Naturalla Beauty

Long overdue, but I'm here with my thought on the October Goodbeing box. Right off the bat, I'll say that I was considerably less excited about the contents of this one, compared to my August box. It's no secret that I can be sensitive and particular about scents and several of this month's items just didn't agree with my nose.

Here's what came in my October box....



Yarok Feed Your Ends ($13.20)
Feed Your Ends is the exception. It's not a new product for me, nor is it one that bothers my nose. I like Yarok and I've gone through at least a couple bottles of this leave in conditioner/detangler/heat protector in the past. I mainly use it as a second day curl refresher, as it works great to revive curls and tame frizz. The spray is lightweight, lightly lemon scented, and even the small bottles have a nice fine mist.

Modicum #3 Essential Serum ($25.00)
The #3 Essential Serum is an oil-based formula made with squalane, argan, rosehip, sea buckthorn, black cumin seed, and other great oils, in combination with helichrysum and rose essential oils and boosted with antioxidant superstar astaxanthin extract. I'm curious about the astaxanthin, which isn't something I've seen in a lot of skincare, but I struggle with many floral/rose scents, and just sniffing this in the bottle, I'm fairly sure it's not something I'd be able to tolerate on my face. For that reason, I'll be passing it on to someone else.

Good Medicine Beauty Lab Purity Perfectly Clear Skin Tonic ($20)
I've wanted to try Good Medicine Beauty Lab for quite some time and this was one of my two product picks in this box. This Purity mist is packed with great clarifying and anti-inflammatory ingredients -- aloe, dandelion leaf, honey, and trace minerals, to name just a few -- and the product description highlights lime, peppermint, and sage, but sadly, to my nose, it smells a lot like pool water, which clearly isn't the elegant skincare experience I'm after. I've used it a couple times, but not enough to really comment on performance.

Isa's Restoratives Immortelle Beauty Balm ($8.00)
My second pick! I liked the Blue Beauty Balm from the last box so much that I immediately jumped on this guy when I saw it as an option. It's a nice product, but I'm not as enamored with it as the Blue Beauty. The Immortelle Balm, whose ingredients include helichrysum (immortelle), rose, and carrot seed essential oils, as well as sea buckthorn, red raspberry seed, and jojoba oils, and cupuacu and murumuru butters, is mainly targeted at anti-aging and skin regeneration. The scent, as you could probably guess from the essential oils, is quite floral, but it's not overpoweringly, in-your-face rose. The balm feels just slightly weightier than the Blue Beauty, though it also melts into the skin nicely and without the waxy residue that some other balms leave behind.

AfterSpa Eye Mask ($12.00)
This eye mask is supposed to block light while keeping your eye makeup intact, which admittedly sounds pretty neat, but I just don't use eye masks, so this is another one that will be passed onto someone that will appreciate it more.



The Bottom Line
I can't really complain -- great customer service, impressive brands, and money-wise, the value is there -- but I was, nonetheless, a lot less excited about this box than my last. I like the Yarok mist and I'm happy to have tried the Isa's Restoratives balm and Good Medicine Beauty Lab mist, but I also ended up with two products that I'm unlikely to ever use. That's just the nature of subscription boxes, but given the extra cost to ship to Canada, plus the exchange and potential tax/duty on delivery, I did ultimately decide to cancel my subscription for the time being. I still think Goodbeing is one of the better boxes out there, I'm just happier right now putting my money towards products that I know I want versus rolling the dice with a surprise box.

Avalon Organics Clarifying Lemon Shampoo
I bought this when I was having issues with buildup and an oily scalp and alternated between it and another non-clarifying shampoo.  The combination worked well without over-stripping or drying out my hair.  I figured out a few months ago that my scalp problems were more likely a mild case of seborrheic dermatitis, rather than just oilyness, and started treating that internally with oregano oil, and since then, my scalp issues have stopped, so I don't have any need for a clarifying shampoo anymore.  
Repurchase? For the time being, no.

