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

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

September 2014 Empties

Another day, another bundle of trash to share with you all. My empties really need no introduction.

*Shamanuti Face Oil - review here - I've had this facial oil since January, probably even before that actually, and have loved it as an eye serum. It never gave me milia, wasn't strongly fragranced, and worked to moisturize the delicate eye area. Since I have so many other oils, I will not be repurchasing this one right now.

*Gemstone Organic Calendula Hydrosol - review here - I'm a huge fan of calendula and hydrosols, so you already know I like this one. There was only enough in the bottle to use a handful of times. May purchase a full size.

*evie Amazingly Soothing Makeup Remover - review here - Loved how well this cleanser removed makeup and how well it rinsed off. The smell was very faint but towards the end, it started to smell different...stale, if you will. Not sure I'd repurchase based on that alone.

Pretty Rose Petal & Oatmeal Cleansing Grains - review here - These were my favourite cleansing grains of the two that I've tried and I've had this since January! It worked well as a second and morning cleanse to gentle exfoliate and promote circulation. Will be repurchasing at some point.

*New Leaf Naturals Chamomile Lemongrass Foaming Hand Soap - review here - Lovely company, lovely soap, but too drying for my hands. Will not repurchase.

*Sigrid Simply Beautiful Unscented Body Butter - This body butter has three ingredients; water, beeswax, and olive oil. I questioned how long it could really last without a preservative, especially since there's water in it. I didn't enjoy the olive oil scent and had to add in some peppermint and lavender EO to make it tolerable. Loved it on my feet in the summer time but would not repurchase.

*Organic Bath Co. Zesty Morning Scrub - review here - I stand behind my review of this scrub, sooooo good! It smells like fresh oranges, works well to exfoliate without being too abrasive and I love that the company gives back. I'm hoping they'll be available in Canada soon so that I can repurchase!

*Huckleberry Limoncello Peel/Mask - review here - Incredible! There's not much else to say. Would purchase more if they were available in Canada or would just pick up a large size of the peel if that was available at all.

Living Libations Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops - review here - Love these drops! They're mild and I swear they've been helping my sensitive gums. I've already repurchased and mix it with a salt water mixture to use as a mouth rinse.

Living Libations Frankincense Tooth Paste - Hated the taste and texture of this toothpaste. It also ended up irritating my mouth and leaving me with canker sores, which I haven't had since going natural with my toothpaste. Will not repurchase this particular one.

*Meow Meow Tweet Face+Body Toning Mist in Geranium Basil - There wasn't much in this baby tube to determine whether I liked the formula, but I certainly decided that I didn't like the scent.

Boscia Blotting Papers - I've had these for years and years. They worked well and, as you can see, were well loved. Not sure if these are even still available but I'd repurchase. MarieNatie Lip Gloss in Love Struck - review here -  I love the formula and scent of MarieNatie lip glosses. This one had more pigmentation than the other 2 that I've tried, however, it was still pretty sheer. Would 100% repurchase. *Sappho Liquid Foundation in Rachel - review here - Sappho makes THE best (liquid) foundation that I have ever tried. There are certainly some downfalls, like how it oxidizes, but I still love how natural it looks on my skin and how well it wears. Rachel is a great shade match when I'm tanned, however, I have purchased Leisha (a shade lighter) and am using that now. I've had this bottle for well over a year and have had Leisha since December. The bottle is small but a little goes a long way and is totally worth the $52 price tag! *Red Apple Lipstick The Lash Project Mascara (not pictured) - review here - I've tossed out my RAL mascara after using it for a month because it dried out. I mean, it was already dry but I literally couldn't get any on my lashes anymore. Would not repurchase.
What have you finished up this month?  *PR SAMPLE

August 2014 Empties

Well ladies and gents, don't hate me buuttt Summer is kinda over and I'm beyond excited for Fall! Anyone else love Fall as much as I do? This month I ended up finishing quite a few items, mostly skin care and samples, which was exactly what I had predicted in my last empties post. Come Winter (I know, too soon), my skin gets extra sensitive and so I really wanted to focus on reducing my stash to the bare minimum since I know I won't be as adventurous with my skin care.  Here is what I finished this month...

