Post-TIFF blog catch-up continues! In today's post, I'll be sharing my latest empties video, featuring products I used up in June, July, and the first half of August. I didn't include any foil packets in this video because I was still on my 3 Month Beauty Sample Challenge at the time. If you've watched this video, you'll know that this will be the last empties video on my YT channel for the time being. Instead, I'll be experimenting with posting my empties on this Instagram account. There are a couple of reasons for this: (1) I'm starting to get into a groove with products so I feel that my empties videos have become a bit tedious and repetitive, and (2) I'm trying to live more simply and I don't want to hold onto empties for months at a time. I still want to share my empties and what products worked (or didn't work) for me, so I'll be employing a more just-in-time method via IG.
Now that we're well into September, it's also time to see how I did with my 3 Month Beauty Sample Challenge! I made a nice dent in my collection of foil packets:
I started out with 182 samples.
In the month of June, I finished 83 samples.
In the month of July, I finished 37 samples.
In the month of August, I finished 27 samples.
I finished a total of 147 samples or approximately 80% of what I had going into the challenge.
At the time of this video, I was in the process of using up 7 samples.
I tried and decided to discard 2 samples because they didn't suit me.
I lost track of 2 samples.
Overall, I'm really happy with my results, and I'll be continuing to post empty foil packets and minis on my Instagram account. Hope to see you there!
Here is my latest empties video! These are the products I used up in April and May, before I started the foil packet sample challenge on June 1st. I'm making slow but steady progress with using up my products!
It's time for another round of empties -- in the past 2.5 months, I finished a pretty decent number of both full-size products and minis. My bathroom cabinet is finally starting to clear out! In this video, I also chat a bit about my new philosophy for holy grail products. I no longer spend a lot of time or money searching for "the best" product. There are way too many products -- both existing and newly released -- to try them all. Instead, I stop my search when I find a product that I feel delivers value and is good enough. This has been a really refreshing and liberating approach that is based in JOMO.
The theme for this installment of empties is minis!! I finished so many samples, trial sizes, and hotel products--mainly because I brought a lot of these with me to the silent meditation course. Note that due to the length of time it takes to put together these blog posts, I'll only include notes on selected products.
Hair care: I finished a few full-size products including The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo and the Cake Delectable Dry Shampoo and Body Powder in the Lemon scent. I love both these products and wouldn't hesitate to repurchase them. I won't be stocking up just yet as per my 2019 no-buy rules, because I'm working on a huge bottle of Paul Mitchell shampoo and I have a few backups of the Cake dry shampoo in my collection.
Bath & shower: The majority of the body washes and shower gels in my empties videos are used up by yours truly. For this set of empties, I finished a whopping 10 deluxe samples or hotel sizes, 6 of which were the Le Labo Rose 31 shower gels. I still love the Rose 31 scent.
Bath & shower (continued): While I tend to gravitate more towards body washes and shower gels, hubby prefers solid bar soaps. Together, we finished 7 minis.
Body moisturizer: I finished 3 hand cream minis, along with one hand cream foil packet. In addition, I finished 3 body moisturizer foil packets.
Body moisturizer (continued): The Body Shop Gel-Lotion is a lightweight formulation that I find reasonably moisturizing. I love using this product after a shower or bath because it absorbs so quickly and smells so good. I enjoyed both the satsuma and strawberry scents. I also finished one full-size body butter in the Vineyard Peach scent. This product is more thick and heavy, so I use this to moisturize my hands and feet before going to bed.
Facial skincare: I brought the Daiso cleansing cloths to the silent meditation course, and I was surprised how moist they still were (I opened the package ages ago). I also finished up 7 miscellaneous foil packets of serums and face creams, as well as a peel off mask.
Facial skincare (continued): So much facial skincare in this set of empties! I used up a sample of the Hydro Boost from H2O+, two full-size products from The Ordinary (the Argireline 10% is one of my staple items as per my 2019 no-buy rules, and I also really enjoy the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%), the Tatcha Gold Camellia Beauty Oil (I didn't think this was worth the high price point), and a Pelle Beauty lip balm (I enjoyed this).
Makeup: Both the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (natural) and Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint (dark) were too light for me in terms of coverage, so I won't be repurchasing either product. I also finished my last mini Estee Lauder Even Skin Tone Illuminator, a Beautyblender (love these), and a sample of the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (love this).
Dental care: These are my dental care staples, and I'll continue to repurchase both the Eco-Dent DailyCare Toothpowder and the Life Brand Unflavoured Dental Flossers.
Miscellaneous: All the products in the Miscellaneous category are scent-related: a body mist that I've had in my collection for ages, a deluxe mini perfume, 5 mini perfume vials, and essential oils in the lavender and orange. I enjoyed both essential oils and will continue to repurchase these. Once I'm done all the perfumes in my collection, I won't be buying any more, as I found I am starting to develop some sensitivities to strong scents. Below is a closer look at the 5 perfume vials I used up, and that's a wrap on 3.5 months of empties!
