June 2015 Empties!

Another month, another pile of empties to share with you. I am so excited for July as it is my birthday month AND there are some exciting things happening at work.
Diving right in..

Kiss My Face Creamy Face Cleanser - Brianna, Iluvjesse444, raves about this cleanser, so I thought I would give it a go. It removed makeup well, but left me feeling a bit dry and the tacky texture wasn't my favourite. Worked fantastically as a shave cream though! Wouldn't repurchase.

HollyBeth Marigold Toner - I picked up this toner from The Truth Beauty Company when I was visiting my brother in Kitchener. What drew me to it was the use of calendula and lavender oils in a base of witch hazel. My thought process was that it would help with acne while soothing the skin. Unfortunately, it was too drying for me. Wouldn't repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner  - review here - Not much to say here, besides that I am already working my way through another bottle. It is my absolute favourite toner of life.

Saje Konjac Sponge with Yam Extract - I have reviewed konjac sponges before and they don't tend to work well for my skin with the exception of in the summer, as my skin isn't as easily irritated or sensitive. I picked this one up in January, used it a couple of times, it irritated my skin, and so it sat in my skin care drawer until April. In April, I busted it out and have been using it ever since. It gently exfoliates, removes any makeup that has been left behind from my first cleanse, and the yam extract apparently works to brighten the skin. Already repurchased.

*Pure Daily Essentials Revive Hydration Mist *Canadian Brand* - review here - This was an okay mist, it left my skin feeling soft and hydrated but I was not a fan of the scent. Wouldn't purchase the full size.

*Pure Daily Essentials Makeup Remover *Canadian Brand* - review here - Loved this makeup remover! It was so gentle and smelled faintly of lavender, removed all of my makeup and left my skin feeling so soft. Would consider purchasing the full size.

*Zaya Rosewood Eye Oil *Canadian Brand* - review here - As I am lazy and cannot be bothered to use a legit eye product, this was my eye makeup remover (a lush one at that). It was gentle, removed all of my eye makeup, nourished the delicate eye area, smelled gorgeous, and was an absolute treat to use. If you are looking for an eye oil, I would 100% recommend this one without hesitation. Since I only used it to remove makeup, it's not one I'd repurchase.

Honey & Glow Lip Scrub *Canadian Brand* - I found this lip scrub months back at Anise Apothecary and was so excited at the limited ingredients list; honey, brown sugar, and olive oil. That's it. It worked really well at first, despite needing to be massaged between my fingers to separate the sugar granules. Over time though, it became too hard (you know how brown sugar and honey get) to use, so I'm tossing it. Considering the large container and price point ($8), I would recommend if you can use it up quickly enough. I've found a lip scrub that I like better though, so I will not repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Beta Hydroxy Complex Recovery Cream -  This was a major fail product for me, so I am tossing it. I love Andalou products but this one just did not want to work for me. It left my skin red and irritated with continued use, and even broke me out despite it being targeted for acne prone skin. Wouldn't repurchse.

Deep Steep Body Wash - review here - The Deep Steep body washes have been a staple in my shower for over a year. They are moisturizing, lather well with a loofah, smell nice, and are generally affordable. The tangerine melon scent reminded me of an orange freezie, which was alright but definitely not my favourite. I have since discovered Sudsatorium shower gels, which are even more affordable and the brand is Canadian. Would repurchase Deep Steep, but won't for right now.

*Zaya Belly Oil *Canadian Brand* - review here - Another amazing oil by Zaya. This body oil was so beautiful, warm smelling, nourishing, and all over beautiful. It lasted me a good 5 months, making the $50 price tag worth it. I would definitely repurchase.

*Poppy Jane Candle Co. in Sleep Tight - review here - I am SO sad to have used up this candle. It was so beautifully fragranced, comforting, packaged, and filled my room with its beautiful scent. If you live in the states, you must try these. They are worth every penny! Sadly, shipping outside of the USA is insane. Last time I checked it was more than the candles themselves. If they were to become available at a shop in Canada or shipping was more reasonable, I would repurchase.

Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda Free Deo - review here - This is THE best natural deodorant that I have ever used. I am a stinky person and this gets me through most of the day, a reapplication is required with most natural deos. It smells like oranges, doesn't irritate my pits, and one jar lasts me months. Would loooooveeee different scent options though, wink wink nudge nudge. I've already repurchased.

John Masters Vanilla Orange Body Wash (sample) - review here - Love the smell of this body wash and how it fragrances my skin. Picked this up just to travel with and would definitely pick up another travel size just to have around.

Living Libations Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops *Canadian Brand* - review here - These drops worked to keep sensitivity away and freshen breath. I liked using them in a salt water mouth rinse and directly on my gums. Will be repurchasing.

Alima Pure Mauna Loa Bronzer - review here - Two and a half years later and I have finally used up this bronzer! It was the perfect medium matte bronzer for my skin tone. I loved it to warm up my skin in the winter, as a foundation in the summer (or after a beach vacay), to contour, as a crease colour, etc. Love and will likely be repurchasing.

LoveFresh Eucalyptus Spearmint Deo *Canadian Brand* (sample) - Anise Apothecary gave me this on my last visit, as I was thinking of venturing away from MMT, just to try something new, but this deo left my pits feeling super wet upon application. It smells nice but I can't deal with wet feeling pits.

John Masters Lavender Avocado Conditioner (sample) - Glam Goes Green gave me a sample of this to try. Since my ends are bleached and I am trying to grow out my hair, I figured a conditioner would be handy. Love this stuff! So much so that my boyfriend picked me up a full sized bottle.

*Tata Harper Lip Treatment - I got this from an event that I attended about a year and a half ago. It's a really expensive lip product but it worked really well. I enjoyed the slight reddish tint, packaging, and how soft my lips felt. There are more affordable brands, so I wouldn't repurchase.

FitGlow Mascara *Canadian Brand* - review to come - This was a lovely mascara that didn't smudge, flake, or irritate my sensitive eyes. It was volumizing, lengthening, and the pigmentation was great. Would repurchase.