Corpa Flora Beaute Divine Cleansing Oil - review here -  This is probably my favourite cleansing oil of all time. It's Canadian (major bonus in my books), gentle, effective at removing makeup and cleansing the skin, rinses off better than I remember, and leaves my skin so soft. I am currently working through one other cleansing oil and am hoping to try the Province Apothecary one, but will likely end up repurchasing this one in the near future.

Andalou Naturals Illuminating Toner - review here - Can't say enough good things about this affordable toner. Will be repurchasing.

*Pai Rice Plant & Rosemary BioAffinity Toner - review here - I really did enjoy using this toner. It worked well at reducing redness and refreshing my skin. It's a little too expensive for me though, especially since the spray apparatus doesn't work well. Will not repurchase.

Pretty Black Tea & Raw Cocoa Cleansing Grains - review here - This gentle exfoliating cleanser worked great as a second and morning cleanse, and was gentle enough to use daily. Not only did I end up using it on my face, I also enjoyed using it on my chest, shoulders, and back to combat acne. This container lasted me about 7 months, which goes to show that a little goes a long way. I much prefer the Rose & Oatmeal version, so I will not be repurchasing this one.

La Bella Figura Modern Radiance Concentrate - review here - I really liked the short term results that this serum produced; even and glowing skin, but it fell short in the long term results department (specifically with pigmentation). At a steep $170, it's a serum that I'm glad I had the opportunity to try but not one I plan on repurchasing.

Living Libations Frankincense Fresh Toothpaste - I did not like this toothpaste at all. It was really runny and left a weird aftertaste. Since the texture was off, LL sent me another jar of it and it was exactly the same. Usually it takes about 2 months to finish an LL toothpaste jar but, this one was gone in a month. I will repurchase the Clay version (mentioned here) but not this one.

*Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream - review here - This stuff was incredible and worked like a dream for my ezcema. I'm so sad that I used it up :(. Will definitely be repurchasing.

Himalaya Neem Tablets - Neem is a fantastic blood purifier and has many other health benefits. I purchased these tablets months ago, when my skin was freaking out, in hopes that it would help my skin. It didn't do anything except help my bowel movements, which is cool too. I won't be repurchasing. Has anyone else taken neem before?

Corpa Flora Eclat Citrouille (not pictured) - review here -  AHHHH I can't live without this serum! Seriously, I went without it for a couple of weeks and ended up repurchasing (today). It smells incredible, evens out my skin, helps with pigmentation, and makes my skin glow. A must try for all!

Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil - This is my favourite coconut oil because it has a slight buttery flavour that makes it ideal for baking and tastes great when frying up pancakes. Will be repurchasing.

Clean Well Antibacterial Hand Soap in Lavender - This all natural hand soap uses thyme oil instead of harsh/nasty ingredients to disinfect and kill bacteria. The thyme smell is definitely obvious but the lavender works well to tone it done. It didn't dry out my hands or leave them feeling tight. I've already repurchased another lavender and am currently using a spearmint lime scent (which is also nice).

*Myra Aso Hair Oil (sample) - I love Myra's Marula Oil for my hair and at the Green Living Show, earlier this year, she was kind enough to give me a sample of a custom made hair oil. This one contained marula, broccoli seed oil, jojoba (I think), and sweet orange essential oil. It was only enough for 3 or 4 uses but it rinsed out well and left my ends feeling super soft. I don't often do oil treatments, so I will not be purchasing the full size.

One Love Organics Chia Oil - I purchased this from Eco Diva  and wasn't impressed. I felt like it just sat on my skin, never sinking in.

*May Lindstrom Honey Mud - My girl Lisa, from Glam Goes Green, gave me this sample to try. I wasn't fond of the scent but it did leave my skin feeling incredibly soft!

*Pure Anada Lavender Hand Cream - Another sample that Lisa gave me and I loved this one! It smelled like calming lavender and moisturized my hands without leaving a greasy finish or irritating my ezcema. I may pick up a full size.