It has been so long since I've done an empties post on this blog! Since I am trying to make my empties videos more succinct, I thought I would go into more detail in a corresponding blog post. Without further ado, here are all the products I finished up in the past couple months.
Hair care: Nothing too exciting by way of hair care products. We finished up a lot of travel size products from various hotels. The only brand that stood out was the Le Labo shampoo and conditioner - I love the Rose 31 scent! I also finished up two canisters of dry shampoo spray; however, I prefer powder dry shampoo because there is way more product for the price and it seems to work a little better in my hair.
Bath & shower: We finished three mini bar soaps and 6 travel size bottles of shower gel or body wash. All were from various hotels, and again, nothing too exciting except for the scent of the Le Labo Rose 31 shower gel.
Bath & shower (continued):The Body Shop Shower Gel is a staple in my collection. I've repurchased it many times and will continue to do so. I'm a big fan of fruity scents, so I love both the satsuma and pink grapefruit shower gels; however, I'm eager to branch out and try a few other scents. I love that this product comes in a large 750ml bottle, which lasts me around 7-8 months.
Bath & shower (continued): This huge container of epsom salts is now a staple as well. I notice a big difference in my relaxation level (muscles and mood) after a nice long soak. I dissolve approximately 1.5 cups in a tubful of water, and I try to take an epsom salt bath once a week. I'm now on my third 5.5 kg container. My first container lasted 7.9 months and the one pictured above lasted 7 months. I purchase this product from Costco at $8.99 plus tax and it's worth every penny.
Bath & shower (continued): I've been trying to use up my mini fragrances. I save the ones without a spritz top to use in the bath. I typically add up to 1 vial to each bath and the scent is noticeable but not overwhelming. Once I'm done with all my full-size perfumes and perfume samples, I won't be repurchasing this type of product. I found I was developing some scent allergies, so I don't really reach for my fragrances on a day-to-day basis anymore.
Body moisturizer: Another couple of products from The Body Shop that have made it into my regular product rotation. My favourite lotion to use after a bath or shower is the one pictured above. There are several different varieties (Gel-Lotion or Body Puree) and I like all the fruity scents - the vineyard peach was the latest one I finished and it smells incredible. The texture is light, yet the lotion does a good job moisturizing my skin. It takes me around 2-3 months to use up a 250ml bottle. I also love the Body Butters! I use this product to moisturize my hands and feet before going to bed. The blueberry scent is really nice. It takes me around 2-3 months to use up a 200ml tub.
Facial skincare: I finished so many products in this category!
The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser has a really nice texture, as well as a pleasant but light scent. It does well at cleansing my skin and doesn't irritate my eyes; however, it takes a little effort to remove waterproof mascara with this product. Overall, I still prefer the Tatcha cleansing oil.
I received the Skinnygirl Detox Face Mask in a swap a few years ago and I finally used it up. The product is very spreadable so I was able to get a lot of applications from this tube. It is a clay mask but contains oil so it doesn't really dry out your skin. I enjoyed trying this product.
As you may know, I like to rotate through different serums by The Ordinary. The Argireline Solution 10% is a staple. I use it in the morning and also in the evening. I've found that this product has made a difference in the way my skin looks - my fine lines seem to be a bit diminished. I tend to go back to the Buffet serum every now and then but I don't really notice a difference when using this product. It's a bit more expensive than some of the other serums, so I may take a break from this product for a while. I also tried the Buffet + Copper Peptides 1%. This is a significantly more expensive product in The Ordinary's lineup and I didn't notice any difference with my skin. I won't be repurchasing this product.
I was really enjoying the Hylamide HA Blur until I noticed some clogged pores around my nose. I've since taken a break from using this product and my skin improved. I'm working on using up my last tube, and I'll probably only use it 1-2 times a week until it's finished.
I finished up two trial sizes of facial moisturizer and some blotting papers. None of these products really stood out for me.
Makeup: Two empty pans!! These contained brow powders from my Benefit Brows A Go-Go kit that I depotted ages ago. It took me a long long long long long long time to finish up, but I'm glad I finally did!
Dental care: Dental care has been such a big part of my life since getting Invisalign. Can you believe I'll be on my last set of aligners in a week or so?! I really love the Smart Mouth mouthwash but I believe this particular 2-bottle set is discontinued. I no longer use mouthwash for rinsing, but I do use it to clean my Invisalign aligners once a day.
The Eco-Dent tooth powders are my go-to product. I switch between the Original Mint and the ExtraBrite (pictured above).
My favourite dental flossers are the unflavoured ones from Life Brand (Shoppers Drug Mart's private label). I finished up 2 packages in the past couple of months. I floss a lot!
Miscellaneous: I purchase the Fluffs cotton pads from Dollarama and I love them because they are the perfect combination of soft yet affordable.
Hubby and I finished a bottle of Poo-Pourri in the Royal Flush scent. I love the Poo-Pourri products, but I wasn't a huge fan of this particular scent.
