Showing posts with label iHerb. Show all posts

iHerb Favourites (+ extra discounts until April 30!)

It's no surprise, if you've read much of my blog, that I'm a big fan of iHerb.  I made my first order in October of 2011, and I'd estimate I've placed between two and six orders every year since!  iHerb is a great source for all kinds of healthy products at a discount -- I most often purchase cosmetics and personal care products, but they also carry a good selection of food, supplements, and household, baby, and cleaning products. 

I've had this post on my blog to-do list for a couple months, but with some extra promotions running this weekend, it seemed like a great time to finally fit it in!  Right now, most makeup on the website is currently discounted an extra 10%.  If you've never ordered before, you can also save $10 off your first order of $15 or more (up from a usual 5-10%!).  Both offers are running until the end of the month (April 30).  You can also get an extra 2.5% cashback on your purchases by shopping through Rakuten/Ebates.  



I am an iHerb affiliate, but whether you choose to shop through my links or not, I think they're a great source for affordable brands and products, especially for those of us outside the US or with more limited local access to products.  For fellow Canadians, I suggest shipping with one of the duties & taxes included options to avoid any surprise charges at the door.  I like DHL since it's often discounted for purchases over $40 and almost always arrives within 2-3 days.  

Let's get to the goodies!  I've explored a lot of iHerb's catalogue over the years, but these are the items I continue to purchase time and time again.

iHerb Haul + First Impressions (+ Birthday Giveaway #4!)

For my actual birthday today, I've teamed up with one of my favorite online stores, iHerb, for my final giveaway of the month.  iHerb is an online retailer selling all kinds of healthy products: supplements, food, cosmetics, household supplies, and more!   Basically they sell the same kinds of things you'd find in a health food store, but at a substantially lower cost.

I've been ordering from iHerb since 2011 (I even documented very first order here) and I've always had a great experience.  From a Canadian viewpoint, I get access to brands that we don't have here, as well as lower prices on the ones we do.  Even with the exchange and the Canadian dollar doing so poorly, most things still work out to lower, or at least comparable, prices to what I'd pay locally.  iHerb lets you check out in Canadian dollars (or other currencies) and they've also recently added a new DHL shipping option that collects tax on Canadian orders, so you don't have to worry about being charged tax or fees at the door.  I also received this most recent order in 1 day with the new DHL shipping, which is crazy impressive!

Customer service is also great.  I haven't had any major issues in the more than 30 orders (!!) I've placed, but any problems have always been taken care of easily and appropriately. iHerb also has a simple rewards program if you want to refer friends, as well as new loyalty credits that reward everyone with 10% of all purchases back in store credit.

Clearly I've done my share of shopping with iHerb on my own dime , so when they offered to sponsor this post, I was excited to work with a company I already think highly of AND to have the chance to give two of you a chance to try iHerb for yourselves (more on that later!)  All opinions are, as always, fully my own.

Keep reading for a peek at my latest iHerb order and first impressions on the things I picked up.  


Stick around until the end to enter the giveaway, or if you don't want to wait, use my referral code ITI429 for $5 off your first order now!


Andalou Naturals Chia + Omega Radiant Skin Polish + Blemish Vanishing Gel
The Chia + Omega Skin Polish was featured as one of my Top 15 of 2015 and is a firm favorite of mine.  This will be my third tube of the scrub, which offers a perfect balance between gentleness and thorough exfoliation.

The Blemish Vanishing Gel is a salicylic acid spot treatment.  I didn't actually pick this up for pimples, but instead for use on a single millia-like blemish that I've had on my cheek for a few months now.  Nothing else has worked on it, and after seeing multiple recommendations for salicylic acid, I thought I'd give it a try.  Usually a higher content than the 2% in this spot treatment is recommended, but I haven't seen any higher ones with clean ingredients, so I thought, since salicylic acid hasn't touched my skin in more than 10 years, the lower percentage MIGHT still do the trick.  And it has, sort of.  The bump got noticeably smaller within the first couple days using the Vanishing Gel, but it hasn't gone away completely yet.  The Blemish Gel also works great on regular breakouts/pimples.  