*Kari Gran Mineral Foundation (samples) - None of the foundation shades match my skin, so I used them all as bronzers which was really nice.

Celebration Herbals Turmeric Ginger Lemon Blend Tea - This tea deserves an honorable mention because it was so damn good! Turmeric has many health benefits, one being that it fights inflammation in the body. Since I don't eat it as often as I should, I thought incorporating a tea would be beneficial. Little did I know that it also contained ginger and lemon, great for detoxifying the system. This tea was warming, comforting, tasty, body loving, and I am absolutely in love with it. I have already repurchased two boxes, one to keep at work and one to keep at home. Highly recommend.
What have you used up this month? *PR SAMPLES

May 2015 Empties!

Here we are again. You, me, my trash, and the excitement I feel to share what I used up with you. Empties are my favourite to write and my most read. Lets do this!

Mega Food Blood Builder - These whole food vitamins are incredible. These specific ones contain iron, B12, vitamin C, and folate, and have helped increased my iron levels. I've been taking them for over a year now (not this one jar) and can honestly say that I feel a difference when I take them. Will be repurchasing, though I'm totally trying to find them on sale.

Clean Well Foaming Soap in Lavender - Love this antibacterial hand soap. It contains thyme oil to kill bacteria, is gentle, and smells nice. Sadly, it is no longer available in Canada. Maybe it's not as clean as we though? Dun, dun, dun...the plot thickens. If you guys know why it's not carried in Canada anymore, let me know.

*Odylique Gentle Herb Shampoo - review here - Didn't like it as a shampoo but loved it as a shave gel/cream/thing. It didn't have much of a scent and didn't cause any irritation when shaving. Wouldn't repurchase.

The Body Deli Living Hair Shampoo - review here - Love! Smelled like minty greatness (not too strong though), full of living/raw/organic ingredients, left my hair and scalp feeling lovely, and I enjoyed it. Already repurchased.

Wedderspoon Manuka Honey - This stuff is golden, literally. I love using manuka honey in my DIY face masks, or even on its own as a face mask because it is antibacterial and brightening properties. Wedderspoon sent me an organic version a few months back, so I won't be repurchasing right away, however I have already bought and gone through several jars of this magical stuff.

Pure Anada Hydrating Toner - I picked this up, on a whim, at the Big Carrot some months ago and loved it for setting my makeup. It didn't have a smell, which is nice, and worked well to to prep my skin for makeup and set makeup. Will likely repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner - review here -  Surprise, surprise, I went through another bottle and am already going through another. It's my fave, what else can I say?

Andalou Naturals Radiant Skin Polish - review here - This was probably my favourite physical exfoliant ever, and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally like scrubs. It was a harsher scrub that could easily be "sheered out" (do those words work with scrubs?) by adding more water. It left my sensitive skin feeling soft and smooth, never irritated. Would repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Super Goji Peptide Perfecting Cream - I sense an Andalou theme, anyone else? This range just works so well for my skin. I have had the most difficult time finding a facial moisturizer that doesn't give me red bumps all over my forehead. Then, this one came along. It smelled faintly of oranges, was light enough to wear under makeup, yet moisturizing enough to smooth out dry patches. I can't even explain how much I love this cream, I'm already on my second jar.

Badger Balm Joint Rub - This balm was a Godsend when I was working at a spa, my whole body needed this ish after days of back to back clients and it immediately relieved pain. Sadly, the texture, colour, and scent changed and it needs to be tossed. I would repurchase, preferably in a smaller tin if available.

NBW Marigold Magic Body Scrub - When I worked at the spa, this was the only scrub that we used for manis and pedis, the texture was perfect. It contains shea butter, which held the scrub together without the oil separation happening. Because of my positive experience with it, I decided to buy a small version from Glam Goes Green. While the smaller version was still awesome, it did have a lot of oil separation. Because of that I would recommend and repurchase the full/bigger size of this scrub over the mini.

*North Hill Soap Company Soap in Happy Hippie - review here - This soap definitely made me a happy hippie with it's patchouli scent and exfoliating properties. I wish I was able to find this soap in more shops as I would 100% repurchase it.

*North Hill Soap Company Soap in Sea Goddess - review here - Not my favourite. It was more scratchy than exfoliating and just didn't excite me. Products need to excite, know what I'm saying?

*Kari Gran Cleansing Oil - review here - Really enjoyed using this cleansing oil. It removed makeup and left my skin super soft. Would consider purchasing the full size.
*Kari Gran Hydrating Tonic - review here - Ugh, I loved this. I didn't want to because it's pricey but I can't say no to a good facial mist. Would consider purchasing the full size.
The Body Deli Living Hair Conditioner - Since I love the shampoo, I thought that I'd try a sample of the conditioner. The sample was enough for two uses and I didn't find it to be as special as the shampoo. It felt like it washed off and didn't actually condition. Wouldn't purchase the full size.
Ilia Lip Conditioner in Arabian Knights - review here - After almost 2 years, I've finally used up this lip conditioner and if I've learned anything, it's that you should use your lip products and not save them for special occasions. Anyway, I loved this moisturizing berry toned lip conditioner from Ilia. It was easy to wear year round and the intensity was buildable. After two years, I'm over the tinted lip conditioners. I've been transitioning to lipsticks and lip pencils, and prefer a less glossy formula.  
Cheeky Cosmetics Mineral Shadow in Midnight - review here - This navy blue mineral shadow worked well when doing a smokey eye and as a liner, but it's now a shade I lean towards often. I mean, it took me two and a half years to finish this sample.
That's my trash! Let me know if you see anything you love, hate, and/or want to try.
*PR samples

LOVE: The Body Deli Living Hair Shampoo

There isn't one thing about The Body Deli that I don't like. Sure they're a bit pricey, but you get products that are full of gorgeous fresh, raw, and organic ingredients. These ingredients literally feed your hair, scalp, and skin. I have wanted to try the shampoo for-freakin-ever, but the fact that my scalp hates most products and it's expensive, held me back from taking the plunge. It wasn't until I read rave reviews from NatuRia and Ana Goes Green that I just knew I had to give it a go. Worst case scenario, I end up with a really expensive shave cream, right?