There were a bunch of mosquitos when my friend and I went to Grail Springs, so I took that opportunity to finish up the Life Brand Insect Repellent that I had kicking around for ages. I came back relatively bite-free.
Miscellaneous (continued): Last but certainly not least, we finished another 946ml bottle of Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Soap - a definite staple in our household. We use this mainly as hand soap, but I also use it to clean my makeup brushes and my Invisalign aligners. Each of these bottles lasts us approximately 5 months.
That is it for this set of empties! I forgot how long these blog posts take to put together - I've been working on this one for over 2 hours. Time to get ready for dinner and the Leafs home opener!!! You'd think we were going to the game with how stoked I am, but nope. We're watching the game at home. I've been excited for days. Months even. I'm totally off on a tangent now, so I better go. :)
Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great start to December. I've been watching a ton of Vlogmas videos and getting very excited for the holidays. I did vlog this past weekend so that video will be posted in a couple of days. In the meantime, here are the products I finished in November:
North American Hemp Co. Volumizing Conditioner - 342ml
Dove Men +Care Fortifying Shampoo in Aqua Impact - 53ml
Dove Men +Care Fortifying Shampoo + Conditioner in Fresh Clean (2 in 1) - 53ml
Rainspa Shampoo - hotel sample
Molton Brown Radiant Lili Pili Hair Condition - 50ml
Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Conditioner - 59ml
John Frieda Touchably Full Shampoo & Conditioner - 8.3ml x 4
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps Lavender Help Pure-Castile Soap - 140g
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella Sapone Alla Mandorla - 105g
June Jacobs Spa Collection Citrus Body Lotion - 60ml
Tabrar and Earle Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion - 30ml
Soap & Glory Slimwear - 190ml
Montagne Jeunesse Tired Leg Gel - 80ml*
Shiseido Benefiance Neck Firming Cream - 3ml
H2O+ Micro-Collagen Moisturizer - 8ml
Andalou Naturals Hyaluronic DMAE Life & Firm Cream - 50ml
Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover - 141ml
Delon Nail Polish Remover - 300ml
Fluffs Cotton Pads - 100 count
Palladio Rice Paper - 40 count
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - 7.1ml
Benefit POREfessional - 7.5ml
Essie First Base Base Coat - 15ml
Beauty Blender
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
Twinings Pure Darjeeling Tea - 1 teabag
Twinings English Breakfast - 1 teabag
Mighty Leaf Tea Organic Breakfast - 1 teabag
David's Tea Egyptian Camomile - 50g
Celestial Seasonings Fruit Sampler - 20 count x 2
Not sponsored. Items noted with an asterisk (*) were PR samples.
SEPTEMBER EMPTIES
Paul Mitchell Double Hitter Sulfate-Free 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (250ml)
Damana Conditioner (hotel sample)
Pantene Smooth & Sleek Finishing Conditioner (50ml)
C.O. Bigelow Conditioner (30ml)
Dot & Lil Lemon & Sage Soap (30g)
Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser (200ml)
Tommy Bahama Body Cream (30ml x 2)
Gilchrist & Soames Body Butter (30ml)
Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream (deluxe sample)
Clinique Anti-Gravity Firming Eye Lift Cream (15ml)
Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow (45ml)
Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Tint in Lovely (1.75g)
YSL Parisienne (7.5ml)
Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia Eau Fraiche (5ml)
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps in Almond (944ml)
Eco Attitude Wipes (75 count)
David's Tea Nepal Black (50g)
Choice Organic Teas in Chamomile (14g)
Montagne Jeunnesse Red Earth Clay Spa (1 mask - hubby finished this)
OCTOBER EMPTIES
L'Oreal EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo (250ml)
Gilchrist & Soames Conditioning Shampoo (40ml)
Judith Jackson Sp Conditioning Shampoo (35ml x 2)
Pantene Expert Dry Defy Intense Hydration Shampoo (10ml x 2) & Conditioner (10ml x 2)
Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo (8.3ml), Conditioner (8.3ml), and Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum (4.4ml)
John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo & Conditioner (8.3ml x 2)
John Frieda Touchably Full Shampoo & Conditioner (8.3ml x 2)
DryBar Texas Tea Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (7ml x 2)
L'Oreal Studio Line Power Gel (150ml)
Fragonard Perfumed Soaps (50g x 4)
Nirvae Botanicals Orange & Sandalwood Lotion (45ml x 2)
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (70ml)
Evie Evan Moisture Cream (deluxe sample)
Elizabeth Arden Sponge-On Cream Makeup in Gentle Beige (1.9g)
By Terry Hyaluronic Eye Primer in Medium (7.5ml)
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara (7ml)
Latisse (5ml)
Paul & Joe Creamy Cheek Powder in 02 Kitten (3.2g)
Pelle Beauty Chocolate Mint Lip Balm (4g)
Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Pink Pout (7.1ml)
Tide Pods in Spring Meadow (1 pod)
Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent in Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender (1.47L)
Twinings English Breakfast Tea (1 tea bag)
Hungry Buddha Coconut Chips in Wild Wasabi (40g)
I finished a bunch of full size products in July! I actually had a nervous moment when I thought I was running low on shampoo but then I found a stash in my bathroom cabinets so I guess I am good. My supply of products is never-ending. Here are the products I finished:
Dove Men +Care Fortifying Shampoo - 355ml
C.O. Bigelow Shampoo - 30ml x 4
Dove Men +Care Body & Face Wash - 400ml
C.O. Bigelow Bar Soap - 45g x 2
The Scottish Fine Soaps Company Orange Soap - 100g
C.O. Bigelow Body Lotion - 30ml x 2
Agraria Hand & Body Lotion in Lemon Verbana - 40ml
DHC Pore Cleansing Oil - 100ml
The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner - 200ml
Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm - 5ml
Estee Lauder Time Zone Anti-Line/Wrinkle Eye Creme - 5ml
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - 5ml
Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara - 6g
Natracare Panty Liners - 30 count
Nourish Tea The Duke of Earl Grey - 110g
My hubby finished:
Boss by Hugo Boss Eau de Toilette - 100ml
That's it for July... I've already started putting products in my August empties bag so I am hoping it will be a BIG empties month! :)
Here is the list of products I finished in June. Not to many empties again this month but hopefully I will do better in July! Products I will repurchase are shown in boldface. I really enjoyed the Benefit Benetint and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet but will not be repurchasing as I do not need any more makeup/fragrance (plus the brands are not cruelty free).
