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

Fresh Faced Sample Haul!

Fresh Faced recently started a sample program, which is genius. I love being able to pick up samples of expensive products before committing to full size, makes sense no? Samples are limited to 10 only and shipping still applies if your order is under $75. Since Caitie, from Naturalla Beauty, recently hauled her samples, I thought I'd do the same.

I picked up:

Ilia Femme Fatale and Crimson & Clover

Marie Veronique Organics Everyday Coverage in Light & Medium

W3LL People Universalist Stick in #3 & #8

One Love Organics Vit. E Eye Balm & Cleansing Oil

Rahua Voluminious Shampoo

S.W. Basics Cream

W3LL People Shadow in Holiday (kindly thrown in by Sally, not shown)

Tried any on my list? Let me know what you think of them!

October 2013 Empties!

I love this time of the month. It's a time of unloading and letting go of trash. I finished up a bunch of stuff this month, so grab a cup of something and a snack as this is going to be rather lengthy.

In no particular order....

 

*Delizioso Passion Fruit Organic Body Oil - review here - This was an absolutely lovely body oil. Very nourishing and moisturizing, and absorbed into the skin easily. Took it on vacation and my skin drank it up! I would definitely repurchase, just not in this scent or right now.

Badger Aloe SPF 15 Sunscreen - review here - This little bottle came in handy for reapplying on the beach and was great for travelling with as it never leaked. I loved the hydrating ingredients, but didn't enjoy the white cast that it left behind. Won't be repurchasing this particular one.

DeVita SPF 30 Body Block - review here - For the price, this was a fantastic sized sunscreen. I liked that it didn't smell weird (or have the "unscented" scent) and absorbed for the most part. My biggest issue was that it flaked/balled/pilled within a couple of hours. For that reason, I don't think I will be repurchasing.

Weleda Baby Calendula Face Cream - review here - Favourite cream ever. Already repurchased.

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Cocktail Body Wash (sample) - no review - Smelled great but it left my skin feeling a bit dry, too much foaming action perhaps. I also wasn't too fond of the ingredients. Won't be purchasing the full size.

Consonant Ultra Moisturizing Face Cream for Dry Skin (sample) - Super moisturizing for sure. My skin soaked it up and it worked great under makeup. Debating on picking up the full size.

Consonant Moisturizing Face Cream (sample) - Wasn't moisturizing enough for my parched skin. Won't be purchasing the full size.

Consonant Citrus Bergamot Organic Body Lotion (sample) - Lovely scent but wasn't moisturizing enough for my parched skin. Won't be purchasing the full size.

Dr. Mist Unscented Spray Deo (sample) - review here - Great for travelling with, but too drying for the colder months. I also finished up a full size, which you'll see below.

Weleda Pomegranate Body Oil (sample) - review here - Loved this oil so much and have gone through a few bottles. Will likely purchase the full size again at some point but, I'd like to try other body oils.

*SBT Seabuckthorn Hand, Skin, Berry, Day, & Night Cream - review here - My absolutely favourite was the day cream. I found it to be the only one hydrating/moisturizing enough for my skin. Debating on purchasing the full size.

Badger Highland Mint Lip & Body Balm - review here - I ended up using this as a foot balm and it worked great! It lasted me several months, a little goes a long way, and the minty scent is refreshing. I have a few balms to use up, so I won't be repurchasing right now.

Earth Lilly Moroccan Rhassoul Clay Scalp & Hair Wash - no review - I have a love/hate relationship with this product. It helped soothe my itchy scalp dermatitis, but left my hair feeling gritty and greasy. My first bottle developed a weird smell, which Earth Lilly was quick to replace. The replacement bottle never set foot in the shower, yet developed the same scent (think vomit). I don't think the product lasts long after being opened, which is disappointing because it's about $20 CAN for a small bottle. You have to use quite a bit and the effort is just too much for me to keep up with. Will not be repurchasing.

Diva Wash - review here - Was great for washing my Diva Cup, face, body, etc. I've started using Dr. Bronner's for my Diva Cup, therefore, I won't be repurchasing.

Dr. Mist - review here - Works well but dries out my underarms in the colder months. Won't be repurchasing right now.

Hugo Naturals Sweet Eucalyptus - review here - I have loved these soaps for years, but this scent just didn't do it for me and I found the soap a little too slimy. Perhaps my love for Hugo is dwindling after trying out some amazing Canadian brands. Won't be repurchasing.

PF Fake Out Mascara - review here - Loved this mascara but, this tube dried out within about a month and a half, which is sad. Unless I find this on sale, I'm going to try some other mascaras.

Alima Pura Satin Matte Foundation in Warm 2 - review here - I really loved this foundation even though the colour match wasn't perfect. It's lasted me a year and a half or so, and  it was great value for money. I've since discovered my love for liquid foundations and the beautyblender. Won't be repurchasing right now.