THE BODY DELI is the pioneer for fresh, raw, organic skin and hair care. Our master “Cosmetic Chefs” lovingly handcraft premium quality products in small batches daily. Our products deliver real results because we use the purest and most potent raw and organic superfoods available. Experience a higher level of nourishing your body.

The key to our superfood face and hair care products’ effectiveness is the potent “raw” living state of the products’ phytonutrients. Clinically tested actives are combined with fresh organic living botanical superfoods that synergistically provide unparalleled dermal regenerating results. Bio-active cells of high potency, organically grown superfoods are isolated to deliver superior cellular nutrition, which builds stronger, healthier cells and accelerates cellular turnover.

Read more about The Body Deli here.

Living Hair Sprouted Mineral Greens Shampoo: Made with potent Sprouted Mineral Greens and is formulated to rejuvenate hair follicles to encourage rapid hair rejuvenation and regrowth. The raw, living, sprouted greens and fresh botanical juices feed the hair shaft with vital proteins, minerals, and enzymes to bring the life back to dull, lifeless hair. Living Hair's micro-nutrients make hair flourish, increase shine, impart incredible volume, and enhance the hair's natural highlights. Our formulation is for all hair types and is safe for color treated hair. $25 cdn/8 oz.

I'm obsessed! I adore the minty scent of this shampoo, it's invigorating and leaves my hair smelling fresh. It has yet to irritate my dermatitis and, in fact, I find it has lessened the symptoms (flakes, smell, etc). The bottle is perfect for travelling with because it is a dark coloured plastic, that protects the fresh ingredients, and has a lockable pump. The actual shampoo is green and full of incredible ingredients, like wheat grass juice, kelp, comfrey, maca, yarrow, and the list goes on and on. For some, this shampoo may not make the cut as it doesn't lather much, but damn does it work well. The best way that I have found to use it, is to apply two pumps onto wet hair, work that in, and then apply another two pumps to get a really good lather. Then I just let it sit and work its magic while I wash my body, and rinse out at the end. End result? Super soft, healthy, manageable, voluminous hair. The only thing that I haven't noticed is rapid hair growth, which isn't that big of a deal.

I highly recommend trying a sample of this shampoo, you won't be disappointed. For reference, I have lots of hair but it's fine, straight, and oily.

Get it here: Husk, The Body Deli, and these retailers.

Ingredients: *Aloe Vera Juice, Antioxidant Micro-Clustered Water, Decyl Polyglucose (Corn Sugar Derived Surfactant), Sea Salt, *Shea Butter, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vegetable Glycerin, *Barley Grass Juice, *Oat Grass Juice, *Wheat Grass Juice, *Dandelion Leaf Juice, *Kale Juice, *Spinach Juice, *Carob Pod, *Maca Root, Spirulina, Kelp, Chlorella, Icelandic Kelp, Dulse, Nori, Bladderwrack, Papain, Bromelain, *Chamomile, *Calendula, *Yarrow, *Horsetail, *Comfrey, *Yucca, *Melissa, *Oat Protein, *Carrot Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, *Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Essential Oils of *Rosemary, *Peppermint, *Spearmint, Lemon Verbena, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Natural Preserative System) (* Denotes Organically Grown Ingredients)

March & April 2015 Empties!

Well, hello there. It has been far too long since I've sat down at my computer to blog..or just sat down at my computer at all. Work and life events have kept me insanely busy, as is usually the case when I'm away for this long. In any event, May marks my 3 year blogging anniversary and I do have an exciting giveaway planned. Keep a close eye for that ;).
On to the trash!

Rahua Voluminous Shampoo (sample) - Lilly, from Genuine Glow, was kind enough to send me a care package around Christmas that included this sample. It lathered well and left my hair feeling clean, but I didn't find it miraculous.

Organic Matter Shampoo Level 1 - review here - This is one of my favourite shampoos out there. It's made in Canada, doesn't irritate my crazy scalp, cleans and conditions my hair, lathers well, lasts forever, and is reasonably priced. It has been my go-to for over a year now.

Deep Steep Body Butter in Passion Fruit Guava - This body butter was really nice during the colder months. I liked mixing it with an oil, for extra moisture, after a shower. The scent wasn't my favourite because of how sweet and fruity it was. While it did linger, I actually liked how it smelled after about an hour. The butter itself took a little working in and always left my skin super soft.

Deep Steep Body Wash in Honeydew Spearmint - review here - I love this body wash! This particular scent is my favourite of all the scents available. It lathers well, smells delicious, leaves my skin clean and soft, is affordable, and I find that a little goes a long way. Have already repurchased in a different scent.

*North Hill Soap Company Soap in Sex on the Beach & Blackbeard's Booty - review here - These soaps were absolutely lovely! Sex on the Beach was just the right amount of fruity and worked well for my skin. Blackbeard's Booty was my absolute favourite though. I loved the poppy seeds that gently exfoliated, and the bay rum and nutmeg essential oil gave this soap a delicious spicy kick that I just couldn't wait to be intoxicated by.

*Ella's Magic Balm in My Clementine Darling - review here - This balm came in handy during the polar vortex weather that we experienced a few months ago. My skin was crying for help and this lovely balm came to the rescue! It nourished, moisturized, protected, repaired, and loved my skin.

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream in Lavender - review here - I forgot how much I loved this deodorant. The texture was whipped, creamy, perfection that easily rubbed into my pits and kept me stink free almost all day. Oddly enough, it didn't irritate my pits this time around. Not sure if it was because the weather was colder and I wasn't shaving as much or what, but I'm glad I got to use up this jar as it wasn't cheap.

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk - review here - As I've already raved about this cleanser many times before, I'll just say that I still love this cleanser. It works really well for my sensitive skin and I've already repurchased.

Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator - This toner is a cult favourite and for good reason. Josh blends gorgeous skin loving ingredients, like green tea, coconut oil, aloe water, neem, vitamins A, C, E and B2, and tops it off with the intoxicating scents of vanilla bean and ylang ylang. While the scent wasn't my favourite at first, I loved it within a week of using it. It was light and didn't linger. This worked to nourish and calm my skin before applying my oils/creams, and worked beautifully to set my makeup. My only complaint is the packaging. Sure it's travel friendly but it looks a bit cheap considering the price and packaging of the other products within Josh's skin care range.

*Mont Echo Nature Divine Creme Divine - review here - Loveeeeed the scent of this cream. As I mentioned in my review, the scent reminds me of something my mom put on her face when I was growing up. As a moisturizer, it was really nice, although using it morning and night for a few days did cause little red bumps on my skin. The pump also stopped working towards the end, making it difficult to get out the remainder of the cream. My favourite way to use this moisturizer was as a hand cream in the P.M. and under makeup in the A.M. 

*Odylique Repair Lotion - review here - Of the three Odylique products that I had the opportunity to try, this one was my favourite. It worked on my face, hands, and body to reduce dry skin, itching, and redness.

Lush's Angel on Bare Skin  - review here - Despite what some people within the green beauty community think about Lush, I love that they support and promote various causes. While they aren't the most natural, they do have a handful of clean products. Angels on Bare Skin is incredible and lives up to my green standards. This gem of a cleanser is gentle enough to use in the colder months on (my) dry and sensitive skin. I find that my skin is less flaky, I have fewer breakouts, and a more even tone and texture when I'm using this cleanser.

Corpa Flora Eclat Citrouille - review here - This incredible smelling oil has been a staple in my skin care routine for a long while. It's just an amazing, amazing oil and I'm sure you're all sick of hearing me talk about it.

*SBT Seabuckthorn Oil - review here - LOVE. That's all.

*DeVita Italian Tomato Leaf Mud Masque (sample) - Meh. This mask was less than impressive. It didn't burn but left my skin red as a tomato, as the name suggests. My skin didn't look or feel any different, besides the redness.

Living Libations Healthy Gums Clay Toothpaste - review here - Of the three toothpastes from Living Libations, that come in a jar, this is the best tasting one. It's fresh and worked really well to keep my teeth clean and gums happy. My hygienist even asked what I was using! The only downside is that it's expensive and not as easily available as I would like. For reference, a jar lasts about two months with only me using it.

Clean Well Hand Sanitizer - This stuff is soooo good! When I was doing aesthetics, I would get eczema on my hands and this sanitizer did not irritate it at all. It does smell like thyme but doesn't linger for too long. Sadly, Clean Well is no longer available in Canada.
*Zuzu Luxe Dual Powder Foundation in D-10 - review here - This was a fantastic foundation. It offered great coverage and never looked cakey on my dry skin. The shade range isn't too bad either, they offer shades for light to dark skins, of course there always room for more shades though. The thing that irritates me the most about this foundation is that refills are not available in Canada. Why!? Isn't that the point of offering a refillable compact? Because of that, I have not repurchased.
Sante Brown Pencil in No. 2. - I can't believe that I haven't reviewed this pencil yet. It is perfection. It is the perfect shade of brown for someone who doesn't lean red or warm, it's just brown. It lasts almost all day, but can wipe off if your face is oily or sweating. Already working through another one and have a backup.
Benecos Lip Gloss - This gloss is being tossed after discovering that one of the first ingredients is talc. Talc? Really?? Ridiculous. It also contains carmine and lanolin, if you're wondering. Since the ingredients are not on the packaging, I trusted the brand and picked up this gloss. After using it a handful of times, I decided to look up the ingredients. What a let down.
*Sappho Foundation Brush - This brush fell apart on me, the ferrell came loose and fell off. Despite that, this was a fantastic foundation brush. Sappho has since come out with new brushes.
*PR SAMPLES

December 2014 & January 2015 Empties!

Since I somehow forgot to do my December empties, I'm combining December and January (as the title suggests). I do have quite a bit, although definitely not as much as I expected. Trash talk time!

*Acure Balancing Rose+ Red Tea Toner - review here - I stand by my initial review, it was a bit too drying for my skin and would be ideal in the summer months or for oily skin types. Will likely not repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner - review here - Best toner of life, seriously. I can't seem to find any other toner (high end or not) that works as well as this one does for my skin. It's hydrating, gives an instant boost of radiance, smells lovely, and is affordable. Already working through another bottle and have a backup.

Heritage Store Rose Water - I really enjoyed using this when my skin was super irritated and to set my makeup. I currently have a small bottle in my purse to mist when I'm feeling dry.

*Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion - review here - This cleansing lotion was as lovely as I remember. It didn't remove makeup very well, but was gentle enough to use as a second and/or morning cleanse. Only issue is that I go through it extremely quickly. Would likely repurchase again.

*Wild Honey Apothecary Moringa Honey Mud - I won this little bottle from a contest that Anise Apothecary was having on Facebook, and wasn't all that impressed. I just find that regular honey doesn't work as well for my skin as manuka. It did leave my skin soft, but I wouldn't repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub - review here - This scrub smelled so weird. I couldn't stand using it on my face, so I used it on my body. Wouldn't repurchase.

*Mont Echo Sea Buckthorn Facial Mask - I have mixed feelings about this mask. It has incredible ingredients, like oats and calendula, but never left me wowed. Wouldn't repurchase.

Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea Facial Mask - review here - I loved this mask, although I think I prefer it in the warmer months as it can be drying. It evened out my skin tone, brightened, and helped with any acne. Would totally repurchase.

*Gemstone Organic Ruby Creme - review here - This creme was amazing! When I first received a sample from the company, I couldn't stop raving about it. When I finished the sample jar, the company was kind enough to send me a full one. Not sure what happened but half was through the new jar, it started to smell funny and separate. I tried using it up on my body but the smell just kept getting worse. Not sure if I would repurchase.