Rachel's Plan Bee Original Body Polish*   [Review]
I've raved about the Rachel's Plan Bee body polishes several times now, so I won't go into too much detail here. These are one of my favorite scrubs.  The texture is perfect, they don't separate, and they're highly moisturizing, but not overly greasy or oily.
Repurchase? Yes.  There are a couple different scents I want to try in the future.

Meow Meow Tweet Grapefruit Mint Soap
I have problems with some bar soaps drying out my hands in the winter and unfortunately this was one of them.  The soap smelled nice and has worked great during the summer, but I had to put it away in the colder months when my hands became dry and cracked.
Repurchase?  Probably not.

Desert Essence Italian Lemon Hand and Body Lotion
I really enjoyed this lotion.  It was scented with only essential oils and had a much milder fragrance than most Desert Essence products.  My big nitpick is with the packaging.  The label started wearing off early and quickly began shedding blue flakes.  In and of itself, not terrible, but the flakes would magnetize and stick to anywhere I applied lotion, which became a big nuisance.  
Repurchase? Maybe.  The lotion itself was great, but I'm not sure I want to deal with the hassle of the label again.

Nourish Organic Wild Berries Body Wash
I featured this in my most recent favorites post, which is a pretty good hint about how I feel about this product.  Nourish's body washes are a longtime favorite of mine and the berry scent is really lovely.  It's sweet and fruity but also has an herbal/fresh note that keeps it from being overly saccharine or sickly.  
Repurchase? Yes.



Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Oil*   [Review]
This is a great multi-purpose oil to have on hand.  Made with just almond and plum kernel oils, it has a light marzipan-y scent and is very soothing and gentle on the skin.  I liked it a lot as both a regular face oil and to remove eye makeup, and I even used the last inch or so of the bottle as an allover body oil.  I'm actually very tempted to buy it again specifically to use on my body, as it left me with the softest skin ever.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Weleda Rosemary Conditioning Hair Oil*   [Review]
I mostly used this oil as a leave-in on my ends, but I also used it as a pre-shower treatment a couple times too.  Honestly, my hair is easygoing when it comes to oils, so I don't notice a huge difference between different ones, but this one worked well.  It smelled like rosemary and did a good job taming minor frizz and flyaway hairs. 
Repurchase? I'm not sure

Acure Marula Oil
I'm a little conflicted on this marula oil.  I loved it at first, but partway through the bottle, it stopped agreeing with me.  It stopped absorbing into my skin at all and would just sit on top and feel greasy.  I used the last half as a body oil and while it was fine in that capacity, it wasn't anything spectacular.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-In Conditioner
I used another mini Feed Your Ends a couple years ago, and while the first one didn't impress me all that much, I really loved it this time around.  On my hair, it feels very lightweight and non-greasy and I also enjoy Yarok's signature lemon scent.  I used the spray mainly as a refresher on dry second-day hair, but it's also marketed as a heat protectant.  
Repurchase? Yes.  I have a couple other hair products to use up first, but I think this will be my next purchase after those.



Triumph & Disaster Old Fashioned Shave Cream (samples)
Triumph & Disaster is marketed as a men's line, but the Shave Cream certainly works for women too.  With a lotiony consistency and a great cushiony feel, it worked really well and, though definitely more of a masculine scent, I thought it smelled great too.  That said, as much as I enjoyed it, as someone who doesn't even buy shave cream half the time - that's what failed conditioners are for! - I can't see myself spending the extra money on a higher end shave cream.  tl;dr: Great product, but a little pricey for what it is.
Repurchase? I doubt it.  

Weleda White Mallow and Calendula Face Creams (samples)
I've used samples of both of these creams before, and they're okay.  The White Mallow contains coconut oil, which doesn't tend to agree with my face, and I don't love the scent of Weleda's Calendula line, so I actually used these sachets on my body, not my face.
Repurchase? No.