Pukka Relax Tea, Pukka Chamomile & Vanilla Tea, & Pukka Three Variety Pack - no review - I love tea soooo much and these Pukka ones are my faves. I'm making it my mission to try as many as possible. Relax contains fennel and marshmallow root which are really great for the digestive system and (marshmallow in particular) for rebuilding the intestinal walls. I notice such a difference when I drink this tea; belly soothing, no bloating, and better digestion if you will. Chamomile & Vanilla is also very soothing and tastes delicious. I've gone through several boxes of this stuff. Three Variety Pack contained five different types of tea; Three Mint, Three Fennel, Three Green, Three Ginger, and Three Tulsi. The fennel and tulsi ones were hard to drink, they didn't taste that great (to me). I've repurchased Relax and Three Green, but will definitely pick up CV again.

Organic Pumpkin Seed Butter - no review - This was surprisingly delicious and I enjoyed it on toast and in raw protein bars I made (recipe to come..one day lol). Would repurchase, just not right now.

Freshly Ground Peanut Butter - no review - PB is one of my favourite things ever and freshly ground PB is just phenomenal. I tried making the raw protein bars with this, just to see how it tasted, and there were mixed reviews. See why I don't want to put up a recipe? I want to master it first :P. Would repurchase, just not right now.

New Chapter Probiotic - no review - I take probiotics daily and enjoy rotating brands. This one is less expensive than Udo's and works well. Will repurchase, but currently using Udo's.

Ruth's Chia Goodness in Chocolate - no review - SO GOOD!!! I mix this in everything; oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream (dairy free or not), baked goods, smoothies, etc. It contains chia, hemp, and buckwheat which makes it a powerhouse source of nutrients. I always have a backup, which means that I've already repurchased.

Pangea Japanese Matcha Mask - review here - I purchased this mask on sale and it was well worth it. It's lasted a long while and I found it to actually brighten up my skin. After 5 months of use, I'm ready to try something new. Won't be repurchasing.

*Corpa Flora Beaute Divine Oil Cleanser  - review here - Just wrote the review, love it. I still have another 30ml bottle.

*Olie Biologique 006 Calming Oil - review here - This is a strongly chamomile scented oil that really did help to calm the skin. It absorbed beautifully and reduced redness within minutes. I enjoyed mixing it into clay masks for the extra soothing properties. Won't be repurchasing right now.

Zuzu Luxe Brow Pencil in Russet - review here - I honestly didn't think this pencil was going to last as long as it did. It's the perfect shade match for my brows and lasts all day. Already repurchased.

I'm tossing these three products and here's why..

The All Natural Face "Magic" Eye Primer - review here - It didn't work for me and it seems it might be getting old as there are oil bits separating in the tube.

TANF Vegan Eye Shadow Primer in Buff  - review here - Worked even less than the "magic" primer and I can't even use it as a concealer because it's too cakey.

Dr. Alkaitis Eye Creme - review here - Really enjoyed this eye creme. I thought I lost it, but recently found it again and it smells weird. Probably went bad.

Phew, I'm done! I managed to use up a lot of stuff this month, proud moment for me. Let me know in the comments below what you finished up or link to your blog post/YT video :)

*PR samples

April 2013 Empties Part 2!

I finished so many products this month, full size and sample size. I love the feeling of finishing up products and making space in my drawers. Generally, samples are reserved for travelling but I don't want them sitting around forever nor do I want to bring home empty sachets. Here are the samples that I finished up this month..

Primavera Hand & Nail Cream - I'm not usually a fan of ginger scents but this was really nice! It was light, fresh and the scent didn't linger for too long. It moisturized really well without feeling greasy or sticky. I adore my Weleda Skin Food though and, therefore, wouldn't purchase the full size.

Weleda Citrus Hydrating Lotion - This hydrates alright. I didn't think it was anything special and I didn't enjoy the super citrusy scent. It's not something that I'd purchase.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil - I just love this oil! It smells ever so slightly sweet, hydrates wonderfully and leaves my skin feeling amazing. I've already purchased the full size.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion - I finished 3 of these little samples and really wanted to love it. This smells just a little stronger than the body oil, which is nice, but I don't find it hydrates all that well on its own. I won't purchase the full size.

Cocoon Apothecary Petal Purity Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - I really enjoyed this sample. It doesn't have a very strong scent, but it does smell slightly like roses (which I normally don't like). It's provides a very gentle exfoliation, left my skin smooth and glowing. I'd consider picking up the full size.

Primavera Moisturizing Face Care Starter Kit (the 4 in the middle) - My mom and I weren't huge fans of this line. You can read the full review here.

John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair - I love John Masters hair products. Sadly, there was only enough in here to use once (maybe twice but I got a little product happy) and I couldn't tell if it did anything amazing for my hair. Not sure if I'll purchase the full size.

Suki Color Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain - I was setting myself up to hate this product because Suki usually smells so strong but, to my surprise, this didn't smell like much. I mixed in a little Alima Pure Warm 2 foundation to make it slightly more yellow, applied it with my hands and out the door I went. It didn't cover, just evened out my complexion and made it glow. It's pretty expensive, not sure I'd purchase the full size.