Both products also came with free minis of other Andalou products.  I received the Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream, which I've actually been using for the past few months, and the new to me Kombucha Enzyme Exfoliating Peel, which I'm excited to try.  I love when Andalou includes freebies like this!

DeVita Revitalizing Eye Lift Creme

I was debating between DeVita's Eye Creme and Eye Serum, but this review on kimberlyloc.com pushed me over the edge on the creme.  In addition to the affordable price point, what intrigued me about both eye products was the inclusion of Vitamin K, a circulation booster that can be very effective on dark circles.  The Eye Creme is a rich cream that also includes hyaluronic acid, shea butter, oat beta glucan, and Tetrapeptide-3.  I've been using it for almost two weeks now and I can't say I've noticed much difference beyond moisturization, but I'm hopeful for more visible results with longer use.

Pacifica Camellia Blushious Coconut & Rose Infused Cheek Color

I've had my eye on these Pacifica blushes ever since they launched a few months ago, and I finally picked up Camellia, a light pink/peach with slight gold sparkle.  I really like it!  The Blushious blushes are described as sheer mineral cheek colors, and as the description suggests, Camellia isn't highly pigmented.  It's a pretty color, but I do find I need to layer quite a bit on even my fair skin, so I doubt this color would show up very well on deeper skin tones.

Mineral Fusion Ruby Lipstick
After falling in love with Mineral Fusion's Sheer Moisture Lip Tints last year, I thought I'd try one of their regular lipsticks.  Happily, it's been an all around hit as well!  The copper tube is beautiful, the formula is great, and I love the color I chose as well.  Ruby is basically my perfect red: a bit deeper than a classic red, with very slight berry tones.  It's a gorgeous shade that reminds me a lot of the much spendier Aux Rouge Lip Boost from Gressa, only a hair darker and housed in a traditional lipstick bullet.

Emani Plush Hydrating Lip Color

My love for sheer lip colors is no secret, so when I spotted Emani's Hydrating Lip Colors, I thought they'd be right up my alley.  After looking at swatches, I chose Plush, a medium/bright pink.  The formula is sheer but buildable and although it's not extremely hydrating, it feels comfortable on the lips.  My only issue is that the lipstick has a sweet, almost vanilla-like scent and there's nothing in the ingredients list to account for that smell.  I've contacted Emani for more information, but I haven't heard back so far.

Everyday Minerals Sugared Mauve Tinted Lip Butter

The Tinted Lip Butter in Nearly Nude is one of my favorite everyday lip products, so I decided to pick up another color.  The formula on these is wonderful and Sugared Mauve is a pretty, sheer mauvey-nude - very wearable and also great for everyday!



Hurraw! Sun Balm
Sun Balm is my favorite SPF lip balm and it's a product I'm happy to have it back in my life.  SPF 15 from non-nano uncoated zinc oxide and no real whitecast make this a fantastic product to keep in your sun protection arsenal.  It also smells yummy - like a vanilla-orange creamsicle.  The Sun Balm has a thicker/creamier formula than the regular Hurraw! balms and I prefer both the feel and how it lasts considerably longer on the lips.

Blum Naturals Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues
I feel like you should be able to just pick up blotting tissues at the drugstore, but it's amazing how many additional ingredients sneak into those things!  The Blum Oil Absorbing Tissues are basic powderless blotting papers and they work well at removing oil/shine without disturbing makeup.  They're a staple in my purse.

Mineral Fusion Northern Lights Mini Nail Polish Kit

Mineral Fusion nail polishes are 5-free and one of my favorite formulas.  If I could buy all my nail polishes as minis, I totally would, which is also why I love these kits so much.  The Northern Lights Kit, specifically, was a 2015 holiday release and includes Coal Mine (black with silver shimmer), Cascade (shimmery silver), and Blue Nile (metallic dark teal).  I can't wait to use these!
GIVEAWAY

I'm excited to give away two $50 shopping sprees to iHerb!  Follow the Rafflecopter widget, below, to enter.  