Studio 78 Off We Go Concealer in At Dawn (01) (sample)
I'm going to do a full review of this concealer once I get around to ordering the full size, so I'll save the details for that post.  Needless to say, I like it.  It's a much-talked about product amongst green bloggers, but I'd say it's worth the hype.
Repurchase? Yes, I plan to very soon.

Ilia Vivid Concealer in Cassava (C1) (sample)
The concealer itself was okay - light to medium coverage and nothing extraordinary - but what tipped this product over for me was the smell.  I don't even know what it smelled like, but it was fairly strong and I was not a fan.  I know I swatched this in The Detox Market a few months ago and I don't remember noticing a smell then, so I'm wondering if this sample just went off or something.
Repurchase? Definitely not.

Mineral Foundation Samples
I've been working through an accumulation of mineral foundation samples the last couple months.  I ran out of ones that actually matched me, so this batch is a mix of ones that, by themselves, did not, but I was able to mix and tinker between the lot to make them work.  Lucy Minerals is still the biggest standout for me and unmatched by any other mineral foundation I've tried in terms of both coverage and lasting power.  I also like Urban Minerals a lot and The All Natural Face foundation is okay too, though pretty light coverage.  As I've said before, I'm not a big fan of the Alima Pure foundation, which I find disappears off my face by halfway through the day.
Repurchase? I'm leaning towards going back to Lucy Minerals when I next need foundation, but I'd also consider purchasing Urban Minerals.

Real Purity Desert Rose Blush (sample)
Desert Rose is a very pigmented matte mauvey-rose shade.  I liked it, but it needed extra care and blending to not look ridiculous and clown-like on my fair skin.  I enjoyed using the sample, but considering the number of blushes I have and the little bit of extra work this one required, I'm not sure I liked it enough for a full size purchase.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Total Products Used Up in July
Skincare: 2  (Lip Balms: 0)
Bodycare: 4
Haircare:  3
Makeup: 0
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 5
Makeup Samples: 7

Total Products Used Up in 2015
Skincare: 23 (Lip Balms: 7)
Bodycare: 28
Haircare:  9
Makeup: 9
Skin/Body/Hair Samples: 54 
Makeup Samples: 19

I've struggled for years to tame my curly mane, but I think I've finally figured out what really works.  For a point of reference, my hair does really well air drying, but it needs the right products or else controlled curls can quickly turn into a frizzy mess.  I've tried a lot of products - and I especially feel like I've tried a lot this past year - so I think it's about time I put together my "best of" list for curly hair products.  I've included both a budget and high end option for each category.



Shampoo and Conditioner
I always keep Acure's  Argan + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner well stocked, and if money was no object, I would definitely rotate in John Masters Honey & Hibiscus Shampoo and Reconstructor.  Both duos provide a lot of moisture, but they don't weigh down my hair.  

Hair Oil
I've tried a lot of different oils, both singles and blends, but I always come back to using a pure, 100% argan oil.  I use a few drops on damp hair after washing - mainly focused on the ends - to control frizz and keep hair strong and healthy.  I'm a big fan of Acure's Argan Oil - it's certified organic, sustainably harvested, affordable, and good quality - but if you're open to spending a little more, Olie Biologique's Argan Oil - again organic, and also cold pressed - has a richer, nuttier scent and feels that little bit more luxurious.  

Hair Gel
I've probably tried more gels than any other hair product and it's the one category where I still feel like I'm searching for that ever elusive perfect product.  I like a product with hold, but I can't stand anything that leaves my hair feeling crunchy or sticky.  My favorite to date is Intelligent Nutrients' Organic Styling Gel, which smells fresh and minty and doesn't require a lot of product to get the light hold I'm after.  On the more budget-friendly side, I also really like Kinky Curly's Spiral Spritz.  It's a lighter hold product than the Intelligent Nutrients, but it nicely defines curls without leaving any kind of coating on the hair.  

Curl Refresher / Leave-in Conditioner
On days when I don't wash my hair, I like to use something to freshen up my curls and make them look bouncy and (almost) new again.  Beautiful Curls' Curl Reviving Tonic is the first natural product I've found that's actually intended for this purpose and it's pretty amazing.  Yarok's Feed Your Ends also works well, and it can do double duty as a heat protectant on the rare occasions that I heat style my hair.

