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

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

May 2013 Empties!

I now get why in most Youtube empties videos they start with, "I can't believe (enter month) is already over". Time seems to be passing quicker and quicker every month. As usual, this will be a lengthy empties with some random products. I'm going to try and keep it short and sweet.

Skin Care

Pai Echium Biorejuvenate Eye Cream - review here - This is such a lovely eye cream. It's light, yet hydrated well, and did seem to slightly minimize the appearance of my fine lines. It worked great alone or under makeup. I've gone through two tubes of it and will likely repurchase.

Weleda Baby Calendula Face Cream - review here - LOVE.THIS.STUFF. It is so moisturizing, nourishing and just wonderful. I use it on my face and body on the regular and have already repurchased.

Camocare Organics Instant Radiance AHA Lifting Peel - review here - This was a nice chemical exfoliating product. Was it better than P+S lactic or Devita glycolic blend? No. I wouldn't repurchase.

Aura Cacia Avocado Oil - no review - I was experimenting with different oils and making my own blended facial oils in the Winter. I think Avocado oil is a bit heavy for my skin, so I ended up using it in my hair which worked great. I wouldn't repurchase though.

Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel Toner - review here - I've gone through several bottles of this stuff, it's my absolute favourite toner at a such a great price point. I'm not going to repurchase right now because I've been experimenting with a DIY apple cider vinegar and aloe toner.

Scrubs

BambuEarth Sugar Cookie Body Polish - review here - This left my skin soft but the scent was too strong for me. Great company, great ingredients, just not the scrub for me.

Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub - review here - I really enjoyed the taste of this scrub. It's sweet and salty, and worked great at exfoliating my lips. Won't be repurchasing because I'm going to attempt (not like it's hard) my own lip scrub.

Samples

Suki Transformative Cleansing Clay/Bio-active Purifying Face Serum/ Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser - These sample packets were way too small to decide if they a. did anything and b. did anything. I've had multiple samples of the exfoliate foaming cleanser and that's lovely.

Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer - I was using the daily resurfacer while in my second skin care course and it worked really well on my skin. I found it reduced break outs and helped lighten acne scars. Obviously the sample was a one time use, but it gave my skin an overnight boost. It's pretty expensive and not totally natural, I likely won't purchase.

Dr. Alkatis Organic Cellular Repair Mask - review here - I didn't find this mask did anything special for my skin. I won't purchase the full size.

More Samples

Dr. Alkatis Organic Herbal Toner - review here - This was a nice toner. It hydrated, cleansed, didn't irritate or burn my skin, and smelled nice. A little expensive for a toner though, I won't purchase the full size.

Dr. Alkatis Organic Soothing Gel - review here - My face initially burned upon applying this soothing gel, but it got used to it. I found it helped heal acne and calm down my skin. I'm still unsure on if I'd purchase the full size. I guess if I'm that unsure, it's likely I won't.

Green Beaver Green Tea Facial Cream - I also used this in my skin care course as my moisturizer for each facial. So instead of whoever worked on me applying a chemical filled moisturizer, I used this and it was great. It hydrated and soothed my skin really nicely. I think I may purchase the full size eventually.

Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence - I kept this in my purse to refresh my makeup during the day. It's pretty miniature but one spritz is all I needed. It's very scented, overpowering really. It's not a scent that I could see myself getting used to. I won't be purchasing the full size.

I actually met Nancy and Patricia, who own Shoosha True, at The Big Carrot earlier this month. The line is geared towards babies and mothers/mothers to be. Patricia told me how the products can be used as skin care and how both (Nancy and Patricia) use their products on their face. Both ladies were super sweet and passionate that I ended up getting a couple of samples to try on my face.

Shoosha True Gentlest Baby Wash & Shampoo (Unscented) - It was nice, slightly foaming, unscented cleanser. It worked well at removing most of my makeup and keeping my skin hydrated. I still much prefer my Pangea cleanser though and so I won't be picking up the full size.

Shoosha True Rejuvenate Stretch Mark  Serum - Apparently this works wonders on both Patricia and Nancy. What really made me want to try it is the tamanu oil in it. Y'all know how much I love tamanu! Sadly, it gave me little red bumps all over my forehead. I ended up using it on some actual stretch marks (behind my knees, hips, etc). Of course, it's too small a sample to see a difference but it smelled really nice and could work with continued use.

