acure's, which is both high quality and affordable, is great not only for hair, but also face and body. I like to mix a pump or two into face masks, and also sometimes use it on my cuticles or other dry spots.
Repurchase? Yes, after I work through a few other oils.
John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler (sample)
John Masters' detanglers are lighter conditioners and they just don't do a whole lot for my hair. The Citrus & Neroli did smell good though.
Repurchase? No.
Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss in Innocent
Revolution Organics' lip glosses are like a lip treatment and gloss in one. They aren't the absolute glossiest product out there, but they're completely non-sticky and give a lot of moisture and a sheer wash of color.
Repurchase? Not currently available, but if the glosses are re-released, I definitely would.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 1 and Beige 1 (samples)
Alima Pure is the mineral foundation of the green beauty world, but I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed. Both colours were a fine match for my skin - especially Neutral 1 - and the foundation looked good when I first applied it, but it disappeared off my face very quickly. By lunchtime, my skin was shiny and I could see a good amount of redness coming through on my nose and cheeks, and by about 3PM, I might as well not have been wearing foundation at all. I don't have oily skin and foundations lasting throughout the day is not something I usually have a problem with, so it was surprising.
Repurchase? No.
Vapour Organic Beauty Concealer in 010* [Review]
Vapour's concealer is brightening, but has pretty sheer coverage. The sheerness means you often need to build up a few layers to get decent coverage, but it layers nicely without getting cakey. It does have a tendency to settle into lines under the eyes, but the luminosity is great in that area, so as long as you don't mind minor touch ups throughout the day, it does the job.
Repurchase? Maybe.
Cheeky Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Pink Champagne and Moonlit Rose (samples) [Review]
Cheeky Cosmetics is a lovely Canadian mineral makeup company and their eye shadows are both smooth and pigmented. I used Pink Champagne as an inner corner - and sometimes even face - highlight and Moonlit Rose was a great mauvey-pink lid and crease shade.
Repurchase? No, but only because I have other similar colours in my stash.
Earth's Beauty Satin Rose Blush (sample)
Earth's Beauty was one of the first companies I tried when making the switch to natural makeup, but it's not one that's ever impressed me very much. Satin Rose is a pretty pale pink, but the blushes have an arrowroot base that makes them sheer and slightly chalky. They also only last a few hours on the cheeks.
Repurchase? No.
Darling Girl Cosmetics Hope Blush (sample)
Darling Girl's eye shadows have been favorites for years, but this was my first time using one of their blushes. Hope was a beautiful bronzy-peach that gave the skin a very natural, luminous, sun-kissed look. It looks like it's been discontinued, but if you're looking for something along the same lines, Ecco Bella's Bronzer in Hibiscus gives a very similar effect.
Repurchase? No longer available.
Total Products Used Up in April
Skincare: 2 (Lip Balms: 1)
Bodycare: 3
Haircare: 3
Makeup: 2
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 5
Makeup Samples: 6
Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 13 (Lip Balms: 5)
Bodycare: 15
Haircare: 4
Makeup: 7
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 29
Makeup Samples: 8
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
Skincare Routine Part #1: Morning Skincare
6 March 2015
My relationship with skincare has come a long way in the last few years. When I first started blogging, I was much more interested in makeup and my skincare routine basically consisted of soap, moisturizer, and an occasional scrub. I'm not sure exactly when things changed, but I've become quite the skincare enthusiast and my routine is a good bit more involved these days.
That said, mornings are still all about quick and effective skincare for me. Whether I'm heading out early or spending the day working from home, I generally don't want to mess with anything too slow or complicated in the morning. If my skin is acting up, I'll add in an extra product or two, but I'm going to save talking about those for a dedicated post. On an average day, my morning routine consists of three basic steps: cleanse, tone, and moisturize.
I do tend to change things up fairly frequently, but - with the exception of one product that you'll see in my night routine - I've used everything in my current rotation for a minimum of three weeks.
Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk
As part of Andalou's Age Defying line, the Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk is a gentle cleanser designed for dry and sensitive skin. It's more of a thick cream cleanser than a cleansing milk, but it rinses away clean and doesn't feel overly heavy on my skin. It leaves my skin feeling clean and extra soft, and it also smells yummy - like peach yogurt.