Honorable Mentions
Yarok's Feed Your Roots was the first natural hair product I fell in love with, so I couldn't make this list without including it!  Some days I'll use the mousse in place of a gel, and it also works well to add volume at the roots.  

Intelligent Nutrients' Hair Shine is a bit of a cheat, as I haven't quite worked out how to best use it with curls, but it's amazing on those rare days that I straighten my hair.  It's not greasy at all and it tames frizz and flyaways like nothing else, all while leaving behind the most gorgeous, glossy, hair commercial-worthy shine.

Clearly I like trying hair products, so if there are any great ones I've missed, let me know in the comments.  I'd love to know your favorites!

Badger Organic Balm Sampler ($29.99)
I think really highly of Badger - both because of their high quality products and the way the company is run.  Whether you're buying for someone who's already familiar with these balms or someone who hasn't tried them yet, the Balm Sampler is a great way to give six of the company's most popular balms a try.  The kit comes with 0.75 ounces each of the Classic Badger Balm, Cuticle Care, Sleep Balm, Sore Muscle Rub, Aromatic Chest Rub, and Foot Balm, packaged in a 100% recycled paper box.  

LuSa Organics Nourish and Lavish Gift Collections ($32.50 and $48.00)
I became aware of LuSa Organics through following Rachel's personal blog, Clean, which I've read for a couple years now.  LuSa makes natural bath, body, and baby products and is a true family run business.  The Nourish Collection (pictured above) comes with a soap, sugar scrub, body oil, and holiday ornament diffuser, while the Lavish Collection includes all that, PLUS fizzing bath salts and an allover body balm.  Both sets are available in your choice of two holiday scents: Clementine & Clove and Frankincense & Myrrh.  

Pai Rosehip Collection: Intensive Nourishing Facial Kit ($50)
Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate oil is pretty iconic at this point and the Intensive Nourishing Kit is a great opportunity to get it, plus the limited edition Bioregenerate Face Mask, which is described as a "buttery, ultra-hydrating treatment [that] quenches thirsty skin, helping to accelerate cell repair for instant rejuvenation."  Sounds pretty great, right?  You also only pay $10 more for the set than you would for a solo bottle of the rosehip oil, so it really is a fantastic value as well.

Balm Balm Lip Balm Cracker (£15.25)
The Lip Balm Cracker is a great way to try the entire range of Balm Balm's tube lip balms.  These are wonderful multi-purpose balms that can be used not only on your lips, but also on your cuticles, face, and anywhere else that needs a little extra care.  The Frankincense Cracker, which comes with Balm Balm's complete Frankincense skincare range, looks lovely as well.

Bare Minerals READY to Go Complexion Perfection Kit ($49)
Bare Minerals is what I class as a borderline natural company, but they do have some products I feel comfortable using.  The Complexion Perfection Kit is an ultra-portable palette  of Bare Minerals' READY pressed products.  Colors vary - there are eight sets to choose from - but each palette includes a Foundation, Touch Up Veil, Bronzer, Luminizer, and Correcting Concealer, as well as a mini Precision Face Brush and mini Tapered Face Brush.  The concealer has some ingredients I don't like, but even if you weren't to use that one item, I think the set is good value as a whole.  

Kaia Bamboo Tapioca Beads ($38)
The Bamboo Tapioca Beads are a dry powder that you activate with some kind of liquid - anything from water to tea, honey, an oil or liquid cleanser - and then use as either a cleanser or face mask.  The beads, which smell fresh and citrusy, gently exfoliate, leaving behind super soft and smooth skin.  Kaia has given the beads a makeover for the holidays and they now come adorably packaged with a small vial of moringa oil and a tiny wooden spoon.