I made quite a dent in my samples, feels sooooo good! 

Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear what you thought.

Saffron Rouge Haul + First Impressions!

I was going to put this into my collective haul post, that will be up after this one, but there was just too much to show and say. I've seen Saffron Rouge before, browsed their site, saw their prices, and clicked the X on the top right corner. Then I did that all over again, like a million times. Since I've finished virtually all of my skin care, I thought I'd splurge a little and try some higher end products that I've never used before.

I ordered the Mini Firming Flax Eye Cream from The Body Deli ($20 CAN for 5ml) and a travel kit from Dr. Alkaitis ($51.95 CAN for a 30ml Purifying Cleanser, 30ml Herbal Toner, 30ml Soothing Gel, 30ml Nourishing Treatment oil, 7ml Day Creme, 7ml Night Creme, 3.5ml Eye Creme and a little bag with a powdered mask). I've only tried The Body Deli eye cream, once, and it feels really nice. Only the tiniest amount is needed for each eye, so I think this sample is going to last me a long time.

Then I got to pick 5 samples, fun! I picked the Primavera Hand & Nail Cream, ilike St. John's Wort Eye Contour Cream, Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser, Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay and Erbaviva SPF 30. I've tried the Suki exfoliating cleanser before and really enjoyed it, everything else will be like opening a present! You know when you open something for the first time and you're really excited to try it or use it? That's how I feel about new skin care.

Speaking of opening a present, there was one in the box! I honestly had no idea what the heck this was but I was dying to rip it open. It took every bit of restraint to wait until I took a picture before tearing into it like a kid on Christmas.

In it were MORE samples!!!!!!!!!! Who doesn't like samples!? I will say, I saw Dr. Hauschka and cringed, until I saw that it was the cleansing cream (insert happy dance). They also sent me a Primavera Rose Pomegranate Intensive Renewing Cream, Inika Liquid Mineral Foundation in Beige, Living Nature Vitalizing Cleanser, Tallulah Jane Aiyana Perfume and John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo. There was also a little card with 10% off my next purchase. I'm not sure if this little package is something that they send with first time orders or all orders, but it was such a wonderful and lovely surprise.

My first impressions is more on my Saffron Rouge experience than the products themselves. The website is user friendly, customer service is fantastic, checkout is easy and quick, and my package arrived within days. I love that you get to pick your samples with every order. It allows the customer to pick based on their specific needs and provides a customizable experience that sets them apart from other etailers. I absolutely loved the additional samples and 10% coupon code! My only issue is my total at check out didn't match up to my charged total. I emailed Saffron Rouge right away (it was a Saturday) and received a response from Kim first thing Monday morning explaining that the taxes are defaulted until your province and all that jazz is put in. I guess that means once you hit "place my order" because it only showed me my actual total after the fact. She kindly asked if I wanted to proceed or cancel my order, I obviously proceeded. They should definitely change their checkout total update as soon as the province/state is inputted so that customers know exactly what is being charged prior to completing the order. Just a friendly suggestion :). Aside from that, I am 100% pleased with my first order and experience with Saffron Rouge and will be purchasing from them again.

Have you ever ordered from Saffron Rouge or tried any of the products above?

Fresh Faced Samples!

I've made a couple of purchases, maybe 3, from Fresh Faced and received some pretty wonderful samples with my orders.  I just wanted to do a little post on what I received and my first impressions.  The samples are pretty small, so it's hard to make a decision on whether or not I'd purchase but here goes....

 

From left to right:

 

 

Kahina Facial Lotion - It's a light textured lotion that hydrates well but it's not enough for me for the colder months.  It doesn't smell like anything, great for those sensitive to scents.  I only had enough to use it twice so I'm not sure if I would purchase the full size.

 

Pai Chamomile & Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream - This was disappointing for me because it made me break out.  A little goes a very long way, it feels like butter.  It's greasy and just feels oily on your skin.  I love chamomile and rosehip and thought this would be a definite winner. Light scent that doesn't linger.  I won't purchase the full size. 

 

One Love Organics Easy Does It Cleanser - I didn't find that this cleanser foamed up very much, didn't remove ALL of my makeup but I was impressed because I expected it to remove nothing with how watery feeling it is.  It doesn't smell like much.  Definitely doesn't compare to my Pangea cleanser which I'm sticking with!

 

 

 

One Love Organics Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum - I haven't tried this yet but will tomorrow morning!

 

Pai Macadamia & Rose BioRejuvenate Cream for Dry Skin - This was a surprise! I thought this was going to be way too thick and greasy.  It is thick and a tad greasy but it moisturizes so well and soaks right into my skin without breaking me out.  I am still working through the sample but am considering purchasing the full size.

 

Kahina Argan Oil - I used this on my hair and really liked it!  Will I purchase it?  I don't know yet.  

 

 

 

One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Mask - Haven't tried this yet either but will at some point lol.

 

That's all folks!