* = Disliked the product - would not repurchase
** = Liked the product - might or might not repurchase
*** = Loved the product - would repurchase
Note: Similar to last month, I'll provide my thoughts on full size products or deluxe samples (versus 1-3 time use samples, which I'll just list).
1. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo
Source: Free sample
Thoughts: I'm starting to get a little sick of the scent. The shampoo is alright though - nice and creamy.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
2. The Body Shop Banana Shampoo
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Wow, poor product placement in the below photo - you can't even see the name on the label! I liked this shampoo a lot when I had long hair. Now that my hair is short, I find it gets extra greasy more quickly so I have to wash it more frequently. When I use the banana shampoo on my short hair, I have to wash it twice. I love the scent though. I will try this product again when my hair grows out.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
3. Tresemme Finishing Spray in hold 4
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: One of my favourite hairsprays! It works really well and is inexpensive to boot! Unfortunately, I will not be repurchasing this product in the forseeable future because I am trying to switch to cruelty free beauty products but I do highly recommend this hairspray.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
4. Molton Brown Seamoss Stress-Relieving Hydrosoak
Source: Hotel sample
Thoughts: I love this product!! It has a nice, spalike scent and turns your bathwater a beautiful greenish blue. The bath salts dissolve nicely and it feels like a very luxurious product.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
5. Dot & Lil Rose Soap
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This is one of my favourite brands of bar soap. This particular scent is very roselike so you must love rose to love this soap... which I do! This is one of the creamiest bar soaps I've ever tried.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
6. Filthy Farmgirl Filthy Surfer Soap
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This is another one of my favourite brands of bar soap. The Filthy Surfer soap has a citrus-coconut scent.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
7. Les Notes de Lanvin Body Lotion in Orange Ambre
Source: Sofitel NYC
Thoughts: This lotion has a rather mature scent but I still really like it.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
8. Les Notes de Lanvin Body Lotion in Vetyver Blanc
Source: Sofitel NYC
Thoughts: Another strong, slightly mature scent.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
9. Montagne Jeunesse Dragon Fruit Sauna Mask
Source: PR sample
Thoughts: I love this mask! The scent was amazing and it heated up nicely on the skin. It was a little difficult to get the product out of the packaging but there is enough for 2 applications so both my hubby and I got to try it. I thought I noticed that my skin looked and felt better after using this mask but I will have to try it again to be sure.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
10. Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This is my new favourite eye makeup remover. It does the job well and does not irritate my eyes.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
11. The Body Shop Calming Aloe Toner
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This has become an old standby for me. I love this toner and will continue to repurchase it!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
12. Philosophy Hope in a Jar
Source: Free sample
Thoughts: I really enjoyed trying this sample. This is a very light moisturizer and absorbs very quickly. I like using this to bridge the gap between washing my face and applying my night cream (could be hours some evenings). I have a full size of this product so I'm eager to continue testing it out.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
13. Made From Earth Vitamin Enhanced Moisturizer
Source: September 2013 Seasonsbox
Thoughts: This moisturizer worked reasonably well as a night cream but I absolutely hated the scent. It was very medicinal and just plain stinky. My hubby made fun of me by crinkling his nose almost every time I applied this night cream. It didn't have a scent like it had gone off... it just smells bad. I was so happy when I finished it.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
14. Revive Beauty Sponge
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This is a beautyblender dupe that I purchased from Winners. I did a review and comparison between this sponge and the original beautyblender, and while both do a good job blending your makeup, I much preferred the beautyblender because it is less dense and easier to squeeze. That being said, the price differential is quite significant, so if you don't mind squeezing stress balls, you may find the dupe suits you perfectly well.
Rating: **
15. Missha BB Cream in #23
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I like this BB cream a lot. It has light coverage but it matches well with my skin tone and evens out my complexion just the slightest bit. Very lightweight and easy to wear.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
16. Dior Addict It Lash
Source: Secret Diva box
Thoughts: This mascara is good if you want very natural looking lashes. It doesn't do much to volumize or lengthen so it didn't really do it for my short, sparse lashes. I ended up using this as more of a base and then applied another mascara for more drama.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
17. Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Baby Doll
Source: Purchased by me - Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip Kit
Thoughts: I love this lip gloss. The formula really agrees with my lips and this particular shade is very pretty. There is a light scent and no flavour. Even though this lip gloss has shimmer in it, it did not dry out my lips.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
18. Fluffs Cotton Pads
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: These are my new favourite cotton pads and super affordable as you can find them at Dollarama!
Rating: ***
19. Quo Nail Polish Remover
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This nail polish remover was alright. It's acetone free so it did take quite a bit of rubbing to get my nail polish off.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
20. Clean Well Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes in Orange Vanilla
Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: These wipes have replaced Wet Ones (another one of my favourites but unfortunately not cruelty free). The only thing tricky about this product is that the scent is a little bit herbal so may not be to everyone's liking. I don't mind it though and find that the wipes work well and stay moist to the very last one.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
I also finished a few tea bags in September. Nothing much to say about these because I don't really remember...
21. Tazo Awake Tea x 2
Source: Purchased by me
22. Numi Organic Berry Black Tea
Source: Care package from Tammy - thank you! :)
That's it for September!! I'm trying to use up a lot of deluxe samples in October... but it looks like I may have some full size products to add to the mix!