L'Oreal Hair Expertise Fibralogy Shampoo from Influenster - 385ml*
L'Oreal Hair Expertise Fibralogy Thickening Booster from Influenster - 30ml* Cake Satin Sugar Dry Shampoo & Body Powder for Darker Hues - 50g
Redken Style Connection Vinyl Twist 12 - 100ml
Bar Soap from Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Pittsburgh, PA - hotel size
Bar Soap from Silver Oaks Ranch in Kona, HI - hotel size
Lise Watier HydraSmart 3D Hydration Gel-Creme - 30ml Fluffs Cotton Pads - 100 count
Benefit Benetint - sample size
Covergirl Pressed Powder in Translucent Medium - full size
Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet - 100ml Celestial Seasonings Fruit Sampler - 20 tea bags
It's been nearly two weeks since we've returned from Japan and I am still jet lagged! My sleeping habits are about the same (still a night owl although perhaps I get a little less sleep overall), but I feel so incredibly tired during the day. The only time I feel like myself is during the early morning hours. I'm wide awake and also extremely productive. Today, I'm going to catch up with my empties posts by sharing the products I used up waaay back in October. I finished a lot of deluxe samples!
* = 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. Pantene Medium-Thick Hair Solutions Breakage to Strength Shampoo Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: No
2. Pantene Smooth & Sleek Taming Shampoo x 2 Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: No
3. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: No
4. Clear Men Scalp Therapy 2-in-1 Complete Care Anti-Dandruff Shampoo x 2 Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: No
5. Neutrogena Clean Shampoo Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: No
6. Molton Brown Enlivening Toko-Yuzu Bath & Shower Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Yes
7. MGM Grand Jasmine Body Wash Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
8. Damana Gentle Soap with Nourishing Extracts of Olive Oil Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
9. Personal Paradise Noni Papaya Pineapple Bath Soap Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
10. Portico Spa White Ginger Restoring Facial Bar Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
11. Molton Brown Ultra Pure Milk Soap Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Yes
12. Ocean Breeze Facial Bar Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
13. Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Ultra-Softening Lotion Source: Purchased by hubs
Thoughts: I was surprised by this lotion - it was very fast absorbing and felt nice on the skin. I didn't detect much of a scent, which I don't mind at all. While I wouldn't quite call this product "intensive," I really enjoyed using it.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
14. Murad Clarifying Cleanser Source: Sephora sample
Thoughts: Unfortunately, despite the good reviews, this product did not work for me. I found it too harsh and the menthol in it stung my skin.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
15. Nuxe Youth & Radiance Revealing Fluid Source: Sephora sample
Thoughts: I loved this cream! It is thick, creamy, and soft... and it did a great job moisturizing my skin in the evening. My skin would always be baby soft in the morning!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No (products sold in China)
16. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream Source: Kiehl's sample
Thoughts: This is a great light night cream. I don't find it moisturizing enough for the winter, but I definitely enjoy using this in other seasons! :)
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
17. Dream Organics Rose Water Source: February 2013 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: I love this stuff so much, I was actually trying to save it! I like to spritz this on my face right before bed for a little extra moisture and some aromatherapy.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
18. Boxx Cream Corrector in Amber Source: May 2012 Glossybox
Thoughts: This corrector is thick and creamy. I found it a little too creamy, especially in the summer.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
19. Dior Pore Minimizer Source: January 2014 Dior Secret Diva
Thoughts: I wasn't crazy about this primer at first but it really grew on me. It goes on really smooth and silky. I don't think it really does much to minimize my pores, but I enjoyed trying it.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
20. Benefit Bad Gal Lash in Black Source: Sephora sample
Thoughts: I thought this mascara was alright - I liked the brush but nothing else about it really stood out.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
21. The Body Shop Born Lippy Lychee Shimmer Lip Balm Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I really really liked this lip balm... so much so that I considered giving it 3 stars. I held back because of the shimmer... while it didn't dry out my lips at all, I'm still not a huge fan of lip balms with shimmer. This product has a nice texture/consistency, an amazing lychee scent, and no flavour (yay!).