*Haut Cosmetics Bio-Mineral Foundation in Burnt Almond - The beautiful Monique, from Anise Apothecary, just started carrying this line and I was stoked to get a sample. The colour matched me well but I'm not sure I'm sold on it. I felt like it caked up a bit but it could just be how I applied it. Might have to purchase or pick up another sample.

*Joyous Health Minty Fresh Toothpaste - Another lovely sample from Lisa! She hooked me up! Loved this toothpaste. It cleaned my teeth well and left my breath minty fresh. Will be picking up a full size.

*Pelle Beauty Luxe Beauty Oil - Received this sample in the Petit Vour box and was really impressed by it. I used it morning and night, and found my skin was well nourished and soft. I may pick up the full size.

Kjaer Weis Foundation in Just Sheer - I purchased this sample from Clementine Fields and chose the wrong shade. It was too dark which means I didn't take the time to play with it.

*Corpa Flora Grenadine - review here - Celine, Creator of Corpa Flora, was at my spa in August and gave me a sample of her day oil. She mentioned that she reduced the coconut oil in it, which I think is why it initially didn't work for me, and I have to say that I really liked it! It's light, soaked in beautifully, worked well as a primer for makeup, and didn't irritate my skin. Will definitely be picking up a bottle next year as it'll be too light for me in the Fall/Winter.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Cream - I initially loved this CC cream but the colour has totally changed, it's so orange now. I purchased it when it was on sale and only have a bit left, so I'm tossing it. Will not be repurchasing. *Sappho Concealers in Undo and Neutrality - review here - I really liked these concealers in the beginning as well, but the texture has changed and they smell funky. Mind you, I've had these for well over a year and a half now. Chucking them and will not be repurchasing. Let me know if you've tried any of the products mentioned and what you've finished up this month :). *PR SAMPLES

Trash Talk July 2014 (Empties)

Another month has passed us by, and I'm thrilled to be killing my stash. August will likely be all skin care and the last of these huge empties posts. As I've mentioned before, I plan on taking the minimalist approach to my skin, body, and hair care routines. Especially with the colder months coming, less is more for my skin.
Grab a drink and snack, and let's get started! 

*New Leaf Naturals Chai to Relax Hand Soap - review here - I really did enjoy this hand soap, despite the scent not being as strong as I normally like, and it worked really well for cleaning makeup and dirt off of my hands. Sadly, castile soap bases irritate my hands.

*Pure+Simple Organic Hair Oil - I've had this hair oil for a very long time and never reviewed it because they've discontinued it. It had a unique scent, that I can't even described, but worked well to condition my scalp and hair.

Deep Steep Body Mist in Honeydew Spearmint - Maaaaan, this is my favourite Deep Steep scent. So refreshing! This body mist was lovely as a refresher, especially when I worked long days and felt stinky. The scent wasn't overpowering and didn't linger for long (sadly) but filled its purpose. I have already repurchased.

Deep Steep Body Wash in Honeydew Spearmint - review here - Love, love, love! The scent was perfect, the foaming action was great, and my skin always felt soft after using it. My boyfriend used up most of this bottle (Thanks Chris) and so I didn't get to enjoy it for as long as I had hoped. Iherb was out of this scent, so I picked up Chamomile Lavender and will say that I'm not loving the scent as much as this one.

*New Leaf Naturals Stink Stopper - review here - Fantastic deodorant! It never irritated my pits and kept me stink free almost all day. I wasn't a fan of the scent and didn't like that it turned white close a bit green (even though it washed off). If there were more scents available and shipping wasn't insane to Canada, I'd 100% pick up another one.

*Organic Bath Co. Stress Less Body Scrub - review here - Nothing has changed from my initial review. It exfoliated really well and left my skin soft without feeling greasy. The scent grew on me, but it wasn't my favouritet. I'm currently using Zesty Mornings...swoon.

*Hush & Dotti Original Cleansing Balm (sample) - I cannot get into cleansing balms. I struggled to use this up and while it was nice, it's just not my thing. I also found the essential oils a little much for my sensitive skin. Will not be picking up the full size.

*Blissoma Mild Rice Facial Cleanser - review here - I thoroughly enjoyed this cleanser. It was actually used on my face and shoulders to keep acne at bay, worked well! The scent wasn't my favourite though and I'm not sure this would work as well for me in the colder months. May repurchase next summer.