The Body Del Radiance Enzyme Peel (sample) - I picked up this (one time use) sample from Husk and really enjoyed it! It contains manuka honey, probiotics, and a bunch of other raw delicious ingredients. It left my skin glowing and radiant! I'm considering splurging on the full size.

*Tres Pure Mini Face Cleanse (sample) - This came in the Petit Vour Limited Luxury FW14 box, from September, and was sooo nice. I mixed it with my cleanser, daily, as a gentle exfoliant and found my skin less congested and much softer. As we got into the colder months, it was a bit much for my sensitive skin. Since it's not easily available in Canada, I wouldn't purchase the full size.

Pelle Beauty Stellar Multitasking Face Oil (sample) - A blog reader came into the spa that I worked at and was kind enough to bring me a bunch of goodies, this was one of them. While it is a nice oil, it's too light for my skin and I don't enjoy the scent of neroli. Wouldn't purchase the full size.

*Province Apothecary Regenerating+Hydrating Face Serum (sample) - review here -  Still not sold on this face serum. It worked so well some days, and other days I felt as though it just sat on my skin. Wouldn't purchase the full size.

*Me & The Girls Moon Serum (sample) - review here - Great oil serum! Absorbed well and left my skin nourished and moisturized. I don't love it more than my Corpa Flora though, so I won't be purchasing the full size.

Myra Aso 100% Marula Oil - review here - Love, love, love! This oil worked so well in my hair and on my face. Already have another bottle on the go and a backup.

Tamanu Oil (in the Corpa bottle) - I had to transfer the oil into the Corpa Flora bottle because the original bottle kept leaking. How annoying! I don't find tamanu is working as well for my skin as it used to. I still highly recommend and will likely repurchase at some point.

*Odylique Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie - review here - This hand cream was a pleasure to use, despite not being fond of the lemongrass scent. It moisturized, without feeling greasy, and helped soothe eczema patches. Since the Andalou Sea Buckthorn hand cream works just as well, is less expensive, and easier to find in stores, I won't be repurchasing this one.

*Me & The Girls Moon Night Moisturizer (sample) - review here - I have to admit, I didn't use this on my face because it contains coconut oil, however, I did use it on my feet! It worked great to keep my feet supa dupa soft. Wouldn't repurchase though.

*Me & The Girls Moon Body Scrub & Foot Scrub (sample) - review here - Both of these scrubs were lovely. I enjoyed the fresh peppermint scent of the foot scrub over the lemony scent of the body scrub, but they had the exact same texture. Scrubs are one thing I never commit to, since I only ever end up using them on my hands, so I wouldn't purchase the full size of either. They are really nice though.

John Masters Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Wash - review here - oh-my-gosh, this body wash smelled so friggen good. I literally wanted to eat it! It lathered well and never left my skin feeling dry. Deep Steep is much more affordable, however, I certainly would repurchase this one just to switch it up.

Clean Well Antibacterial Soap in Spearmint Lime - Love that this hand soap contained no triclosan or other nasty bacteria killing crap. It also never dried out my hands, which is a bonus when you have eczema or are prone to it on your hands. Sadly, Clean Well is no longer available in Canada. Luckily, I still have 2 more bottles in my bathroom (lavender and orange vanilla).

Dr. Bronners Castile Soap in Peppermint - review here - This gigantic bottle took forever to use up. I use Dr. Bronners to clean my bathroom and alternate between peppermint and eucalyptus. Will be repurchasing soon.

*Zuzu Luxe Mascara in Onyx - review here - This was a fantastic mascara, but I found it got super clumpy too quickly. It's really expensive in Canada, so I won't be repurchasing right now.
*Pure Anada Pressed Foundation in Very Fair - review here - Great pressed foundation. Covered well and didn't really cling to dry patches, but it did smell a bit off (that's just the ingredients), the shade range is limited, and it constantly formed a crust on the top. While I love Pure Anada and their pressed shadows are my absolute favourites, the Zuzu Powder is much better and offers a wider shade selection (it's also more expensive though). Wouldn't repurchase.
What did you finish up this month?

*PR SAMPLE

Favourites of 2014 - Part 1

In 2014, I really sucked with keeping up with favourites posts. Come to think of it, it was probably because I enjoyed all of these products throughout the year and hardly strayed. This post will be dedicated to my favourite skin, hair, and body care products of the year. There will be a part 2, dedicated to makeup, and a part 3, dedicated to random things like food, blogs, etc.

Cleansers: I've tried several cleansers over the year, and the clear standout is Corpa Flora Beaute Divine. It melts away my makeup, emulsifies with water, and leaves my skin super clean and soft. It doesn't hurt that it's also a Canadian brand.

Toners: Not sure what it is about the Andalou Illuminating Toner but for the price, it's unbeatable. It smells of fresh oranges, moisturizes, refreshes, and brightens my skin.

Masks: The Pretty Ginger & Cypress Soothing Mask (not pictured) has been a favourite since I transitioned to natural products. It smells lovely, helps draw out impurities, and calms any redness. Since my next fave works great alone and mixed with Pretty, I had to include it as well. Manuka Honey has helped my skin in so many ways. It brightens, moisturizes, calms redness, and helps clear acne and acne spots.

Facial Oils: There were three can't-live-without oils in 2014; *Sea buckthorn (I now use the SBT brand), tamanu (I now use some other brand), and Corpa Flora Eclate Citrouille. All three of these oils, alone and mixed together, work incredibly well to combat acne, dry skin, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and redness. Eclat Citrouille especially gives me a beautiful glow, Love, love, love!

Shampoo: It's no surprise here, Organic Matter Level 1 Shampoo. I love this stuff so much. It works as a shampoo/conditioner (for my hair anyway), never irritates the dermatitis on my scalp, leaves my hair and scalp clean, smooth, soft, and shiny. It's also Canadian!

Conditioner/Treatment/Styling Product: I only use *Myra Aso 100% Marula Oil . This is my everything oil. With one drop, it styles, smooths, and conditions my hair.

