* = Disliked the product - would not repurchase
** = Liked the product - might or might not repurchase
*** = Loved the product - would repurchase
1. Coolway Shampoo & Conditioner
Source: June 2013 Beauty Box 5
Thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised by this shampoo & conditioner duo! I was not expecting to like these products because I disliked the Coolway Boost so much. The shampoo made my hair very clean (almost dry), but I didn't mind that too much because it kept the grease in my hair at bay much longer than other shampoos I've tried. The conditioner made my ends feel really soft and silky. I was really happy with the way my hair looked after using these products. I'm not sure if the links above are to the same product though... the packaging looks the same but the products in the links are labelled with "Daily Shine" and "Daily Moisture" rather than "Cool, Cleanse & Hydrate"... hmmm...
Rating: ***
2. Oscar Blandi Pronto Wet Instant Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
Source: Sample with Sephora purchase
Thoughts: It looks like these products got great reviews, but they didn't really do anything for my hair. While I only had enough for 2 uses, I won't be purchasing the full size. One thing I did love about the shampoo was the scent... I think it smells like lemons?
Rating: **
3. Pantene Pro-V Repair & Protect Conditioner
Source: I think I received this in a P&G sample pack
Thoughts: This conditioner was alright - it was nothing too exciting, but I did like the scent.
Rating: **
4. Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner
Source: Hotel sample
Thoughts: Again, nothing too exciting... this time, I didn't really like the scent though!
Rating: **
5. Asira Conditioner
Source: Hotel sample
Thoughts: Another Asira product! Not a fan of these... I hope I'm nearing the end of our stash.
Rating: *
6. L'Oreal EverSleek Shampoo
Source: Purchased by hubby
Thoughts: I found this under the bathroom sink so hubs must have purchased it when it was on sale. It was ok, but I will not be looking out for this at the drug store.
Rating: **
7. Wella Ocean Spritz
Source: June 2012 Glossybox Canada
Thoughts: I love this product! I don't really like the feeling of salt spray in my hair when it's down so I use this product when I want my hair to stay in a sock bun all day - it gives my hair so much texture and stickiness that my sock bun literally holds for 2+ days.
Rating: ***
8. All Things Herbal Naturally Irish Soap in Dublin Mint
Source: March 2013 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: This is one of my favourite bar soaps! It smells refreshingly minty, lathers nicely, does a great job cleansing my skin, and lasts a long time.
Rating: ***
9. Cow Beauty Bar (Red Box)
Source: Swap with Lisa! :)
Thoughts: I enjoyed this bar soap but preferred the variety in the blue box due to the scent. Even still, the packaging (and soap itself) is so cute!
Rating: **
10. Aveeno Smoothing Body Wash in Rice + Pomegranate
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I love the Aveeno body washes, but this is not one of my favourite formulations. It is a lot thicker and goopier than the other Aveeno body washes (likely due to the starchiness of the rice?) and the scent is just ok.
Rating: **
11. Dermadoctor KP Duty Intensive Priming Serum and Moisturizing Therapy
Source: Sample with Sephora purchase
Thoughts: I have KP on my upper arms, but there is not enough product in these samples to determine whether there was any improvement. I absolutely hated the serum... it was stinky and sticky. The cream was ok (very thick), but I think my overall opinion was already tainted by the serum so I didn't like it either.
Rating: *
12. Julep Rock Star Hand Creme
Source: Sample with Julep order
Thoughts: I thought this creme was ok, but I don't remember much about it. The sample pack is tiny so I think I only had enough for one use. One of my YouTube viewers recommended I try this again as she found it did wonders for her hands. I think I have some more samples in my stash so I will definitely have to pull them out and give this hand cream another try.
Rating: **
13. Cake Milk Made Nourishing Hand and Cuticle Buffer
Source: Sample with purchase (but I don't remember which one...)
Thoughts: This was my first time trying a hand/cuticle scrub and I fell in love with this product!! It felt amazing on the back of my hands and on my cuticles and the result was impressive. My cuticles were shiny, clean, and moisturized. I plan to pick up a full size soon. :)
Rating: ***
14. Maybelline Baby Lips in Peppermint
Source: I think hubs got this for free when we went to a movie screening
Thoughts: This is one of my favourite formulations when it comes to a lip balms. I prefer the clear Baby Lips to the tinted ones. The quenched variation is my favourite, but I also love peppermint.