*evie Lovingly Pure Toning Rose Water - review here - Loved this soooo much! The smell was beautiful, it hydrated my skin well, set my makeup, and refreshed my skin mid-day. This beautiful bottle comes with a $50 price tag and I'm still debating on whether to splurge.

*Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel - review here - I forgot how long a bottle of Thayers lasts, geez. This was a long time favourite of mine, until I started branching out a bit. The ingredients, size, and price are all right. I really liked using this to mix up clay masks, but can't see myself repurchasing as I've found other toners I love even more.

*Wedderspoon 100% Manuka Honey - This is one item that I can't live without, I actually have a tablespoon left that I scooped into a smaller container. Works well as mask (alone) or mixed with clay. It reduces redness, softens my skin, and kills breakouts. Will definitely be repurchasing.

Living Libations HealthyGums Clay Toothpaste - review here - This toothpaste worked just as well as the one I originally reviewed (Neem Enamelizer) but tasted a billion times better. Living Libations has their toothpaste perfected. They have worked so well for my teeth and gums, and I can't even believe the positive changes that I have seen. I've since picked up the Frankincense Fresh Truth ToothPaste and have been enjoying it.

Zoe Organics Everything Balm - I picked this up to see how it would compare to my beloved NBW Healing Balm and it doesn't even come close. Don't get me wrong, the packaging is super cute, application is easy, and ingredients are incredible but it doesn't work as well for me and my skin issues. Will not be repurchasing.

*The Mystic Masala Spicebodhi Kapha Body Oil - review here - While I never got used to the scent, this was a lovely body oil. I enjoyed using it on my legs and sore lower back. Will not repurchase.

*One Love Organics Gardenia Body Serum (sample) - The scent of this body oil was to die for, so damn good! It moisturized my skin beautifully and never left me feeling greasy. My only issue was that the scent didn't last longer. For that reason, I will not be purchasing the full size.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Mascara - As with most of PF mascaras, this one smudged within minutes of applying. At work, I'd have to constantly check my eyes to ensure I didn't look like I had slept with makeup on and just rolled outta bed. The wand is similar to their others, large with short synthetic bristles, however, it's curved. The curve makes for easier application and the outcome was long, thick lashes. Of all the PF Organic Wear mascaras, FakeOut remains my fave.

*Graydon SPF 30 Sun Cream - review here - So much sadness going on, the pump on this amazing sunscreen stopped working (for the second time) and refused to pump out what's left :(. Still, this remains one of my favourite sunscreens. I loved how it could be used on face and body, didn't leave a white cast, moisturized, and blended with ease. It was a little gritty, but that disappeared the more it was blended in. Will be picking up a jumbo bottle for my next vacation. 
Update (Aug. 3) - I did contact Graydon before doing this post and she was kind enough to offer a replacement, without hesitation, and her apologies. Really though, it's not her fault and that's why I didn't want to accept a replacement bottle. I was able to pop the top and scoop out the remaining sun cream into a little container. No waste!
Told ya it was a long one. Guess that's just expected of me now, eh? haha. What have you finished up this month? See any faves in my empties? *PR SAMPLE

May 2014 Empties!

Oh boy have I finished up a good chunk of my stash this month. I apologize now for a couple of the dark pictures, I took them late at night in order to be able to toss this stuff out for garbage day. Anyway, let's get to it!

Alaffia Neem & Shea Butter Scalp Recovery Shampoo - This shampoo worked brilliantly in the colder months. I tend to have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp, all year round, with dandruff on top of that in the winter. This helped clear up my scalp immediately and then stopped working. Will give it another go next winter.

Shoosha Baby Calm Baby Massage Oil - review here - This was a fantastic cleansing oil (for face) and moisturizing body oil, however, I hated that the bottle cap always leaked. Definitely not travel friendly and just plain annoying. Still, it was lovely and I would repurchase.