The giveaway is open to anywhere iHerb ships.  Winner must have an iHerb account (or register with iHerb) to claim the prize.  Shipping will be taken care of by iHerb, but the winners, if outside the US, are responsible for any additional taxes/duties/brokerage fees levied to them by their Customs Agency and/or Postal Service.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sponsored Post
Contains affiliate links

iHerb Haul #2: Makeup, Skincare, Hair + Body

As many of you know, iHerb is one of my favorite places to shop online.  Whether it's brands and products we don't have easy access to in Canada, or things we do have that I can get much better prices on, I typically find myself placing an order every month or so.  The customer service is great and you can even shop in Canadian dollars now! 

I like to keep orders small to minimize the risk of being hit with tax or brokerage fees at the door, so this is technically a combination of my last two orders.  That means some things I've had for a couple weeks and others just for a couple days.    

Here's a look at what I bought:



Kiss My Face Antioxidant Toner
I've never seen anyone talk about this toner, but since I've heard plenty of good things about the cleanser and mask in Kiss My Face's Potent & Pure range, I decided to chance it.  I haven't used the toner yet, but the ingredients, which include aloe, witch hazel, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and a good number of botanicals and plant extracts are promising.  I will say, first impressions-wise, I'm not crazy about how it smells.  Something about the scent reminds me a lot of hairspray.

Pacifica Natural Eye Liner Pencil in Fringe
I needed a new brown eyeliner and since I love my Pacifica black and nude ones so much, this was the obvious choice.  The Pacifica liners are great because they're creamy enough to glide on easily, but not so creamy that they smear or move around on the eye throughout the day.  I haven't tried this particular color yet, but I'm pretty confident it'll be as great as the rest!

Mineral Fusion Sheer Moisture Lip Tint in Glow
The Sheer Moisture Lip Tints are basically tinted lip balms in a chubby stick form.  They smell slightly of vanilla and mint, feel great on the lips, and give a lovely wash of color.  Glow is the bright pink in the line, but because of how sheer it is, it gives just the slightest pop of pink in a very natural way.  I've only had it a few days, but I already bought a second color when I spotted the tints in person yesterday!

Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz
Nothing new here, this is a frequent repurchase for me.  The Spiral Spritz offers a midway between a serum and a gel and is a great light hold hair product.

Boiron Unscented Arnicare Gel
I added this to my cart on a whim when I spotted a mini 0.5 ounce size in the trial section for $0.25 right before checking out.  The ingredients aren't perfect, but there's nothing super problematic and it never hurts to have Arnica gel on hand.  Some of the different sizes of this product list dimethicone in the ingredients, but both the sample I received and the large size I've linked above look to be free of silicones.  

Crazy Rumors Lip Balms in Lemonade, Raspberry Sherbet + Ginger Ale
I don't have any problem getting through lip balms, so I decided to stock up on some new flavors of one of my favorites.  I've only cracked open the Lemonade one so far, and I'm surprised by just how much I dislike it!  Citrus scents are generally a safe bet, but this one just smells super gross to me.  I've had a few Crazy Rumors flavors that I haven't loved in the past, but this is definitely my least favorite to date.  I'm actually leaning towards just tossing it outright, as I doubt I will even use it smelling the way it does.  The Crazy Rumors formula is fantastic, but the flavors can be very hit or miss.

Andalou Naturals Age Defying Thinning Hair Treatment
I always find myself shedding more hair in the fall than any other time, so I picked this up to try and circumvent that this year.  The Hair Treatment has an aloe vera base infused with fruit and argan stem cells, a vitamin B complex, and an assortment of herbs and essential oils and is supposed to nourish hair follicles, stimulate hair growth, and strengthen hair.  All the research I've seen points to plant stem cells being a marketing ploy with little actual effect, but the rest of the ingredients look good, so I'm equal parts curious and hopeful to see how the product does as a whole.    

Goddess Garden Everyday Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
I don't wear SPF on my face everyday and I only use body sunscreen very occasionally, when I know I'm going to be outside for a prolonged period, which has left me with more than one full sized tube of sunscreen expiring on my shelf over the years.  Goddess Garden is a new brand for me, but I love the smaller 1-ounce size for those of us who are a little less diligent about wearing SPF on a regular basis.  It would also be great for travel.

