April 2014 Empties!

Where did April go? It zoomed by so quickly. I'm sorry that I've been MIA, it's been super busy at work (which is fantastic) and blogging has been on the back burner. What better post than an empties to kick off May though, right? Let's take a look at my trash.

One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oil - review here - Since the pump on the original bottle stopped working, I transfered the rest over to a jar for easy use. This cleanser smelled delicious and worked incredibly well for removing makeup. I have a few other cleansing oils on the go right now, so I won't be repurchasing at the moment.

*SBT Seabuckthorn Tea Cream - review here - I really loved how light, yet moisturizing, this cream was. It didn't irritated my skin or break me out at all, which is a total bonus in my books. I may repurchase at some point.

*OM Organic Matter Shampoo Level 1 - review here - Obsessed with this shampoo! It left my hair clean and moisturized, and didn't irritate the dermatitis on my scalp at all. Already repurchased.

Dr. Bronner's Coconut Oil - This is probably my favourite coconut oil. It tasted like coconut but, it had more of a buttery taste that made it perfect for pancakes and other cooking. Already repurchased.

*Antipodes Joyful Hand & Body Cream - I wasn't a huge fan of this cream. The scent was overly sweet and it lingered all day. It also took some effort to work it into the skin. Won't be repurchasing.

CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture - review here - This cream was very disappointing. Considering it's steep price tag, I was hoping it would be my holy grail moisturizer. It's lotion like texture would be ideal for warmer months but, it didn't deliver on the claims it made. Won't be repurchasing.

NBW Healing Balm - review here - LOVEEEEE! This balm worked like a dream on my hands and any other skin ailment that I had pop up on my body. Already repurchased.

Crazy Rumors Lip Balm in Pineapple Peppermint - Meh. I guess I'm not much for flavoured lip balms because none of the flavours available, at my health food store, tickled my fancy. Scent/flavour aside, the balm had a really nice texture. I liked that it remained smooth even when it was left in the car on a super cold day. Won't be repurchasing.

Clean Well Sanitizing Hand Wipes - These were handy to keep in my purse but, they smelled strongly of thyme oil (which is the main antibacterial oil used to kill germs). I've purchased the vanilla orange scent, in the tub, and it still doesn't smell very nice. Nonetheless, they work well and I'd repurchase. *Tata Harper Refreshing Cleanser (sample) - This cleanser worked well to remove makeup and didn't leave my skin dry. It also had a mild scent, which is unusual for Tata skin care. Not sure I'd pick up the full size. *Tata Harper Restoritive Eye Cream (sample) - I felt like this gave me milia and I didn't notice a difference in fine lines or moisture levels. I've gone back to using oils. *Shamanuti Creme No.1 (sample) - This cream smelled awful! The scent lingered and even got on my dog (from cuddling) and my pillows. Even though it left my skin beautifully moisturized, I had to wash it off because of the strong scent. La Bella Figura Purifying Mask (sample) - This mask was as beautiful as I've heard it was. It left my spots (and skin) calm and I found it helped speed up the healing time of my breakouts. Once I use up some masks, I will very likely pick up the full size. On A Branch Soaps in Breathe - review here - The eucalyptus in this soap was very uplifting and awakening. I had purchased it because of the clay, was hoping it would help with breakouts on my shoulders and back, but it dried out my skin. Perhaps in the hot Summer months it would have worked better for my skin. Repurchased in another scent. BeautyBlender - Love this sponge for blending out my foundation. I've had this one for about 4 or 5 months and thought it was time to toss it. Got backups for Christmas and already started using a fresh sponge! *Dr. Sponge Green Tea Sponge - review here - Still not fully in love with these sponges. It worked amazingly well at removing my makeup on a lazy day, but was irritating with continued use. May or may not repurchase. That's all I've finished up this month ladies and gents! What have you used up? *PR SAMPLE.

Dr. Sponge Review

Not sure what it is about these little guys but, I always have the hardest time reviewing them. I sit down at my computer and just stare at the screen hoping that the review will write itself. Dr. Sponge was kind enough to send me their *Green Tea and *Original konjac sponges to test out, months ago, and thought it was time to tell you what I think about them.

For thousands of years, Konjac, an exotic plant native to Eastern Asia, has been used in Asian cuisines and medicines for its healthy nutrients. This popular ingredient, now commonly used in food products and dietary supplements, is a powerful booster for beautiful skin because it is naturally rich in vitamins (A, E, D, B1, B2, B6, B12, and C) and minerals. And now we infuse this ancient recipe with modern technology to create a revolutionary skin cleansing tool that serves as an all-in-one solution for various skincare concerns. Dr. Sponge™ is a biodegradable skin cleansing sponge made from food-grade konjac fiber and healthy additives such as green tea and bamboo charcoal. This fair-trade and cruelty-free skincare tool delivers gentle yet effective daily cleansing for all skin types. It works great at clearing pores, removing light makeup, dirt, oil, and even blackheads, leaving your skin refreshed and revitalized after each use. And continued usage leads to gradual improvement of the skin’s overall condition. Made with over 90% pure plant fiber, our earth-friendly sponges help to tone and maintain a healthy skin balance because konjac is naturally and mildly alkaline. It works to balance your skin’s acidity and pH balance. Each sponge also contains potent moisturizing ingredients with strong moisture retention abilities for long-lasting comfort and skincare benefits.

Read more about Dr. Sponge here.

Ingredients: Konjac-mannan (glucommnnan), Water, Green Tea

Description: Green tea, known to contain many nourishing nutrients, is what we used to create this natural plant-based sponge. This soft and gentle konjac sponge, infused with premium green tea powder, helps to keep your skin moisturized and rejuvenated. It is a great skincare treatment to be used daily to protect your skin from free radicals in the environment and to effectively hydrate dry skin because green tea is full of antioxidants and moisturizing substances. This ancient herb provides potent benefits for various skin conditions and is especially recommended for those with drier skin. This green tea konjac sponge is the perfect addition to both your morning and night routine for a luxurious washing experience and pampering facial right in your bathroom. Recommended for dry and normal skin

This little green sponge is hard when you first remove it from the package, but as soon as you run it under water, it becomes soft a squishy. Of course once it dries, it hardens again. So while it's soft and squishy, you rub it in small circular motions all over your face (with or without cleanser) until your skin feels gently exfoliated and well cleansed. You then rinse the sponge and hang it to dry. My absolute favourite way to use this fancy device, is at night with the Andalou Probiotic Cleansing Milk. It completely removes any and all makeup, including stubborn makeup (I'm looking at you mascara), without any effort. Perfect for when I'm way too lazy to double cleanse, remove my makeup first, and/or exfoliate with a different product. It has never left my skin dry but, has left my cheeks very red and slightly irritated. As it warms up, this will probably be something that I reach for more often. My skin can tolerate a lot more in the warmer months because it's way less dry and irritated, still sensitive though. If you're looking for a daily gentle exfoliating and cleansing gadget, I highly recommend trying out Dr. Sponge. They have a variety of infused sponges for all skin types and needs, you're bound to find one that you love.

Retails for $10 CDN/$8.50 USD for one sponge. Can be purchased through Dr. Sponge, Eco Diva Beauty, and several other retailers.

What are your thoughts on konjac sponges? Love em or hate em?

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