April 2014 Empties!

Where did April go? It zoomed by so quickly. I'm sorry that I've been MIA, it's been super busy at work (which is fantastic) and blogging has been on the back burner. What better post than an empties to kick off May though, right? Let's take a look at my trash.

One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil - review here - Since the pump on the original bottle stopped working, I transfered the rest over to a jar for easy use. This cleanser smelled delicious and worked incredibly well for removing makeup. I have a few other cleansing oils on the go right now, so I won't be repurchasing at the moment.

*SBT Seabuckthorn Tea Cream - review here - I really loved how light, yet moisturizing, this cream was. It didn't irritated my skin or break me out at all, which is a total bonus in my books. I may repurchase at some point.

*OM Organic Matter Shampoo Level 1 - review here - Obsessed with this shampoo! It left my hair clean and moisturized, and didn't irritate the dermatitis on my scalp at all. Already repurchased.

Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil - This is probably my favourite coconut oil. It tasted like coconut but, it had more of a buttery taste that made it perfect for pancakes and other cooking. Already repurchased.

*Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream - I wasn't a huge fan of this cream. The scent was overly sweet and it lingered all day. It also took some effort to work it into the skin. Won't be repurchasing.

CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture - review here - This cream was very disappointing. Considering it's steep price tag, I was hoping it would be my holy grail moisturizer. It's lotion like texture would be ideal for warmer months but, it didn't deliver on the claims it made. Won't be repurchasing.

NBW Healing Balm - review here - LOVEEEEE! This balm worked like a dream on my hands and any other skin ailment that I had pop up on my body. Already repurchased.

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm in Pineapple Peppermint - Meh. I guess I'm not much for flavoured lip balms because none of the flavours available, at my health food store, tickled my fancy. Scent/flavour aside, the balm had a really nice texture. I liked that it remained smooth even when it was left in the car on a super cold day. Won't be repurchasing.

Clean Well Sanitizing Hand Wipes - These were handy to keep in my purse but, they smelled strongly of thyme oil (which is the main antibacterial oil used to kill germs). I've purchased the vanilla orange scent, in the tub, and it still doesn't smell very nice. Nonetheless, they work well and I'd repurchase. *Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser (sample) - This cleanser worked well to remove makeup and didn't leave my skin dry. It also had a mild scent, which is unusual for Tata skin care. Not sure I'd pick up the full size. *Tata Harper Restoritive Eye Cream (sample) - I felt like this gave me milia and I didn't notice a difference in fine lines or moisture levels. I've gone back to using oils. *Shamanuti Creme No.1 (sample) - This cream smelled awful! The scent lingered and even got on my dog (from cuddling) and my pillows. Even though it left my skin beautifully moisturized, I had to wash it off because of the strong scent. La Bella Figura Purifying Mask (sample) - This mask was as beautiful as I've heard it was. It left my spots (and skin) calm and I found it helped speed up the healing time of my breakouts. Once I use up some masks, I will very likely pick up the full size. On A Branch Soaps in Breathe - review here - The eucalyptus in this soap was very uplifting and awakening. I had purchased it because of the clay, was hoping it would help with breakouts on my shoulders and back, but it dried out my skin. Perhaps in the hot Summer months it would have worked better for my skin. Repurchased in another scent. BeautyBlender - Love this sponge for blending out my foundation. I've had this one for about 4 or 5 months and thought it was time to toss it. Got backups for Christmas and already started using a fresh sponge! *Dr. Sponge Green Tea Sponge - review here - Still not fully in love with these sponges. It worked amazingly well at removing my makeup on a lazy day, but was irritating with continued use. May or may not repurchase. That's all I've finished up this month ladies and gents! What have you used up? *PR SAMPLE.

CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture Review

It's no secret that my skin had a rough Winter. Between the polar vortex weather and constantly trying new products, my skin was raw and red. Having heard amazing things about CV Skinlabs, I broke my #NoBuyJanuary oath and purchased this little tube from Clementine Fields. 

Britta Aragon, safe cosmetics expert, author and entrepreneur, developed CV SkinlabsTM in response to a need for non-toxic, effective skin care solutions. A luxurious and innovative line of products, CV Skinlabs sets a new standard for safety in the beauty industry, helping consumers enjoy a youthful radiance with skin care they can feel good about using. The collection features soothing and highly effective formulas that calm, repair, and deeply hydrate, while returning luminosity to dull, stressed skin. Each product delivers outstanding beauty benefits and proven results, with ingredients chosen for the utmost efficacy and safety, every step of the way. The carefully formulated range of options can be used with peace of mind by all—particularly those with sensitive skin, chemical sensitivities or conditions such as eczema and chronic dryness, to name a few.
Britta discovered her passion for promoting safe self-care through her experience as a caregiver during her father’s eight-year battle with cancer. A survivor of Hodgkin’s disease herself, she understands firsthand the devastating effects cancer and cancer treatments can have on the skin. When she tried products specifically targeted for “sensitive skin,” they were often laden with potentially harmful chemicals that actually irritated her father’s fragile skin. She became acutely aware of how devastating the side effects from drugs and medical treatments could be. Inspired and determined to help others, she founded Cinco Vidas in 2008, and dedicated her work to her father’s legacy.

Read more about Britta and CV Skinlabs by clicking here.

Description: Advanced Therapy For Dry, Sensitive Face, Neck and Scalp. This antioxidant-rich moisturizer calms redness and deeply hydrates while repairing skin to create a healthy glow. This super-rescue moisturizer helps to immediately calm, hydrate and nourish chronically dry and flushed skin while returning radiance. Designed for all sensitive skin types. Ideal for soothing skin irritated from the effects of microdermabrasion, laser treatments, retinol use, chemical peels, excess sun exposure or chemotherapy. Skin is left soft, moist and glowing.

I hesitated a bit when it came to purchasing this product, mainly because it's a steep $36 CDN for only 30 ml, but those claims are hard to brush off when your skin needs some major lovin'. First things first, the tube. It's plastic (as you can probably already tell), light, easy to travel with and throw in your bag. The actual moisturizer is quite runny, however, a little goes a very long way. That being said, the tube makes it hard to control how much product comes out because of the fact that it's so runny. I tend to store mine upside down to avoid a rush of moisturizer. Does it live up to the hype and/or claims? I, personally, don't think so. It instantly soothes any burning and/or itching but, I didn't find it to calm any of the redness OR help with my dry/dehydrated skin. I even tried using it on my hands and again, it soothed the itching but didn't do anything for the redness or dryness. While this wasn't a hit for me, I plan on trying the balm at some point.

Retails for $24.50 USD/$36 CDN for 30 ml and $49 USD/$59 CDN for 60 ml. Can be purchased through CV Skinlabs and Clementine Fields. You can also click here for a list of complete retailers.

What's your favourite CV Skinlabs product?

Poured too much. This was enough for both hands and arms (up to my elbow).

Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triolein, Glyceryl Stearate, Sucrose Laurate, Squalane, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidium (Mushroom) Extract, Beta-Glucan, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Glycerin, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil , Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract*, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Cera), Silicon Dioxide, Water (Aqua), Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin *Organic