Nonie of Beverly Hills AHA! Skin Tonic*
Contrary to the name, the AHA! Skin Tonic is not an exfoliating toner with AHA's, but instead a gentle, witch hazel-based tonic that serves to refresh the skin and prepare it for the next step. It feels very light and non-sticky on the skin and I love that it doesn't contain any glycerin, as my skin sometimes reacts badly to toners with high amounts of glycerin.
Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream
My skin has been doing a lot better with cream moisturizers than oils this winter, so after repeatedly coming across this Trilogy moisturizer on super discount at Winners, I had to try it. As the name suggests, the Line Smoothing Day Cream is intended to restore hydration and smooth lines. With a blend of hyaluronic acid and avocado, olive, acai, and evening primrose oils to hydrate and nourish, and botanical hydroxypoline (an amino acid) to stimulate collagen production, improve elasticity and fight free radical damage, it sounds like a moisturizer with a lot going on. After using it for about a month now, I haven't noticed any dramatic line smoothing (not that I have a ton of lines/wrinkles to begin with!), but it's a good moisturizer. The scent is light, it feels very gentle, and it does a good job hydrating the skin. I don't know where to buy Trilogy products in Canada regularly, but if I come across it at Winners again, I'll definitely pick up a backup.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream / La Mav Anti Dark-Circle & Ultra-Firm Eye Gel*
I use these two interchangeably and out of everything in my routine, this is the one area where I'll be happy to switch to something else once these are finished. Neither are bad products, they just haven't given me the results I was hoping for. If you're very dry around the eyes, the La Mav - in spite of its seemingly light, gel consistency - is fantastic for hydration, and if you want an eye cream that you can immediately apply makeup on top of, the Balance Me is great in that regard. Both do also help with minor puffiness, I just wish one of them had been able to do more for my dark circles.
Badger Sea Buckthorn Face Oil* / Karooch Hazelnut Oil
Most mornings I use the Trilogy moisturizer and call it a day, but if my skin is feeling extra dry, I'll top the moisturizer with a couple drops of these two oils mixed together. The Badger is super hydrating and the hazelnut oil - my absolute favorite face oil - lightens it up slightly and helps to speed up absorption.
And there you have it: my current morning skincare routine. I'll have posts on my nighttime skincare and occasional products and treatments I use coming up in the next couple weeks too, so stay tuned for those!
That said, mornings are still all about quick and effective skincare for me. Whether I'm heading out early or spending the day working from home, I generally don't want to mess with anything too slow or complicated in the morning. If my skin is acting up, I'll add in an extra product or two, but I'm going to save talking about those for a dedicated post. On an average day, my morning routine consists of three basic steps: cleanse, tone, and moisturize.
I do tend to change things up fairly frequently, but - with the exception of one product that you'll see in my night routine - I've used everything in my current rotation for a minimum of three weeks.
Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk
As part of Andalou's Age Defying line, the Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk is a gentle cleanser designed for dry and sensitive skin. It's more of a thick cream cleanser than a cleansing milk, but it rinses away clean and doesn't feel overly heavy on my skin. It leaves my skin feeling clean and extra soft, and it also smells yummy - like peach yogurt.
Nonie of Beverly Hills AHA! Skin Tonic*
Contrary to the name, the AHA! Skin Tonic is not an exfoliating toner with AHA's, but instead a gentle, witch hazel-based tonic that serves to refresh the skin and prepare it for the next step. It feels very light and non-sticky on the skin and I love that it doesn't contain any glycerin, as my skin sometimes reacts badly to toners with high amounts of glycerin.
Trilogy Line Smoothing Day Cream
My skin has been doing a lot better with cream moisturizers than oils this winter, so after repeatedly coming across this Trilogy moisturizer on super discount at Winners, I had to try it. As the name suggests, the Line Smoothing Day Cream is intended to restore hydration and smooth lines. With a blend of hyaluronic acid and avocado, olive, acai, and evening primrose oils to hydrate and nourish, and botanical hydroxypoline (an amino acid) to stimulate collagen production, improve elasticity and fight free radical damage, it sounds like a moisturizer with a lot going on. After using it for about a month now, I haven't noticed any dramatic line smoothing (not that I have a ton of lines/wrinkles to begin with!), but it's a good moisturizer. The scent is light, it feels very gentle, and it does a good job hydrating the skin. I don't know where to buy Trilogy products in Canada regularly, but if I come across it at Winners again, I'll definitely pick up a backup.
Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream / La Mav Anti Dark-Circle & Ultra-Firm Eye Gel*
I use these two interchangeably and out of everything in my routine, this is the one area where I'll be happy to switch to something else once these are finished. Neither are bad products, they just haven't given me the results I was hoping for. If you're very dry around the eyes, the La Mav - in spite of its seemingly light, gel consistency - is fantastic for hydration, and if you want an eye cream that you can immediately apply makeup on top of, the Balance Me is great in that regard. Both do also help with minor puffiness, I just wish one of them had been able to do more for my dark circles.
Badger Sea Buckthorn Face Oil* / Karooch Hazelnut Oil
Most mornings I use the Trilogy moisturizer and call it a day, but if my skin is feeling extra dry, I'll top the moisturizer with a couple drops of these two oils mixed together. The Badger is super hydrating and the hazelnut oil - my absolute favorite face oil - lightens it up slightly and helps to speed up absorption.
And there you have it: my current morning skincare routine. I'll have posts on my nighttime skincare and occasional products and treatments I use coming up in the next couple weeks too, so stay tuned for those!
*Press sample
Contains affiliate links
Sample Stash #15: Sensitive Skin Moisturizers
16 February 2015
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?
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
Sample Stash #10: Cleansers, Take II
23 August 2014
I'm still slowly trucking through my sample box. For today's batch, we have even more cleansers!
Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
Your average gel cleanser, with a pretty strong, sunscreeny coconut scent. If you like Pacifica's scents and foaming cleansers, this might work for you, but I found it left my face with that dreaded tight/dry feeling.
Trilogy Very Gentle Cleansing Cream
I really liked this one! It's a thick, unscented cream cleanser that easily removes makeup and leaves skin super clean, but never stripped. It reminded me of Weleda's Soothing Almond Cleanser, which makes sense as the Trilogy also has an almond oil base.
Blissoma Fresh Mild Rice Facial Cleanser
Did this cult favorite live up to the hype? I've got to say yes! It's gentle and non-irritating, but provides a slight exfoliation from the rice. I also enjoyed the fresh citrus scent. Now that Blissoma is available in Canada (through Nuciya), I think I'll be picking up a bottle at some point!
May Lindstrom The Clean Dirt
Another much hyped product, The Clean Dirt is a powdered cleanser that you activate with water and then massage into the skin. With ingredients like clay, cacao, cinnamon, and clove, it smells amazing, but it's not something my skin could tolerate everyday as a cleanser. A couple times a week, maybe, though it's hard to say after just one use.
Moody Sisters Goats Milk Cleanser
I liked how gentle this one felt on my skin, but it had a thin, watery consistency that made it difficult not to lose the entire sample down the drain. I also didn't like the scent - it reminded me of generic, hotel soap - though there is an unscented option as well.
So, two winners (Trilogy and Blissoma), a maybe (May Lindstrom) and two no's (Pacifica and Moody Sisters). Not too bad! Have you used any of these?
Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
Your average gel cleanser, with a pretty strong, sunscreeny coconut scent. If you like Pacifica's scents and foaming cleansers, this might work for you, but I found it left my face with that dreaded tight/dry feeling.
Trilogy Very Gentle Cleansing Cream
I really liked this one! It's a thick, unscented cream cleanser that easily removes makeup and leaves skin super clean, but never stripped. It reminded me of Weleda's Soothing Almond Cleanser, which makes sense as the Trilogy also has an almond oil base.
Blissoma Fresh Mild Rice Facial Cleanser
Did this cult favorite live up to the hype? I've got to say yes! It's gentle and non-irritating, but provides a slight exfoliation from the rice. I also enjoyed the fresh citrus scent. Now that Blissoma is available in Canada (through Nuciya), I think I'll be picking up a bottle at some point!
May Lindstrom The Clean Dirt
Another much hyped product, The Clean Dirt is a powdered cleanser that you activate with water and then massage into the skin. With ingredients like clay, cacao, cinnamon, and clove, it smells amazing, but it's not something my skin could tolerate everyday as a cleanser. A couple times a week, maybe, though it's hard to say after just one use.
Moody Sisters Goats Milk Cleanser
I liked how gentle this one felt on my skin, but it had a thin, watery consistency that made it difficult not to lose the entire sample down the drain. I also didn't like the scent - it reminded me of generic, hotel soap - though there is an unscented option as well.
So, two winners (Trilogy and Blissoma), a maybe (May Lindstrom) and two no's (Pacifica and Moody Sisters). Not too bad! Have you used any of these?
Contains affiliate links
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