Andalou Naturals Apricot Probiotic Cleansing Milk - review here - Ignore the fact that the picture shows that this bottle is not completely empty, it is now. Loved and still love this cleanser so much. The scent was beautiful, it made my skin so soft and helped calm any redness that I had going on on my face. My only issue is that the pump stopped working (again!) at about the point displayed in the picture. Will 100% repurchase this cleanser, once I use up some of the others that I have in rotation.

Andalou Naturals Lavender Shea Hand Cream - I purchased this when the contact dermatitis on my hands, now confirmed ezcema, cleared up with hopes that it would keep my hands clear. Sadly, it irritated my eczema and so I ended up using it as a body lotion. It smells beautifully of lavender and moisturizes well but, I will likely not repurchase.

Aubrey Men's Stock Pine Deodorant - review here - Despite the spray apparatus constantly not functioning properly and the bottle randomly leaking, this worked great for me in the stink department. It is strongly fragranced and contains alcohol, however, it also contains calming ingredients like calendula and arnica. Would definitely repurchase.

Living Libations Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste - review here - Holy moly batman, this toothpaste made my teeth glow. Who knew teeth could glow? I guess anyone who's been using this toothpaste. The flavour isn't my favourite, neem *gags*, but it worked incredible well and I noticed a positive change in my teeth. I've picked up a different toothpaste in their range and see myself repurchasing this one again.

Living Libations Sea Buckthorn Shampoo - review here - Sea Buckthorn is one of my favourite oils, so naturally I had high hopes for this shampoo. It left my hair feeling oily and my scalp itchy. The scent was delicious and I enjoyed using it as a body wash though. Will not repurchase.

SBT Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil - review here - Speaking of sea buckthorn oil....This staining and oompa loompa orange oil was used diluted with other facial oils and in smoothies. As a supplement, it was great. As a skin care oil, it was also great but I much prefer the seed oil. Will not repurchase.

Osmia Spot Treatment - This worked as amazingly well as everyone said it would. I loved how little the bottle was, perfect for tossing in my bag, and smelled really nice. Will likely repurchase.

The Body Deli Blueberry Resurfacing Cleanser - review here - Ahh, this cleanser was a lovely weekly treatment for my face. It smelled incredible and worked well to chemically exfoliate my skin. The tiny bottle lasted me about 5 months, money well spent. Haven't decided whether I will repurchase or go for the scrub in the same family.

Tamanu Oil - review here - Love, love, love. Won't rave about it or say too much besides the fact that I will be repurchasing.

Batty's Bath Skin Support Serum - I didn't do a full review of this brand because I didn't find that it actually did anything for my skin. Couldn't think of what to say besides, "it didn't work". Recently, the owner told me that it takes several months for this serum to work because it treats internally instead of externally. Either way, I had hoped to see some sort of positive change. Won't be repurchasing.

*Blissoma Clay Renewal Treatment - review here - Oh sad, sad day. I heard my heart break when I finally scooped up the last bit of this amazing product. What can I say? It worked so well at fighting blackheads, acne, scars, and just keeping my skin suppppper soft. Shipping to Canada is a little high, so hopefully I can pick up another jar during a sale.

Batch Naturals Multipurpose Cream - review here - This cream was well loved by my elbows, knees, and especially feet. Towards the end it did start smelling weird, so I had to toss it. May repurchase once I use up all the other balms and creams that I have.

Province Apothecary Detoxifying + Clarifying Clay Mask (sample) - PA is a very lush Canadian brand with a beautiful collection of products, this mask being one. Aside from the smell of the Canadian Algae, which I couldn't stand, it worked really well at pulling impurities to the surface allowing me to extract them better. Yes, I squeeze my own face sometimes. Won't be purchasing the full size. 100% Pure Burdock & Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo (sample) - While I'm not looking to stray from my beloved OM shampoo, I need a weekly clarifying treatment that doesn't involve me having to make it. Since it is a small sample, I haven't fully formed an opinion on it. I have a couple more to use, perhaps next empties I'll have more to say about it. Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Lovely (sample) - This shade is very similar to my well loved W3ll People Universalist #7 Creamy Peony, however, the texture is much smoother and leaves a gorgeous sheen on the skin. Now that I know that I love the formula, I may need to pick up Blossoming...or...all of them? W3ll People Universalist #1 Creamy Pink (sample) - This is a total dupe for Nars Orgasm, without the chunky glitter fall out, and is stunning! Not sure I love it enough to pick up the full size but I enjoyed using this sample up. The All Natural Face Diva Stix in Milk - Tossing this out because I never use it.  Phew, done. That's what I've used up this month. Let me know below what you've gone through in May.