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
22. The Body Shop Green Tea & Lemon Body, Room & Linen Spritz Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I am really loving products from The Body Shop lately! This spray smells amazing and 100 mL of product lasted a surprisingly long time (although the scent does fade quickly so I have to spray it often).
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
23. Clean Well Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes in Original Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This has a bit of an herbal scent but I still really like it as a cruelty free alternative to my other favourite wipes (Wet Ones).
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
24. The Green Beaver Company Frosty Mint Natural Toothpaste Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: My first foray into cruelty free toothpaste. Unfortunately, this has a flavour to it that turned my stomach and made me gag. I couldn't use it but my hubby was ok about it so he was able to finish the tube! That being said, this particular package came with a free lip balm, which I love!!
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
25. The Green Beaver Company Green Apple Natural Toothpaste Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: To me, this had a similar flavour as the Frosty Mint, so I couldn't stomach it. Hubs also did not like this one so we ended up tossing it.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
26. David's Tea Lemon Myrtle Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: My favourite infusion of the moment! So deliciously lemony - it became a nightly ritual for me to have a steaming mug of lemon myrtle with a touch of honey. I can't wait to finish a few other teas/infusions so I can repurchase this one.
Rating: ***
27. Method Daily Shower Natural Shower Cleaner in Ylang Ylang Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This stuff smells way too strong! I had to spray it and then run out of the bathroom because it stung my nose. As a result, I didn't use it consecutive days (this bottle probably lasted me well over a year), so I'm not sure how well it works.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
Hooray!! That's it for my October empties. I'm sorry I've been gone so long... I tend to update more frequently on my YouTube channel so you can always find me there. I'm posting a video every day in December... starting with all my Japan content. Hope you're having a great start to December! :)
Happy October!! It's been a crazy week... finally posting my September empties blog. I finished so many great products this month!
* = 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...
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!
It's that time of the month again... empties time!
* = 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 Daily Conditioner Source: Free sample
Thoughts: I liked the scent of this and it was ok in terms of conditioning my hair
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
2. Joico Body Luxe Conditioner Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I've had this HUGE 1 litre bottle of conditioner for upwards of a year and I finally finished it. This conditioner is supposed to provide fullness & volume but it didn't work for me. I definitely learned my lesson and will not be buying jumbo products in the future without trying them first!
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: No
3. Les Notes de Lanvin Orange Ambre Shower Gel Source: Sofitel NYC
Thoughts: I really liked the scent of this shower gel and I found it pretty good at cleansing my skin without leaving it feeling dry.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
4. Filthy Farmgirl Filthy Squirrel Soap Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Filthy Farmgirl is one of my favourite soap brands - I love the scents, the packaging, the cheeky names, the way the soap looks... the list goes on. Most of all, I like that these soaps cleanse without drying out my skin and the soaps are relatively big so they seem to last quite a long time.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
6. Ocean Breeze Beauty Bar Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
7. Udderly Smooth Body Cream Source: Sample from Well.ca
Thoughts: I liked the texture of this cream but not the scent (it is unscented).
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
8. Judith Jackson Spa Tenderly Hand & Body Lotion Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
9. Bath & Body Works Rainkissed Leaves Body Lotion Source: Free sample
Cruelty Free: Yes
10. Etro Body Lotion Source: Hotel Moresco (Venice)
Cruelty Free: Unknown
11. Kaia 24hr Booster Serum Source: Kaia event at BlushPretty
Thoughts: I enjoyed trying this serum. It contains argan & Moringa oils, which the owner mentioned were dry oils. They are very fast absorbing and non-greasy on the skin. I found this serum a little too light for evening use though as I prefer something a little heavier for my nighttime skincare routine.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
12. Complex 15 Daily Face Cream Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: One of my favourite light creams! I've finished bottles and bottles of this in the many years I've been using this product. Sadly, we will be parting ways as this product is not cruelty free.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
13. Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet Source: Free sample
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this cream! It had a bit of a whipped texture. I was surprised how strong the scent was though... especially since this is supposed to be for sensitive skin.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
14. Julep Daylight Defense SPF 30 Source: Julep Gold Glamour Mystery Clutch
Thoughts: When I finally got around to trying this product, it quickly became my favourite sunscreen... so of course I found out it was discontinued. :(
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
15. Face Q Ocean & Aloe Mask X 2 Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I really love sheet masks! I just noticed though that these did not fit my nose well. There is a little flap that hangs over my nostril and I had to keep folding it back.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
16. My Beauty Diary Mexico Cactus Mask Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Love this!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Unknown
17. J.R. Watkins Natural Beeswax Lip Balm Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: It took me a long time to finish this lip balm because I wasn't really a fan of it. The texture was really hard and I didn't find it very moisturizing or soothing on my lips.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: No
18. Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Blooming Balm Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: One of my favourite lip products - it has reached holy grail status but alas I will have to finish up the other 2 in my stash and then part ways as Almay is not cruelty free. This liquid lip balm does a great job in moisturizing my lips and also has a light pink tint that warms up my face a little bit. I have never found a tinted lip product that I've enjoyed as a lip balm so this product is truly unique for me.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
19. Claire Burke Sparkling Citron Verbena Candle Source: VitaBath event
Thoughts: I enjoyed trying this candle but the scent wasn't very strong. The burn time is supposed to be "up to 15 hours" but I think my candle only burned for around half that time (over 2 days).
