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

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

Brand Focus: New Leaf Naturals

A few months ago, I was contacted by the super sweet Shawna who owns New Leaf Naturals. They are a USA based small business that hand makes (in small batches) all natural, tea inspired bath and body products. In love with the extensive range of products and the sound of the scents, I happily offered to provide some feedback.

Shawna was kind enough to send me a full sized *Chai to Relax Foaming Hand Soap, samples of *A Hint of Mint, *Chamomile Lemongrass, and *Lovely Lavender Foaming Hand Soap, *Stink Stopper Natural Deodorant, and three lip balms; *Honeyed Grapefruit, *Peppermint Stick, and *Lime in the Coconut.

 

Foaming Hand Soap: After long hours deliberating with our legal, marketing, and communications teams, we have gained a consensus on the following description of our foaming hand soaps: they are soaps, and they foam. Ok, that's not entirely true...we don't have a legal team, and I am the marketing and communications team. In truth, our soaps are handmade in small batches with the highest quality ingredients we can find so that they are tough on dirt and germs, but gentle on your skin.  

Available in: Chai to Relax, A Hint of Mint, Lovely Lavender, Chamomile Lemongrass, and Orange You Glad. Retails for $7 USD for 8.75 oz. Click here to view ingredients.

ha! Soaps that foam, there ya have it folks! Love their wit. These soaps are lovely for getting off dirt or, in my case, makeup. Since castile soap tends to irritate and dry out my skin with continued use, I only use these when my hands need a deep clean. While all four scents are nice, my favourite has to be A Hint of Mint. I've been digging the minty scents lately, they're so refreshing. In terms of fragrance, they're all lightly scented and don't linger. Personally, if something smells nice, I like it to linger a bit. While that's a downfall for me, I know that there are many who would appreciate the faint/light fragrance of each of these.

Stink Stopper All Natural Deodorant: A natural deodorant that works! Tamanu and Coconut oils lend their anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to a skin pampering body butter base. Add in some bakng soda and tea tree and lavender essential oils, and you have an all natural deodorant with some serious stink stopping power.  

Retails for $7 USD for 1 oz. Click here to view ingredients.

This is the very first baking soda containing deodorant that actually works, for me, without irritating my pits! It's always creamy, no stirring required, and applies easily under the arms. The texture is actually whipped, like a whipped mousse or something. Ready for it? I'm not a huge fan of the scent. It smells like cilantro, which I know one of my good pals just loves. I got used to it for sure, I just wish there were more scents available. On really hot days, this deo did need at least one reapplication. For the most part though, it stands up to stink well! Another thing to note, it has a light green colour to it (thanks tamanu) which can transfer (a bit) on white clothing. So when I wear white, and sweat, it turns the under arm part a little green. Luckily, it washes out but I thought I'd let you all know. This is my absolute favourite product of all the ones sent to me by New Leaf Naturals and one to check out!

 

Lip Balms: Winter's cold, dry air taking its toll on your lips? Our natural lip balms, made from beeswax and mango butter, will help to heal and protect them. Keep those lips healthy, soft, and kissable!  

Available in: Honeyed Grapefruit, Peppermint Stick, Lime in the Coconut, Chai to Relax, Orange Smoothie, and Chocolate Covered Orange. Retails for $3 USD. Click here to view ingredients.

I have really mixed feelings about these lip balms. The texture and formula is spot on; smooth and creamy. It's, once again, the scents that don't do it for me. All three smell exactly like you think they would but, the scents have changed over the last couple of months. Peppermint Stick smells stale (might be the vanilla), Lime the Coconut smells like nothing, and Honeyed Grapefruit smells like a very faint sweet grapefruit/orange. All of the balms were never strong in scent to begin with, but they shouldn't have changed. So while I enjoy the formulas, the scents need work.

My American friends can purchase New Leaf Naturals directly from their website. Anyone outside of the USA can contact Shawna for an estimate on how much shipping will cost.

 

*Products provided for review consideration. All opinions are my own.