Everyday Minerals Semi-Matte Base in Ivory (N1)
After working through the ridiculous number of mineral foundation samples I had hanging around (it literally took months!), this is what I ended up buying for now.  What I like about Everyday Mineral's Semi-Matte Base is just how natural it looks on the skin.  It's not outright glowy, but it looks skin-like and not overly flat or matte.  Coverage is about a medium and decently buildable, and Ivory (1N) is a good light neutral shade that matches me pretty well.  

Blûm Naturals Dry & Sensitive Skin Daily Cleansing and Makeup Remover Towelettes
Wipes aren't an everyday product for me, but I like to carry one or two in my purse for those "just in case" situations, which is where these individually wrapped ones come in handy.  I haven't tried this particular variety before, but the Blûm wipes are all pretty comparable, so I'm sure they'll be fine.   

Acure Organics Fragrance Free Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion
I don't even want to hazard a guess as to how many tubes of Acure's Ultra-Hydrating Body Lotion I've gone through in the last couple years, but needless to say, it's more than a few.  Unfortunately, as I mentioned in my September Empties, I've been wondering since getting this order - my first time trying the lotion in its new packaging - if the formula has changed along with the packaging, as it doesn't seem nearly as moisturizing anymore.  A couple people have agreed with me since then and I also just spotted a review on iHerb saying the same thing, so I'm thinking the change is real.  Total bummer!

Do you shop on iHerb?  Have you used any of these?  

New customers can also save an extra $5 off your first order under $40 or $10 off your first order of $40+ with my code ITI429


Contains affiliate links.

iHerb Haul + First Impressions

As you may already know, iHerb is one of my favorite places to shop.  Comparable to Vitacost and other discount sites, iHerb offers an impressive selection of health products - cosmetics, personal care products, supplements, and food - at very affordable prices.  My fellow Canadians can attest that we pay more for nearly everything here, compared to our American friends south of the border, so prices are almost always cheaper than what I would pay locally, even factoring in the cost of shipping.  Plus, iHerb stocks a lot of brands I wouldn't otherwise have access to.  I generally place a small order (<$45 to avoid customs fees) every month or two, but I haven't posted an iHerb haul since my first year of blogging (2011!), so I thought I'd show you what I bought this time.  It's been about two weeks since I received my package, so I can give my first impressions on most things too.  

Keep reading to see what I bought!

 

Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz
Between Curly Girl Edits and empties posts, I think this has ended up being one of my most frequently featured products, so I won't go on too much!  The Spiral Spritz is a great light-hold gel for curls or waves and is one of my favorite products to use on wet hair.  My current bottle is running low, so I needed to pick up a new one. 

Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit Moisture Shave

I discovered Kiss My Face's Moisture Shaves last year and they're without a doubt one of the best shaving products I've ever used.  They have the consistency of a creamy, pearly lotion and help your razor glide effortless across the skin.  I also love the pump top and that the substantial 11 ounce bottle lasts a good, long while.  I haven't used this scent yet, but I like how it smells in the bottle.  The grapefruit really cuts the pomegranate's sweetness, creating a balanced scent that's both fresh and fruity. 

Desert Essences Italian Lemon Hand and Body Lotion
Though I've always enjoyed certain aspects of Desert Essences lotions, I've never found a scent I was happy with.  A lot of them are far too sweet and strong for me, and many are preserved with Japanese honeysuckle extract too, which I'm not comfortable using.  The company  released a couple new scents recently, including this Italian Lemon, which replaces the Japanese honeysuckle with potassium sorbate AND is fragranced only with essential oils.  I usually enjoy citrus scents, so it seemed like a safe bet.  (Plus, for less than $6, the risk really wasn't THAT big.)  Some of the reviews complain that the scent is milder than Desert Essence's other lotions, but for me that's a plus.  It's not overpowering, which is great if you like lighter scents, or if you're looking for a product that won't interfere with perfume or other scented products.  In the tube, it's a sweet, dessert-like lemon, but on the skin I find it loses some of the sweetness and ends up more zesty.  I wish it stayed a little sweeter ( I love how it smells in the tube!), but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.




Crazy Rumors Pear & Peppermint and Leaping Bunny Plum Apricot Lip Balms
I rediscovered Crazy Rumors last month and enjoyed the Plum & Peppermint flavor so much that I immediately wanted to repurchase it when it ran out.  Unfortunately, iHerb didn't have that one, so I went for the next best thing: Pear & Peppermint and Plum Apricot.  I haven't cracked either of them open yet, but I'm hoping they'll be just as good! 