Body Wash & Soap: I love the Deep Steep range, and their body wash is the best that I've tried. It lathers well, smells nice, is affordable, and leaves my skin well nourished. Honeydew Spearmint is my favourite scent. For soap, local company On A Branch Soap has blown me away. With no palm oil or canola oil, their soaps feel, smell and leave my skin feeling incredible. Lavender Oatmeal and Winter Chai are my faves.
Body Scrub: I'm not a huge fan of body scrubs, even though I've experienced some amazing ones this year, like Organic Bath Co. and Nyl, and much prefer using them on my hands. For an all over body exfoliation, I like using my Merben Sisal (medium) hand held dry brush.   Hand Cream: I've loved many hand creams this year, but the standout due to its affordability and performance is definitely Andalou Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream. It moisturizes, smells nice, and soothes my ezcema prone, dry, and irritated hands.
First Aid(?): As you can see, I wasn't sure what to classify this product as but it definitely needed a mention. The NBW Healing Balm has been a major favourite this year. I use it on ezcema patches, dry skin, cuts, and irritations. It quickly heals and soothes whenever applied and I can't be without it.
Spot any of your faves?
*PR SAMPLES. All opinions are entirely my own.

Brand Focus: Odylique (Welcome to North America!)

I've heard so much about Odylique, over the past year, from several of my favourite UK bloggers (mostly Sugarpuffish) and was extremely excited to find out that they would now be available in North America. I had the opportunity to try out the *Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie, *Repair Lotion, and *Gentle Herbal Shampoo. 

Margaret, Essential Care’s founder, created our organic skincare from only the finest natural and organic ingredients and no irritant synthetic chemicals. She originally set out to make face skin care for her own very dry, sensitive skin. Over the years she has added organic face products to suit all sensitive skin types from oily to dry. 

‘Odyl’ means a ‘power of nature’, so Odylique is a very fitting name for what we create: truly effective high-performance skin care that reflects ‘the genius of nature’. 

Through helping so many of you with skin problems over the last decade we understand the importance of selecting the best bits of nature, providing a truly hypoallergenic range that is free from common allergen tree nut oils, soy, wheat or dairy (as well as parabens, petrochemical and sulphates). 

Read more here.

I love me a good hand cream, especially in the winter time when my hands get insanely dry from the cold and constant washing, and this *Lemon Butter Hand Smoothie ($25/2 fl. oz.) is absolutely lovely. It contains a bunch of skin loving ingredients, such as cocoa butter, avocado oil, coconut oil and sea buckthorn. It has a very fluid texture, almost like a milk, but is extremely nourishing and moisturizing without feeling greasy. I keep this baby on my nightstand to use before bed and find my hands feel so good whenever I apply it. I'm not fond of the scent, smells more like lemongrass than fresh lemons, but it's grown on me and dissipates quickly.

Of the three products, the *Repair Lotion ($23/2 fl. oz. or  $38 for 6.8 fl. oz.) is my favourite! It has the same fluid texture as the hand smoothie but feels slightly more moisturizing. It works especially well on my face, without causing irritations or breakouts, and has virtually no scent. When my skin is super, super dry, it's not enough, but on good days it definitely is. I usually apply an oil first, then this lotion, or sometimes I'll mix the two. I've been using it morning and night, for several months, and it's maaaaybe about half way through. Like the hand smoothie, it contains beautiful skin loving ingredients such as, raw shea butter, calendula, and aloe. I would highly recommend this lotion.

I was most excited to try the *Gentle Herb Shampoo ($20/6.8 fl. oz.), mainly because Sarah (Sugarpuffish) and I have similar hair and hair needs, but it fell short for me. As I've mentioned many times before, I have fine (but lots of), straight hair with seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp (since I was a baby). This shampoo did not work for me at all. It has an impressive list of ingredients and virtually no scent, but left my hair feeling weighed down, greasy, and my scalp super itchy. That being said, given how many people like this shampoo and my scalp situation, I'd recommend trying it for yourself.

Odylique has definitely left me wanting to try more of their products. I love that the packaging is easy to travel with, their ingredients list is minimal, and there are no overwhelming fragrances. Whether you have allergies, sensitive skin, or are just looking to try something new, Odylique is worth giving a go.

Find it here: odylique.com

*Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are entirely my own.
Hand Smoothie Ingredients: Aqua, Cocos nucifera oil*, Theobroma cacao seed butter*, Persea gratissima oil*, Helianthus annuus seed oil*, Glycerine**, Cetearyl alcohol, Hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract*, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder*, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract*, Cetearyl glucoside, Citrus limon peel oil*, Cymbopogon citratus oil*, Pelargonium graveolens oil*, Vanilla planifolia bean extract*, Lactic acid, Sodium anisate, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Sodium levulinate, Xanthan gum, citral*, geraniol*, limonene* & linalool* (in the essential oils)
*Organically grown & produced (total 93% of product) **Organic origin
Repair Lotion Ingredients: Aqua, Olea europaea fruit oil*, Stellaria media extract*, Butyrospermum parkii butter*, Chamomilla recutita flower extract*, Calendula officinalis flower extract*, Cetearyl alcohol, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract*, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder*, Hypericum perforatum flower extract, Cetearyl glucoside, Glyceryl caprylate, Phenethyl alcohol, Xanthan gum
*Organically grown/produced (min. 95% of product)
Gentle Herb Shampoo Ingredients: Aqua, Coco glucoside, Cocos nucifera oil*, Sodium lauroyl lactylate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder*, Chamomilla recutita flower extract*, Equisetum arvense extract*, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract*, Urtica dioica extract*, Glycerine**, Lecithin*, Alcohol*, Levulinic acid, P-anisic acid, Sodium levulinate, Xanthan gum.
*Organically grown & produced, **Organic origin (70%)

November 2014 Empties

November was a shitty month for me, so I'm definitely glad that it's over. December is going to be busy and fun, with Christmas/holidays and all. Anyone else love this time of the year? This month I actually didn't finish as much as I expected to, however, I did get through a bunch of minis/samples. 