Juice Beauty Best of Juice Beauty Set ($48)
I haven't actually tried anything from Juice Beauty before, but their holiday sets tempt me every single year.  The Best of Set is a 10-day advent-type gift that comes with ten of Juice Beauty's best-selling products.  You get full sizes of the Green Apple Age Defy Handcream, SPF 8 Lip Moisturizer and Reflecting Gloss in Fig, plus various samples from their skincare line.

Yarok Holiday Quartet ($32)
This quartet, which I believe is exclusive to EcoDivaBeauty, comes with travel sizes of Yarok's mousse, leave-in conditioner, hairspray, and shine serum.  I've used two of the four and have only good things to say.  Yarok is definitely one of the best when it comes to natural hair products. 

Blissoma Aromatherapy Candle Gift Trio ($45)
Candles always make a good wintertime gift and Blissoma's 100% botanical, vegan, natural, and anti-allergenic candles are a great choice.  Made of clean-burning soy wax, they use a cotton wick and contain no dyes, synthetic scents or burn extenders.  The candles, which burn for 20-25 hours each, are small batch poured with completely hand blended scents.  Pictured here are the candles in Peace, Love and Calm, but there are also two other trios: Balance, Happiness and Energize and Celebrate, Delight and Harmony.  

Lily Lolo Laid Bare Palette ($34)
Lily Lolo has really stepped up their game recently with a classy rebranding and awesome new pressed makeup products.  With wearable neutral shades (both matte and shimmer) and a good sized mirror, the Laid Bare palette is a great alternative to the ever-popular Naked palettes, only more portable (it's only about 4.5 inches long) and without the nasty ingredients.  I've barely had mine for 24 hours, so I can't speak much to how it wears, but if you have someone on your list that's struggling to transition to natural makeup - or someone who needs some convincing to make the switch - this might just be the ticket.  There's also a second palette, the Enchanted Palette, which features darker, smokier shades and a mix of neutrals and colors.

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you check out Part 1 of my Gift Guide, and keep an eye out for the last part, coming on Friday.  

Another month, another fantastic Petit Vour box!  September's box was again curated with vegan blogger, Tashina from Logical Harmony and I think it's the best box I've gotten yet!  I know, I've said that before, but seriously guys, these boxes just keep getting better.  This month's theme was Beauty & The Box* and focused on introducing indulgent new favorites to enjoy as we move into fall.  

There were a few different options for this box, but here's what I received in mine:



Root Science Face Scrub (Sample Value ±$16)
Root Science is a new brand for me, but a quick look at their website was all it took to get me interested.  Products are concentrated - made without water or fillers - and contain only high quality, potent, healing, natural ingredients.  There were a few different products sent out in this month's box, but as soon as unboxings started showing up in my Instagram feed, I knew this scrub was what I most wanted to try.  It didn't even make it 24 hours before I was slapping this on my face!  Made of baking soda, clay, almond meal, and soothing herbs, it's an exfoliating powder that gently buffs without stripping or drying your skin.  The 1.5 ounce sample is also a really decent size, considering you only use 1/2-1 teaspoon per use.  

Lily Lolo Vanilla Shimmer Mineral Eye Shadow ($12)
I have a Lily Lolo highlighter that I love, but I haven't used their eye shadows before, so I'm eager to give this one a try.  Vanilla Shimmer is a cream colour that I'd imagine is universally flattering on just about anyone.   Light, shimmery neutrals are my default eye look, so I'm betting I'll get a lot of use out of this one.

Ellovi Tinted Lip Butter ($5)
I've heard tons of good things about Ellovi, and based off the lip butter, I'd wager it's all well deserved.  Made of only six ingredients - and no waxes - the lip butter is incredibly smooth and creamy and just melts into your lips like - if you'll excuse the pun - butter.  It smells faintly like coconut oil and leaves behind a subtle red tint, courtesy of Mediterranean alkanet root.    

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-In Conditioner ($13.20)
I've previously used a mini of this leave-in conditioner and I've had it in the back of my mind to buy it again, so I'm stoked to receive it in this box.  As a leave-in, it conditions your hair without leaving it greasy or weighed down, and it smells lovely - sweet, lemony and never overpowering.  I don't use much heat on my hair, but you can also use Feed Your Ends as a heat protectant before heat styling.  