Rating: **
That's it for my August empties. I feel like I haven't been doing very well with empties but my September bag is feeling rather full so hopefully I will have more next month!
It's been a crazy month! I've been so focussed on Vlogust that I haven't had a chance to blog about my July empties until now. I haven't done an empties post since May because pretty much all of my June empties were inadvertently thrown out... and then today I had a bit of a nervous moment because I thought I formatted the memory card containing the photos of my July empties but thankfully I found them. :)
* = 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. Kerastase Bain Satin & Lait Vital Source: Limited Edition Topbox
Thoughts: I liked the scent of these products but found them just ok in terms of effectiveness.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
2. North American Hemp Co. Volumega Volumizing Shampoo Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I am not a fan of this shampoo. It didn't work well to cleanse my hair and gave me zero volume. Plus the scent was a bit off.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
3. Les Notes de Lanvin Orange Ambre Shampoo & Conditioner Source: Sofitel NYC
Thoughts: I loved the scent of these products! They did a decent job cleansing and conditioning my hair.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
4. Fabulous Frannie Mineral Bath Salt in De-Stress Source: January 2014 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: I thought these salts were alright - I liked the scent (lavender) and I also liked the all natural ingredient list. The only thing I didn't like about these salts is that they didn't dissolve very well in the bath, leaving little clumps of salt.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
5. Eco-Dent ExtraBrite Toothpowder Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: The Eco-Dent toothpowders have reached holy grail status for me. The flavour takes some getting used to because it is minty/salty versus minty/sweet but I love how clean and fresh these toothpowders make my mouth feel. I didn't notice my teeth getting any whiter after using this product on a daily basis but I would still repurchase this.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
6. Glysomed Hand Cream Source: Purchased by me or my hubby
Thoughts: This hand cream is greasy and slow to absorb but it works like a charm. I usually slather this on my feet before I go to bed, and in the morning, my feet are baby soft.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
7. Wet Ones Sensitive Skin Wipes Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: Love this product! This will be the last time I show this product as an empty because it's not cruelty free and I've switched to Clean Well wipes.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
8. BeautyBlender BlenderCleanser Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This cleanser did not work very well to clean my BeautyBlender. It did not remove the surface stains and I felt like I was using a lot of cleanser without any result. Some of my viewers mentioned that the solid cleanser works better so maybe I will try that down the road. I currently clean my BeautyBlender with my Dr. Bronner's soap and it works much better!
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
9. Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I love this lippie! It's one of my favourite lip butters as the light pink is right up my alley and looks nice on my skin tone.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
10. GlamGlow Mud Mask Source: Glossy Party
Thoughts: I've used this mask a few times in the past and I've loved it. I totally forgot I had this product and when I pulled it out to use in July, I found that it had dried out completely. Oops!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
11. Fresh Rose Face Mask Source: Sephora sample
Thoughts: I liked trying this mask. I found it did a good job at moisturizing my skin.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
12. Fluffs Cotton Pads Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I love these cotton pads - they are really soft. Even better, they are only $1 from Dollarama!
Rating: ***
13. Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Cream Source: Gift from my sisters
Thoughts: I really liked the hand cream and it worked well to moisturize my hands. Only issue was the scent was very strong so I was a little self conscious using the cream at work... I think it would have been better if I had kept it for at home use. :)
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
14. My Beauty Diary Bulgarian White Rose Mask Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I love sheet masks. This one isn't my favourite scent but it worked well to add back some moisture into my skin.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
15. Les Notes de Lanvin Orange Ambre Soap x 3 Source: Sofitel NYC
Cruelty Free: Unknown
16. Philosophy Purity Made Simple x 2 Source: Sephora samples
Thoughts: I'm not a huge fan of this cleanser. I find it to be a little drying and the scent to be slightly medicinal.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: No
17. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Source: Kiehl's sample with purchase
Cruelty Free: No
18. YSL Intensive Skin Supplement (I think - I tore off part of the name of the product) Source: YSL sample with purchase
Cruelty Free: No
19. Kate Somerville RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream Source: Sephora sample
Cruelty Free: Yes
Empties again? That's right, empties again. I'm slowly working out the type of content I'd like to blog (and the frequency), so please bear with me. In the meantime, I don't want to fall behind on these posts, so here are my May empties!