Rating: ***
15. Sula Lip Gloss in I'm So Lucky
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I love the Sula lip glosses, but I hate the packaging. The design itself is pretty... but the tube leaks! I used to find the oils from the gloss all over my makeup bag and other makeup products... I was mystified about the source until I realized it was my beloved Sula lip gloss. I now keep these lip glosses at home - always stored upright. I still love the formulation, the texture, the scent (cherry blasters), and the shades. This particular tube actually started to split so it was time to say goodbye. It was nearly finished anyway... these glosses are extremely easy to use up as they only contain 2.65 grams of product.
Rating: **
16. Brazen Cosmetics Organic Mineral Eye Shadow in Birthday Suit
Source: April 2013 Beauty Box 5
Thoughts: Hooray! I finished an eyeshadow! Up to this point, I think I've only finished 3 or 4 eyeshadows in my entire life. I loved the formulation of this eyeshadow and Birthday Suit was the perfect all over lid colour for me. I'd like to purchase a full size of this, but it looks like Brazen is still reformulating its eyeshadows so there's nothing available on the website... plus I have tons of eyeshadow I still need to use up so I really shouldn't be adding to my collection.
Rating: ***
17. Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: These blotting sheets are a staple in my makeup bag and I've repurchased them again and again.
Rating: ***
18. Jean Pierre Cosmetics Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Pads
Source: Beauty Box 5
Thoughts: I liked these facial cleansing pads. Oddly enough, they irritated my skin when I first started using them in Aruba so I stopped using them for a while. I recently picked them up again to finish the pack and even used them on my eyes, but there was no further irritation.
Rating: **
19. Jean Pierre Cosmetics Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Pads
Source: December 2012 Beauty Box 5
Thoughts: I liked these facial cleansing pads. Oddly enough, they irritated my skin when I first started using them while I was on vacation so I stopped using them. I recently picked them up again to finish the pack and even used them on my eyes, but there was no further irritation.
Rating: **
20. La Fresh Travel-Lite Antiperspirant Wipe for Women x 2
Source: May 2013 Beauty Box 5
Thoughts: I enjoyed trying these antiperspirant wipes and they do work, but I prefer my natural deodorants so I will likely not be purchasing the wipes.
Rating: **
21. Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes x 2
Source: Glossy Party TO
Thoughts: These cosmetic sanitizer wipes are really handy! I used these to clean the vintage earrings I purchased at the Randolph Street Market in Chicago. I might purchase these once I run out but I'm not 100% sure yet as I think alcohol wipes would be just as effective and likely a fraction of the cost.
Rating: **
22. Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Mist
Source: February 2012 Glossybox Canada
Thoughts: I received this sample of the sanitizer mist in my very first Glossybox. Similar to the wipes, I find this product extremely useful. I regularly spray my powder cosmetics with this sanitizer now. I also like using the mist on my Clarisonic brush head.
Rating: ***
23. Medline Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover Pad x 22
Source: Unknown
Thoughts: These nail polish remover pads work very well, but one is definitely not enough for all 10 nails as the website claims! I found I could use one pad for only 2 nails - the pads are tiny (and thin) so the nail polish remover evaporates very quickly.
Rating: **
24. Wet Ones Sensitive Skin Antibacterial Wipes
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: We all know I love these wipes! :)
Rating: ***
25. Q-Tips
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Nothing too exciting, but I finished a 400-count box of Q-Tips. I do like this brand of cotton swabs the best... the dollar store or drug store branded ones occasionally hurt my ears because there's not as much cotton on the tips.
Rating: ***
26. Bath & Body Works Candle in French Baguette
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Looks like this scent is no longer available... I should have stocked up!
Rating: ***
27. Honibe Honeydrop Honey To Go
Source: April 2013 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: I thought I would really like this product when I first tried it, but now that I've used up 2 boxes, I know this product isn't for me. The honey tablets take a long time to dissolve (at least 5 minutes) and I started to detect a slight caramelized flavour (which left my tea with a slight burnt taste).
Rating: *
28. Stash Earl Grey Tea
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I liked that this tea had a strong Earl Grey flavour. I would likely repurchase this but after I finish my cupboard full of tea.
Rating: **
29. Lupicia Pineapple Oolong
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I really really enjoyed this tea. The only reason I knocked off a star is because I'm not sure if this tea includes natural or artificial flavours (or both). I e-mailed Lupicia but never received a response. I will follow up.
Rating: **
30. David's Tea Coconut Grove
Source: Gift from one of my sisters :)
Thoughts: I enjoyed trying this tea but likely won't purchase it since it includes artificial flavours.
Rating: **
And that's it for my July empties! :) How did you do this month?