The Bottom Line
This month had a great mix of skincare, haircare, and makep, and I'm really happy with everything that was included!  I got one product I already know I love, two I've wanted to try, and one I'd never heard of but am super impressed with after even just one use.  

From a purely numbers point of view, Petit Vour's boxes are always worth the cost too.  This month's box rings in at roughly $46.  

Petit Vour boxes retail for $15 (US) / $23 (Canada) / $30 (International) and individual products can also be bought in the Petit Vour shop.  

Have you ever tried explaining empties posts to someone outside of the beauty blogging/vlogging world?  Describe that you save your trash and photograph and write about it every month and wait for the blind confusion to appear on their face.   Honestly.

These are some of my favorite posts - both to read and write - and I think they're great for final wrap-ups and mini reviews after using products for a good while, so I'm glad so many of you lovelies get it and feel the same.  So, without further ado, here's what I finished up during March:
  

New Roots Organic Goji Seed Oil
I was given this at the CHFA trade show in the fall and was curious to see how all the goji berry hype would translate into an oil.  I'm happy to say it's all good here.  I've been big on mixing my own oil blends the last several months and I really liked including this one.  It's hydrating but not heavy and has a very mild scent.  
Repurchase? Yes.

Nourish Almond Vanilla Body Wash*   [Review]
Nourish's body washes are creamy, non-drying and just a delight to use.  This was my first time trying the almond vanilla and it did not disappoint.  I usually have several body washes on the go at a time, so this took me a while to finish up, but it smelled delicious and made me feel as though I was lathering up with delicious cake batter every time I used it.  
Repurchase? Not right away, but yes!  I stocked up on body wash during Nourish's Black Friday sale, so I've still got a couple other new-to-me scents here to try before I'll be buying any more.  

Nourish Unscented Body Butter
Another fantastic Nourish product, the body butter is the perfect consistency and did a great job keeping my skin soft and hydrated during the winter.  It's especially great for feet and on any super dry, itchy spots.
Repurchase? Definitely!

Kirk's Fragrance Free Original Coco Castile Soap
I decided to pick this up after noticing that the one constant across most of my favorite bar soaps is coconut oil.  That said, while there's nothing wrong with this one - it's gentle and produces a good lather - I realize I like my soaps to have a little more pizzazz than this unscented basic.  The price, at right around the $2 mark, is pretty hard to beat though.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Bath Petals Sicilian Blood Orange Shower Gel
I liked this shower gel at first, but at some point it began irritating and drying my skin out and got set aside.  The last 1/4 or so ended up relegated to makeup brush washing and other cleaning around the house.
Repurchase? Nope.

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-In Conditioner   [Review]
I really liked how this product worked as a refresher on second day curls, but I'm left waffling over the cost when my Beautiful Curls spray works equally well (although it doesn't smell quite as good) for 1/3 of the price.
Repurchase? Maybe one day, when I'm feeling flush.

Lucy Minerals Lucy Light Finishing Powder   [Review]
This is a really great powder that's been a part of my everyday makeup routine for over a year now, regardless of what foundation I'm wearing.  Be it a cream, liquid, or powder, this finishing powder sets it, helps it last longer, and blurs minor fine lines and imperfections.
Repurchase?  Yup!  It's very likely.

Crazy Rumors Cola Lip Balm   [Review]
Initially I wasn't a fan of the cola flavor at all, so this lip balm ended up languishing forgotten in a drawer for a long time.  Now that I'm making a concerted effort to use up any and all started lip balms, I dug it out to try again, and I have to say, the flavor's nowhere near as bad as I remembered!  It still wasn't my favorite, but it was completely useable.  Crazy Rumor's lip balm formula is always lovely, so I was glad to be able to make use of it.  
Repurchase? Yes, in a different flavor.