John Masters Scalp Shampoo - This is a new product in the JM range and what drew me in was the fact that it's supposed to help with oily hair and scalp. It smelled like spearmint gum, which was super refreshing and tingly on the scalp, as well as invigorating in the morning. I really liked that it left my hair and scalp squeaky clean without being irritating. Even though it barely lathered, meaning I had to use more product than usual, this bottle lasted me a good five months. This wasn't an everyday shampoo for me, it was a once or twice a week shampoo that helped clarify and refresh. I may repurchase, however, Myra Aso told me that I can mix baking soda with my normal shampoo to help clarify. If it saves me $20+ and actually works, that'll be my new clarifying shampoo.

Organic Matter Level 1 Shampoo - review here - I loved and still love this shampoo so much. It was gentle, virtually scentless (although I do love a bit more scent in my shampoo), non-irritating on my sensitive scalp, and left my hair and scalp clean yet conditioned. I've already repurchased.

Pretty Skin Repair Body Oil - This body oil is actually for stretch mark repair after giving birth, however, since I already have stretch marks I decided to give it a go. The scent was lovely, mild patchouli, and the oil itself absorbed really well into the skin. I've now gone through two bottles and have noticed that my stretch marks, while still there, are less noticeable. My only issue with this oil is the bottle and pump cap, it leaked all the time as you can probably see from the label. May repurchase at some point.

Essencia Wild Cornflower Floral Water - I picked this up on a whim, months ago, and have really enjoyed using it. Wild Cornflower is apparently great for reducing redness and soothing the eye area. As a compress, it can also help reduce puffiness around the eyes. That being said, I used this as a facial toner, as well as to remove any extra mascara that was left behind after cleansing. It smelled a little musty but was very gentle, non irritating, and pleasant to use. Would definitely repurchase.

*New Leaf Hand Soap in Hint O' Mint & Lovely Lavender - review here - As much as I enjoyed the scent and how well these cleansed my hands, the castile base was very drying. Will not repurchase.

*Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda Free Deo in Grapefruit - review here -  LOOOOVEEEE. It is hands down the best deodorant that I have ever used, that doesn't irritate my underarms. I loved the fresh, citrus scent and how creamy the formula was. It kept me stink free almost the whole day. Already repurchased the full size.

*Organic Bath Co. Java Jolt Scrub (mini) - review here - Java Jolt is the perfect name for this little scrub. Although I don't drink coffee, I love the scent of it and this scrub definitely smelled like a cup of java. While the jar was too small to see if it actually helped with cellulite (as coffee, applied to the body, can), it was a great morning pick me up and fantastic exfoliant. I have not been disappointed with any of the Organic Bath Co. scrubs and I hope they become available in Canada soon! Would repurchase.

*Province Apothecary Cleanser + Makeup Remover - review here - My thoughts on this cleanser remain true to the review, it's fabulous! It removed makeup well and left my skin soft, all while smelling lovely. Would definitely repurchase.

*Province Apothecary Invigorating + Balancing Toner - review here - So...remember how I said in my review that I'd be picking up the full size? I haven't yet. Toner is my addiction and I love trying new ones all the time. This one, however, was really great! I love the blend of ingredients that make it purifying yet gentle. I WILL be picking up the full size at some point.

Those two little samples jars were of a peel by Suki and the gentle cleanser by Acure. Both were given to me by Lisa, of Glam Goes Green, The peel was fantastic for brightening and exfoliating. The Acure cleanser, although contained argan oil, didn't irritate my skin. My only issue was the scent, yuck. Both were only a couple of uses.

*Earthbody Brighten Cleanser + Mask - I received this little gem in the August Petit Vour box and truly loved using it. I mixed it with water, toner, honey, and apple cider vinegar and found it worked well regardless of which mixing medium was used. It pulled out impurities, helped dry up blemishes, and brightened the skin. May purchase the full size at some point.

Lady Gaga Fame Perfume - I finally finished up this bottle of perfume, that I had for two-ish years. While it was definitely not natural, it smelled beautiful. It was floral and sweet and sexy, all at the same time. I don't wear perfume often, but when I do I spray it on my clothes (not directly on skin) and it has to be a scent that I like (obviously). I have yet to find a mind blowing natural perfume and until I do, I'll continue using "toxic" ones. Go ahead, judge me! In any case, this is one that I'd repurchase in a smaller bottle. Desert Essence Coconut Hand & Body Lotion - I love me some coconut smelling products but, this smelled horrible. The coconut scent, while fake, smelled like plastic. Would never purchase the full size. What did you finish up this month? If you have a blog/YT channel, link your empties down below :) *PR SAMPLES

October 2014 Empties

Ohhh goodness, it's time to peep at my trash again. This month I really focused on using up samples as they tend to accumulate and just wait around to be used. I also finished up several full sized products that have been in rotation for months. I feel lighter already!

Andalou Naturals Shea Butter + Sea buckthorn Hand Cream - no review - I've tried the lavender version of this hand cream and it burned, for some odd reason. This one, however, works well when I have and don't have an ezcema flare up. It's smells like oranges, which is always uplifting, and keeps my hands super soft. Already repurchased.

Deep Steep Body Wash in Lavender Chamomile - review here - Deep Steep makes the best and my absolutely favourite body washes. This scent was particular light and nice, however, I still prefer Honeydew Spearmint. Will be repurchasing.

Pretty Ginger & Cypress Soothing Beauty Mud - review here - A long time favourite that works so well for my skin, whether it's warm or cold out. Not sure how they concocted such a simple face mask that works like magic but my DIYs and other clay masks just don't compare. It pulls out impurities and leaves my skin soft and more even toned. Will be repurchasing.

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk - review here - I love this cleanser so much, but I hate the packaging. This is the third bottle that I've gone through and the pump stopped working half way through the bottle, so I had to open it and shake it on my palm every time. So annoying. Aside from that, I loved the formula and how soft (and clear!) my skin was whenever I used it. Despite my love for this cleanser, I will not be repurchasing unless they change the pump.