Brand Focus: Living Libations

I'd like to thank Sonja, from Life in Blush, for my new current obsession with Living Libations. Her rave reviews have really encouraged me to take the next step from website stalking to actually placing an order. Not sure that this beautiful Canadian line needs much of an introduction but, here's one anyways.

The beautiful Nadine

Living Libations Skin Care Created by Nadine Artemis, botanical muse shaping effable plant-light into palpable consecrations to blush senses and muse imaginations... 

The official biography of Nadine Artemis begins when she first pulls out flasks of essential oils to recreate Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps for a school science fair project. These botanical-inclinations led to took her on adventures creating organic healing balms, reviving elixirs and perfumed poetry for the natural yearnings of many, receiving glowing reviews in the Hollywood Reporter, New York Times and the National Post. Nadine has addressed gatherings at conferences, television and so on.

Read more about Living Libations here.

After much deliberation, I decided to pick up a travel sized Seabuckthorn Shampoo, Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops, and Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste.

                            

Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste: Our Neem*Enamelizer ToothPaste keeps your salvia levels balanced and alkaline, ensuring that tooth enamel stays healthily mineralized. This alkalinizing polish combines cinnamon, coconut oil, saponified olive oil, neem, and sodium bicarbonate. Squeeze a tiny pearl of Neem*Enamelizer ToothPaste onto a dry toothbrush for fortifying results. Avoid while pregnant.
Retails for $16 CDN/USD for 15 ml or $30 CDN/USD for 25 ml.

I'll just start by saying that this toothpaste tastes absolutely awful! If you've ever taken a whiff of neem then you'll know what I'm talking about. Also, the baking soda leaves behind a bitter taste and sometimes makes my skin red. I'm a messy brusher, sometimes it gets on the outside of my lips. Go ahead, pretend like that never happens to you.... Aside from that, it is hands down the best toothpaste that I have ever used. My teeth are noticeably whiter, cleaner, and my gums are less sensitive and hardly bleed at all whilst flossing. It is quite pricey, but totally worth it for a healthy mouth. I've had this little jar for a couple of months now and still have some left. You only need a tiny amount on a dry toothbrush for your entire mouth, morning and night. For fear of running out and having to use anything other than Living Libations, I recently picked up a jar of their Healthy Gums Clay Toothpaste. I've only used it once, but I can tell you that I much prefer the fresh peppermint taste of the Healthy Gums Toothpaste over the Neem Enamelizer.

Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops: Our Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops formula is a milder, gentler version of our Healthy Gum Drops for children. Organic ingredients of seabuckthorn berry, jojoba, peppermint, rose, clove cinnamon, oregano, tea tree and thyme linalool to deeply clean and get in between each tooth. Add a drop to toothbrush, mouth rinse, massage into gums, or glide a drop over dental floss to cleanse the tiny spaces in between the teeth. Created for Children under 9 years.
Milder version of our effective Healthy Gum Drops formula. Retails for $15 CDN/USD for 5 ml or $45 CDN/USD for 15 ml.

Okay, so I'm clearly not under the age of 9 but I was scared that I'd hate the taste of the adult gum drops and figured that I couldn't go wrong with a, "milder, gentler version". Logical thinking people, that's what I'm all about. This a step in my oral care routine that I've never had before and never thought I'd need. I mean really, gum drops? The more that I read about the benefits of each carefully blended essential oil, the more I needed them in my life. No regrets here! Years of brushing too hard has caused a few of my gums to recede a bit, so I have been massaging a drop (morning and night) on those specific areas. What a difference! Between these drops and the toothpaste, most of the sensitivity that I was experiencing is gone! These drops also leave my mouth feeling supa dupa fresh. 