* = 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. Asira Hand & Face Soap Source: Radisson Hotel
Cruelty Free: unknown
2. Asira Bath Bar Source: Radisson Hotel
Cruelty Free: unknown
3. The Body Shop Satsuma Body Puree Source: Swap with sarahnicolebear!
Thoughts: I love this body puree!! The texture has an almost gel-like consistency and the product is very fast absorbing. It feels very refreshing to apply this product after a hot shower or bath and it moisturizes pretty well. Finally, the scent is INCREDIBLE! If you like the satsuma scent, you will find this product mouthwatering.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes but parent company is not
4. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Fruit Infusions Hydrating Cleanser Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I enjoyed this cleanser. It was thick and creamy, with a really nice pineapple/tropical scent. The cleanser did not dry out my skin. There are some small exfoliating bits in the cleanser but they were few and far between so I didn't find this product particularly exfoliating.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
5. My Beauty Diary 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Deep Hydrating Mask Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: This is from the 10 year limited edition collection and it's my favourite MBD mask!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Unknown
6. Made From Earth Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment Source: July 2013 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: Most night creams work well on my skin and this one was no exception. I stored this product in the fridge, which made this product cool and refreshing to apply right before bed. The only aspect of this cream that I did not like was that it felt really oily/greasy on the skin.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
7. Clinique Repairwear Uplifting Firming Cream Source: Murale bonus
Thoughts: I really enjoyed trying this cream. It had a nice thick texture and it moisturized well, but I didn't notice any firming.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
8. M. Asam 24h Moisturizing Antioxidant Cream Source: June 2012 Glymm Bag?
Thoughts: It looks like I've reviewed this product in the past so I'm not sure if I received another sample or if this is the same one I dipped into back in 2012. The texture seemed a bit different but it still smelled great so I used the product. The texture is a little bit greasy on the skin but not uncomfortable since it was pretty fast absorbing. I love the scent of the M. Asam products.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
9. Tarte Maracuja Oil Source: Purchased by me (in a gift set)
Thoughts: This is the 2nd deluxe sample I've finished and I really like this oil. It has no discernible scent and it does a great job moisturizing my skin. I like to use this as a base layer for all the products I use before going to bed. While I do enjoy this oil, I think I will look for a less expensive alternative. My friend mentioned that there are a lot of more reasonably priced oils in the beauty aisle at health food stores.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
10. Pelle Beauty Stellar Multitasking Facial Oil Source: BlushPretty 2013 Beauty Board
Thoughts: I love this facial oil so much that I've already repurchased a full size. The scent is rather strong but I love it (neroli & sandalwood). Similar to the Tarte Maracuja Oil, I use the Stellar as a base layer before going to bed. I also use this product under my clay mask. I met the owner again recently and she mentioned that this is a great product to remove your eye makeup so I may try that down the road.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
11. Benefit The Porefessional Source: Care package from Tammy!
Thoughts: This is my favourite primer! It mattifies my skin and seems to even out my complexion.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
12. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I liked this product at first because the texture reminded me of The Porefessional; however, the feel on the skin is heavier and greasier. The longer I used this product, the less I liked it... eventually I was just using it every day for work to finish it up. This product provides very minimal coverage so I don't think it is worth the price. I prefer using a BB cream to this product.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: No
13. Revlon Colorstay Makeup in Natural Beige Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I really like this foundation. It provides light to medium coverage and has an "in-between" type finish - not too matte and not too dewy. The only thing I don't like about this product is the packaging. It's a open glass top so you have to pour the product out... I found it got a little messy.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
14. The Body Shop Tea Tree Blotting Tissues Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I really like these blotting papers. I didn't notice anything special about the tea tree formulation but they still worked well. I wanted to repurchase these but unfortunately I couldn't seem to find them on The Body Shop website.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes but parent company is not
15. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden Source: Sephora sample
Thoughts: Eden is UD's matte primer potion and I did not like the formulation. It seemed really dry/cakey and really emphasized any dry skin on my eyelids.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes but parent company is not
16. Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser X 2 Source: Sephora samples
Thoughts: I've tried this cleanser numerous times and it's not for me. There is a bit of a medicinal/chemical scent and I find the cleanser a little drying on my skin.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: No
17. Target Cotton Rounds Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: These were fine but nothing special. I am using some cotton rounds from Dollarama at the moment that are MUCH softer!
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
18. Wet Ones for Sensitive Skin Source: Purchased by me
Thoughts: I've finished so many packages of Wet Ones. I use them for everything and love them. Unfortunately, they are not cruelty free so I will be testing out an alternative product. Fingers crossed I will like it just as much.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: No
I went through some of my lip glosses and picked out a few that are way too old to keep in my collection. I like all of these but it is time to say goodbye.