Living Libations Sea Buckthorn + Tamanu All Over Body Lotion - no review - I was so excited to try this lotion, mainly because it contained sea buckthorn and tamanu (plus a bunch of other amazing ingredients) but, I felt as though it didn't do much for my skin. I used in on both my body and face, it absorbed really well but my skin never felt moisturized enough. It also smelled strongly of vetiver, which lingered. Will not be repurchasing.

*nyl Body Balm - review here - This body balm boasted an impressive list of ingredients and worked incredibly well on my dry elbows, knees, feet, and ezcema patches. A little went a very long way, however, I wasn't a fan of the scent. It's a scent that I can't even describe, perhaps tamanu but stale? I don't know. Will not be repurchasing.

*Gemstone Organic Rube Creme - review here - Lovvvveddd this creme. It worked amazing for my skin and kept it well moisturized without breaking me out. Gemstone Organic has kindly sent me a full size and once I use that up, I will definitely be repurchasing with my own money!

Odacite Pure Elements Pa + G Concentrate - review here - This concentrate did not let me down. It did what it claimed it would, brighten hyperpigmentation and overall skin complexion. While I'm not a fan of the scent of geranium, this one was quite pleasant. I will likely repurchase Pa + G, however, I'd like to try other concentrates from the range.

NBW Healing Balm - review here - This balm has been repackaged (or relabeled) and slightly reformulated to remove soy oil. Still, it worked amazing for my ezcema and I literally cannot live without it. It was so easy to apply on problem areas (dry skin, ezcema, burns, cuts, etc) and travel with. LOVE and have already repurchased. PS. Check out their new website!

Sappho Liquid Foundation in Leisha - review here - The review is actually for Rachel, which is a shade up from Leisha but you can see swatches of Leisha here. I love this foundation dearly (despite it oxidizing) and can't seem to find anything better. It can be light to full coverage, depending on how you apply it, and looks like skin! This little bottle lasted me about 10 full months, so a little goes a long day. Worth every penny and I've already repurchased Leisha.

BeautyBlender - I use the BB to apply Leisha and it's lasted almost as long as the bottle of foundation has (I took very good care of it). I loved the skin like flawless finish that it left behind and already have another one on the go.

*Earthlab Raw Mascara in Black - review here - Great mascara! Even though it didn't give me the va-va-voom lashes that I love to have, it didn't smudge, smear, or flake, and lasted all day without irritating my eyes. I have a few other mascaras to use up but, this is one I'd definitely repurchase.

Hurraw Lip Balm in Black Cherry - review here - The formulation is pretty much the same to the one reviewed, however, this one has a reddish tint and cherry flavour. I loved it! The ingredients are spectacular and I loved the slight tint that it gave my lips. The only thing I dislike about these lip balms is that they get really, really, really soft when it's warm out. Great for the colder months, not a fan in the warmer months.

Sante Brow Pencil in #2 - no review - I've raved about Zuzu in Russet but, I love this one even more. The brown is perfect, cool toned, and the formulation is spot on. I fill in my brows daily, whether I wear any other makeup or not, and this one has lasted me months, I already repurchased and have a backup.

*Rahua Shampoo (sample) - This wasn't as incredible as I expected it to be. It didn't really do much for my hair and actually irritated my sensitive scalp.

*Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner (sample x 2) - Again, disappointed considering the reviews. The coconut scent that it left behind was lovely, but it didn't really do much for my hair. Mind you, I don't normally used conditioner nor do I feel I really need it.

*Rare El'ements Pure Shampoo (sample x 2) - Now this was a lovely shampoo! It has a faint herbal scent, lathered well, left my hair clean and scalp happy. Still, I prefer OM.

*Rare El'ements Essential Conditioner (sample x 2) - Another conditioner that didn't do anything for my hair. It felt like more of a thick conditioning mask than an everyday type conditioner.

*Viva Health Amaze Exfoliating Gel (sample) - This was supposed to be a chemical exfoliant that rubs off dead skin cells, however, as I applied it on my skin, it seemed to ball up and off. I didn't notice a difference in my skin. Will not be purchasing the full size. *Viva Health Cleansing Gel (sample) - I'm not a fan of gel cleansers and this one was no exception. It was a traditional gel texture, but didn't really foam, and stung my face a bit. Will not be purchasing the full size. *Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream (sample) - I'm not usually a fan of rose scents but, I didn't mind this one. It felt really nice on the skin but wasn't enough on its own. Will not be purchasing the full size. *Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Night Cream (sample) - Again, pleasant rose scent. I really enjoyed using this one in the day because it was heavier than the day cream and left my skin well moisturized for makeup. I have other products that I like better though. Will not be purchasing the full size. *Ella's Lemon Zing Beauty Bar Soap (sample) - I used this to cleanse my hands and really enjoyed the light scent and exfoliating properties. I'm not a fan of the fact that canola oil is the base. Will not be purchasing the full size. *Annointment Shea Butter Cream (sample) - This was really rich but absorbed nicely. I didn't love it enough to purchase a full size. *Rose Mira Sweet Coconut Body Butter (sample) - I loved the tropical coconut, with a hint of citrus scent, of this body butter and found it worked really well. However, it did melt in transit and became gritty once it hardened. It would probably be better in the colder months, avoiding the temperature fluctuations, but I don't think I'll purchasing the full size.  *Nature Girl Vanilla Shea (sample) - I adored the whipped texture of this shea butter and how quickly it absorbed, just not the scent. I may consider picking up the full size of another scent. *May Lindstrom The Problem Solver (sample) - A client was actually kind enough to give me a generous sample from her personal jar to try. I'm not sure it's as magical as everyone claims it to be, however, I did use it incorrectly the first time and didn't have enough to use it correctly the second time. That being said, it's likely I didn't reap the benefits due to personal error. It's no surprise that my empties post this month is ridiculous, when will my stash end?! I'm not complaining, I love samples and trying out new things. November will probably be ridiculous as well because I've been using up more samples and finishing up things that I've had sitting around for ages. What have you finished in October? *PR samples, received at shows, provided by friends or business owners (as they would provide anyone with samples), etc. All opinions are entirely my own