Seabuckthorn Shampoo: Ordain your mane, consecrate your crew, and bless your hair in the botanical wisdom of our Seabuckthorn Shampoo. Undress your tresses from chemical duress withtried and true herbal infusions that benefit all hair types. This shampoo will glorify your luscious locks and is beautiful for babies, children, as a bubble bath, and body wash too. Retails for $7 CDN/USD for 1 oz, $25 CDN/USD for 120 ml, $40 CDN/USD for 250 ml

I was especially excited, and disappointed, by this shampoo. The ingredients are exceptional and it's intoxicating scent is hard to deny but, it didn't work for my hair at all. With fine, straight hair and dermatitis on my scalp, I was left feeling itchy and my hair looked greasy by the time it was done drying. It's a very runny consistency and doesn't lather all that much, which is normal for truly natural shampoos. I can't get over the minty, earthy, sweet, scent of this shampoo. It's gorgeous! While I couldn't use it as a shampoo, it made for a fantastic body wash. Given my hair situation, this is still a shampoo worth checking out.

Living Libations is a line that I look forward to exploring more of. Their beautifully hand-crafted products and high quality ingredients have already won my mouth over and I'm sure will win yours as well. I highly recommend checking out their website, as it is chock full of useful information including a break down of the benefits of each ingredient used and even videos.

Living Libations does ship internationally. You can also find their products at The Big Carrot and Healthy Hut Boutique.

What's your favourite Living Libations product?

Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste Ingredients: Cinnamon, coconut oil, saponified olive oil, neem, sodium bicarbonate, and spring water.
Wild Child Gum Drops Ingredients: Organic ingredients of seabuckthorn berry, jojoba, peppermint, rose, clove cinnamon, oregano, tea tree and thyme linalool
Seabuckthorn Shampoo Ingredients: Organic and/or wild crafted ingredients with pure spring water: herbal infusions of calendula, red clover, oats, coltsfoot, horsetail, comfrey, nettles, chamomile, and bladderwrack seaweed in golden jojoba oil; yucca and coco-protein to saponify; orange wax; supercritical extracts of seabuckthorn berry, sage, and rosemary; and essential oils of grapefruit, peppermint, vetiver, and lime.

Faves Friday!

Hello Friday and lovelies! Bet you're surprised that this is actually up on a Friday instead of the usual Saturday or Sunday. Be proud of me! I have a bunch of new things, and a couple old, that I have been loving over the past couple of weeks.

Deep Steep Body Mist in Honeydew Spearmint - I am beyond obsessed with this scent in the Deep Steep range. It's sweet and fresh and delicious. The mist doesn't last very long on the skin/clothes but, I don't mind reapplying and my clients probably appreciate that I don't smell like a fragrance counter. Sea Salt Spray (in the silver bottle) - When I went to Jamaica, I filled up this Aura Cacia bottle with sea water. Since we were going into Winter at the time and beachy hair wasn't all the rage, I kinda just kept it in a drawer. Now that the sun is finally shining and beachy hair is back in style, I've been using it regularly to give my fine, flat hair some texture and volume. Myra Aso 100% Marula Oil - Have I mentioned my love for marula oil yet? It works wonders for my hair. Since my hair is short and fine, I literally use one little drop and work it into my ends after drying/styling. It completely eliminates frizz and leaves my hair smooth, shiny, and glam. Never tried it? Don't worry, I got a special giveaway coming your way. Sante Eyebrow Pencil in No. 2 Brown - When my brows are full and luscious, I use Zuzu, but when they get a little sparse, it just doesn't do the job. I knew I needed something new and after swatching several brow pencils, Sante was the clear winner. It's not a warm brown so it works great for very dark brown/black brows like mine. I freakin love it. Living Libations Neem Enamelizer Toothpaste - I won't lie, this stuff tastes horrible and often times makes me gag a little. Why's it in your faves then Nicole? Because since I've started using it, my teeth are noticeably whiter and less sensitive. *Lyck Lip Butter in Crushed Berries - This lip butter smells, tastes, and feels divine on my lips. It leaves my lips super soft, makes my lipstick look better and last longer, and crushes candy cravings with each lick of my lips.  Hope you all have an amazing Friday :) *PR SAMPLE