Randoms

Pukka Tea in Chamomile & Vanilla, Harmonise, and Green Tea - Yes, I have a tea problem. I especially have a Pukka tea problem because I just love them. In all fairness, I think I have 2 bags left of both Chamomile & Vanilla and Harmonise, but in attempt to make space and throw out the boxes, I included them. I absolutely love C&V! It's so soothing and comforting, I've actually already purchased a backup. Harmonise was alright, I didn't find it to taste like much. I won't be repurchasing that one. The Green Tea was really nice because it's a blend of three different green teas. This was actually my second (or third) box. I'm going to look into a loose leaf green tea next, so I haven't repurchased.

More Randoms

Udo's Choice Flora Probiotic Super 8 Plus - I talked about this probiotic in my April Empties. I've noticed a massive difference since taking probiotics and this one is apparently really great. I've already repurchased but I go through them rather quickly, so I may look into a different brand next time.

Mega Food Women's One Daily - I really like taking a multi when I don't feel like I ate enough or ate nutritious enough. This one in particular is supposed to be a whole food multi, basically the vitamins and minerals come from actual food sources and can be better absorbed by the body. This is a great brand and even my boyfriend bought some as well. I haven't actually repurchased this brand. I'm trying another whole food brand that's a little more wallet friendly.  

Tossing

EOS Shave Cream in Pomegranate Raspberry - I bought this like two years ago, not even looking at the ingredients. I figured their EOS lip balm is pretty natural so their other products must be as well. A tip, from me to you, never assume! I don't shave often because I've had laser hair removal done, that's why this lasted me forever. It smells amazing but it's loaded with crap ingredients like fragrance, mineral oil, etc, etc.



Also tossing

Dr. Alkatis Night Crème - review here - I actually found this after I had tossed everything out, but since it's not being used I've decided to toss it. Both my mom and I don't enjoy this cream and we agree it's too heavy regardless of how much or little we use.

If you've made it through the entire post, I applaud you. It was exhausting to write, probably because it's late and I'm pretty tired, and I hope it wasn't as exhausting to read.

Let me know what you've finished up!

Green Living Show Haul!

I did a post on my day at the show, now here's a look at what I picked up. I didn't get much because if I hadn't of shown some restraint, I would have bought something from every single booth.

Skin Care, Body Care & Makeup

Ta-da! Look at all that stuff. Overwhelmed yet? I picked up...

• Ground Soap bars; Backbone which smells like cinnamon goodness and Lemme Bee Your Honey which is pretty lemony. Backbone was given to me by the lovely Angela. I think it was because I kept smelling all of the soaps so many times that she wanted to get rid of me...how embarrassing.

• Bee 23 Hotty Body Balm in Mango Mornings which is fantastic! I've used this the last two days, after showering, and I have absolutely no dry patches. My elbows and knees are soft like a baby's bum!  

• MarieNatie lip gloss in Love Struck which is gorgeous and tastes like cinnamon and sugar..basically dessert. I've blogged about these before and I'm pretty sure they've been in a couple of monthly favourites, they're great.

Then I got two samples; the white container is the Cocoon Apothecary Petal Purity Exfoliating Facial Cleanser which I've only used once and enjoyed, and the bar is Jaydancin facial bar cleanser which I have yet to use. I don't even know which "flavour" it is and they haven't tweeted me back. TSK TSK Jaydancin!

Tea & Food

I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Pukka teas at one of the booths. This is hands down my favourite brand of tea because the blends are great, they taste awesome, they're fair trade and organic. I think I've mentioned before that my boyfriend enjoys plain green and white loose leaf tea. He judges me with his eyes whenever I pull out anything else but, since he was at my place and desperate, he tried their green tea and really liked it. Life story over, I picked up Harmonise and Green Tea (I think this is the same as Three Green).

Then, since there's food everywhere and I cannot not try it, my boyfriend and I fell in food love with Neal Brothers Organic Blue Corn Tortillas and Habanero Salsa. The Habanero salsa is actually hot. Mouth.On.Fire.Hot! I was like, "yah okay most food that's got hot written on it isn't actually hot". We tried it and there was a bit of a kick, so I picked up two. Once you eat a few, you REALLY start to feel it burn. If spicy is your thing, give this a try.

That concludes my Green Living Show haul. I'm really happy with what I picked up and will definitely do full reviews of the soap, body balm and lip gloss.

Anything in my haul tickle your fancy?