Tierra Mia Organics Healthy Dent Tooth Regime
I love my Earthpaste, but after 2.5 years, I've been looking to branch out and try something new.  Glycerin-free toothpastes are slim pickings though, let me tell you!  These are tiny soap chips that you use in place of toothpaste.  Unfortunately, they were an immediate fail, mainly because of the flavor - or lack thereof.  The ingredients list both peppermint and spearmint extracts, but they're virtually undetectable. And, with no noticeable flavor, the chips just taste like soap.  The lather was great and they left my teeth feeling clean and smooth, but I don't think it's something I can do on a regular basis.  

In hindsight, I wonder if this method would even count as glycerin-free, since glycerin is a byproduct of traditional soap making and is often left in the soap for increased moisture and slip.  I'll have to look into it more, but if you're eager to brush with soap, I think you'd do better with the peppermint Dr. Bronner's bar than this product.

I bought this intending to use it with setting powder, but I ended up loving it for blush instead.  Usually I prefer smaller blush brushes, but the larger shape and fluffiness really does a great job blending.  I've yet to actually try it with setting powder.

Sea salt and chocolate is one of my favorite combos and this lime creme filled bar didn't disappoint.  The filling wasn't super creamy and there wasn't a lot of it - just enough to give a subtle lime flavor - but it was still quite tasty.

I like chia seeds and I like berries, but I just didn't like this bar. I tried it the day my order arrived and I've still got half of it sitting on my counter, which I guess says a lot!
 
Like I said, I order from iHerb pretty regularly, so let me know if posts like this are something you enjoy reading, or if I should just stick to Instagram photos like this one instead.  I'm always looking for new things to try, so I'd love to know your iHerb favorites too! 

Plus, order this weekend for an extra 20% off ALL bath and body!  If you're new to iHerb, you can also save $5 or $10 off your first order with my referral code: ITI429.  

 
 *Contains affiliate links

Review: Blûm Naturals All-Purpose Cleansing Wipes

 I've never used makeup wipes before, but after seeing loads of bloggers praise different brands of wipes, I decided to give Blûm Naturals a try.  Blûm does make a line of actual makeup wipes, but I bought the all-purpose ones instead, as the ingredients in the two lines are very similar and there's no fragrance free option in the makeup wipes.  The all-purpose wipes cost less too!

Just about actual size
Product Description: Dermatologist tested to be hypoallergenic, non-irritating & safe for babies. Infused with Aloe Vera; it is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes & proteins. This convenient travel size pack can be used anywhere, anytime throughout the day.  Free of synthetic preservatives or fragrances, parabens, SLS, animal testing.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), Ethyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Organic Aloe Vera Extract, Potassium Sorbate

Price: $1.69 from Vitacost or $1.60 from iherb

My Thoughts: If you like makeup wipes, these are are a great natural option.  They're thick enough that I haven't had any issues with them tearing and they remove most makeup very easily.  Mascara can be a bit challenging - it does come off, but it takes a little more effort.  The container does a good job keeping air out and and I haven't found that the wipes have dried out at all since opening them about a month ago.  I love the small size of the travel wipes too.  They're big enough for most jobs, and you can always use more than one if you need to.  Since they're multi-purpose, it also comes in handy that the canister is so small - just about 3 inches tall.  It's definitely a good size to tote around in your purse, and maybe even small enough to attach to your keychain.    

The Bottom Line: Usually I genuinely enjoy the ritual of my regular skincare routine, so these aren't a product I reach for every day.  Still, I'm glad to have them on hand for the occasional night when you just can't bring yourself to wash your face the regular way.  In fact, even if you aren't a makeup wipes kind of gal, these come in handy for all kinds of things - taming flyaway hairs, dusting small areas, cleaning sticky fingers and more!