Zuzu Luxe Onyx Mascara   [Review]
With a couple brief exceptions, this is the mascara I've been using consistently for the last several years.  It's not super dramatic, but it does the job without irritating my eyes or smudging or flaking.
Repurchase? Yes, I already have.

Silk Naturals Lovelace Blush (sample)
Peach blushes are always what I reach for first and Lovelace is gorgeous.  It's a bright, vibrant peach, but Silk Naturals' sheer blush formula is super blendable, so it's still an easy color to wear.  The color is supposed to be a clone of Nars Deepthroat.  
Repurchase? Not sure.  I love Silk Naturals, but my skin is funny with their blushes.  Some days I'm completely fine wearing them and others they give me angry-looking red bumps and need to be washed off immediately.  Which is sad because the colors are SO pretty.

I generally wash my hair every other day, and while I don't have problems with my hair getting greasy, it can be a challenge keeping my curls looking fresh and bouncy after they've been slept on.  I've been searching for something that will refresh second day curls with minimal effort, and believe me, I've tried a good bunch of things!  This is the most recent batch - I think of these as non-hairspray hair sprays (thus the title) since they're spray-type hair products, but none of them provide the hold of a traditional hairspray.  Instead, they're light, leave-in products that give variable amounts of hydration.  None of them are heavy or greasy.  


Acure Organics Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Leave-In Conditioner
I did a full review of this product a few months ago, and my opinion has basically stayed the same.  I love the way it works, but I struggle with how it smells.  It smells like lemongrass, but it's heavier and more herbal than the lemongrass scents I'm used to, and unfortunately, the scent is one that really sticks in your hair.  If Acure were to come out with another scent, I'd be all over it, but as it is now, the smell wears on me enough throughout the day that I won't be buying this one again, regardless of how well it works.

Yarok Feed Your Ends Leave-In Conditioner
Yarok's Feed Your Roots Mousse has been a firm favorite of mine, so naturally I had to try their leave-in.  It smells the same as the mousse - sweet, fresh, and lemony - and it does a great job too.  It's one of the lightest of the bunch, so I can really go to town spraying this one and not have to worry about my hair ending up greasy or sticky.  As an added bonus, it also does double duty as a heat protectant.  

Rahua Voluminous Hairspray
Rahua's is the only one of the bunch that's sold as an actual hairspray - soft, flexible hold - but I really thing it would be better marketed as a leave-in conditioner.  As a curl refresher, it works fine initially, but after just an hour or two everything falls flat again and I'm back where I started.  If I'd bought it intending to use it as a regular hairspray, I think I would have been even more disappointed.  I've read positive reviews, but on my hair, it gives virtually no hold.  

Beautiful Curls Shea Butter Curl Reviving Tonic
It shouldn't come as any great surprise that the sole product of the bunch that's actually marketed as a curl reviving product does the best job reviving my curls.  I was initially concerned about how I'd fare with the mango-vanilla scent and eyed this product for months before finally taking the plunge and buying it.  I was worried it would be overly sweet or fake smelling, but it's actually fairly light and not overpowering or sickly.  The product itself performs exactly how I want it to.  Several sprays and some scrunching easily take my deflated curls from sad and slept on to bouncy and fresh once again.

The Bottom Line
All things considered, the Beautiful Curls is the clear winner here and the only one that I'm confident I'll be repurchasing.  (In fact, I kind of already have.  I let my mom try it and ended up having to buy her her own bottle just so I could get mine back!)  The Yarok is also quite lovely and I could see myself buying it as an occasional splurge, but for an everyday product that gets used up fairly quickly, I can't justify spending more when the Beautiful Curls is equally or more effective and a third of the price.  I think the Rahua and Acure could potentially suit different hair types and noses, respectively, but neither were winners for me.

Am I the only one who struggles with second day hair?  Have you tried any of these?

I didn't actually use up many products in March, but instead of holding onto the empties for any longer, I figured I'd do a post now anyways!  I'm often impressed with the number of products in other bloggers' empties posts, since this is pretty typical of what I get through over the course of a month.