        

DIY Clay & Honey Face Mask

Face masks are probably one of the easiest DIY beauty projects you can tackle.  This mask literally takes two minutes to mix up and it's fantastic at perking up my skin and just generally making it look brighter and healthier.  The main ingredient is green clay, which is full of minerals and is effective at drawing out dirt and toxins from the skin.  It also increases blood flow and acts as a mild exfoliant.  I add honey and essential oils to the clay to pep up the mask even more.

Product Description: Now Foods European Clay Powder is 100% pure and natural and can be mixed with water and customized to your specific skin type.  This mask will help draw out impurities from the pores and remove debris from under the skin, decreasing pore size and improving skin tone.

Price: $4.57 for 6 ounces (170 grams) from iherb




Recipe:
1 tsp green clay powder
1/2 tsp honey
1 drop lavender essential oil
1 drop frankincense essential oil
1 drop Young Living Purification™ essential oil blend
1-2 tsp water (depending on your desired consistency)

Everything together in a bowl
Mix all ingredients together and apply to clean, dry face.  Let sit 15-20 minutes, until dry.  Wash off and (generously) apply your favorite moisturizer. 

All mixed up


My Thoughts: I've played around with the recipe and I'm really happy with it as it stands now.  I aim to use this about once a week, and the recipe makes just the right amount for one mask.  I don't recommend mixing up a larger batch, since once you add the liquids, it will only stay fresh for a day or two.

The essential oils are ones I already use on my face semi-regularly, but you can obviously play around with them as you like.  [I do have to make my usual disclaimer here and stress that you should always ensure that any essential oils you use are high quality and pure.  A lot of essential oils are extracted using chemicals and can be diluted with other junk too, and laws are such that this does not have to be noted anywhere on labels.]

I add the honey, since, as a humectant, it draws in moisture and helps keep the clay from being to drying.  You can also add olive or other oils to moisturize even further, or change up the kind of clay to suit your skin type.  Green clay (usually montromorillonite or bentonite) is good for normal to oily skin, but is not recommended for dry skin.  I have pretty normal skin and I find it necessary to apply a good moisturizer after this mask or else my skin is left feeling tight.  Alternately, white and rose clays are supposed to be milder and might be more suitable for drier or sensitive skin types. 

The requisite green face photo

The Bottom Line: I'm really happy with this face mask recipe.  It's so quick and simple to make and it works like a dream.  If you try it out, leave a comment - I'd love to hear how it works for you!

Also, I purchased the clay from iherb, which is you're new to, you can get $5 or $10 (depending how much you spend) off your first purchase by using my referral code: ITI429.


         

Earth Mama, Angel Baby Ginger-Grapefruit Happy Mama Body Wash

I'm still loving my Bubble and Bee shower gel, but when I was placing an order with iHerb recently, I decided to try out Earth Mama Angel Baby's body wash too.  Earth Mama, Angel Baby is, as the name suggests, a line mainly for babies, mothers, and mamas-to-be, but a body wash is a body wash, so even though I'm not the target demographic, I went ahead and tested it out.

The body wash comes in a foamer bottle, which eliminates any potential issues with getting the soap to lather up.  The bottle is pretty small, at only 5.3 ounces, but it does contain more than 300 pumps, according to the label.  That sounds like a lot, but I find I have to use 8-12 pumps to wash my 5'2 self, so I'm not expecting the bottle to last all that long.  On the plus side, it's affordable, retailing for $10.99 (or $8.79 on iHerb.)

Earth Mama, Angel Baby uses only organic essential oils to fragrance their products, which is awesome, but I'm a little mixed on the scent of this particular product.  I usually love both citrus and spicy scents, but I'm just not crazy about this one.  It doesn't have the freshness or zest I'd expect in a grapefruit scent and the ginger seems to just muddy it up even further.  Not terrible by any means, but not a stand out smell for me either.

The Bottom Line
Ingredients-wise, this body wash gets an A+.  And, while there's nothing specifically wrong with it, it's just not a product I'm in love with.  I've never used a foaming body wash before, but I've come to realize I prefer a more standard shower gel that can be lathered up on a loofah.  That, in combination with the scent, which I was only so-so, means that while this is definitely a product I'll use up, it isn't one I'll be rushing to repurchase.


And don't forget!  If you're new to iHerb, you can save $5 off your first order with my referral code ITI429 :)


         

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.)


         

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.