19. VOV Hi-Tech Lip Polish in GD 19 Source: Don't recall
Thoughts: I have no idea where I got this product but it is highly pigmented and pretty gold lip gloss.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
20. Maybelline Lip Polish in Starlet Scarlet Source: Don't recall
Thoughts: This is another ancient product that is highly pigmented! The red is stunning.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
21. Quo Lip Lacquer in Red Velvet Source: Don't recall
Thoughts: Another highly pigmented product! This was more of a burnt-orange-red.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Unknown
I only discarded 3 old products this month but it feels liberating! I may go through my collection in more detail and purge some more old/unused/unflattering products. Hope you're all having a lovely June! :)
This is the longest blog drought I've ever had. How has it been nearly a month since I've posted? My last post was on my March empties and I'm back today to share my April empties. I'm going to change up the way I do my empties videos and posts because I am trying to use up a lot of samples/trial sizes and I really don't have much to say about many of them. From now on, I'll only be giving you my thoughts on full size products or deluxe samples (versus 1-3 time use samples, which I'll just list). Hopefully, this will cut back on repetition and make it a little easier for me to blog. I'm not going to be linking each product or the cruelty free source either (I usually use PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Paula's Choice)... apologies for the laziness, but empties posts take upwards of 3 hours each and I need to cut down that time! Let's see how it goes...
* = Disliked the product - would not repurchase
** = Liked the product - might or might not repurchase
*** = Loved the product - would repurchase
2. Nirvae Botanicals Bergamot & Tea Tree Conditioner X 2 Source: Hotel sample
Cruelty Free: Unknown
3. YSL Temps Majeur Concentre de Serum Source: Sample with purchase
Cruelty Free: No
4. Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer X 2 Source: Sample with purchase
Thoughts: I enjoyed this moisturizer! It has a nice scent.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
5. Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream X 2 Source: Sample with purchase
Thoughts: I thought this eye cream was ok, but I preferred the moisturizer.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
6. Lancome Visionnaire X 2 Source: Sample with purchase
Thoughts: This product is alright but I likely wouldn't purchase it as it is expensive and I didn't notice a difference with my skin.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
7. Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion Source: Sample with purchase
Thoughts: I really like the anti-aging formulation! I think it's on par with the Original Primer Potion. These samples are very generous in size - I had enough to try this eyeshadow primer for 2 weeks.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes but parent company L'Oreal is not
8. BeautySoClean Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes X 7 Source: I've received these from multiple sources and I've lost track
Thoughts: I love this product. These wipes come in so handy. I used a bunch while travelling to spot clean my makeup brushes.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
10. Jean Pierre Cosmetics Nail Polish Remover Wipe X 2 Source: July 2013 Beauty Box 5
Cruelty Free: Unknown
11. B. Kamins Bio-Maple Lip Balm Source: September 2012 GlossyBox
Thoughts: I wasn't a fan of this lip balm. I found the texture a little hard/difficult to spread and I did not find it very moisturizing. I actually didn't finish this product but I'm saying goodbye to it because it's starting to separate.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
12. Filthy Farmgirl Filthy Sweetheart Strawberry Smoochie Lip Balm Source: Purchased by me (in Hawaii)
Thoughts: I love this lip balm! The texture, scent, moisturizing properties, and packaging are all fab.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
13. Pond's Cleansing & Makeup Removing Towelettes Source: Don't recall
Thoughts: Out of the 3 brands of makeup removing wipes I finished this month, Pond's was my favourite. I found the wipes to be gentle yet effective.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
14. Biore Make-Up Removing Towelettes Source: August 2012 Glossybox
Thoughts: When I was packing for vacation, I found this opened packet of wipes. To my surprise, they were still moist! I couldn't recall when I opened them but I was impressed that they were still useable as most of my wipes dry up quickly after opening. I thought these were ok... they seemed gentle at first but my skin started to feel a little sensitive after a couple consecutive days of using this product.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: No
15. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes Source: Don't recall
Thoughts: This is the 2nd time I've tried these wipes. I've tried a number of Simple products and for some reason they do not agree with my skin. There is something about the Simple products tends to irritate my skin and the wipes were no exception.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes but parent company Alberto Culver is not
16. Eve Lom Cleanser Source: Murale bonus
Cruelty Free: Yes
17. Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay Mask Source: August 2012 Glymm Bag
Thoughts: I did a short review of this product back in 2012 - please see the above link for details. This mask dried up on me a long time ago but I was still keeping it for spot treatments... I think it's time to say goodbye!
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
18. Pure + Simple Sensitive Skin Face Wash Source: BlushPretty Beauty Board
Thoughts: I usually enjoy the Pure + Simple products but this cleanser didn't work for me. It was really runny in texture and it stung my eyes like crazy!
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
19. Etude House Pearl Extract Sheet Mask Source: 2013 Rose Secret Box
Thoughts: I loved this mask - it is one of the most moist sheet masks I've tried.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Unknown
21. Befine Gentle Cleanser Source: August 2012 Glossybox
Thoughts: This cleanser contains sugar, mint, oats, and rice. I didn't like using a minty product on my face - it was a little too tingly and I worried about getting it in my eyes.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Yes
22. Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Bath & Shower Gel Source: Gift from one of my sisters
Thoughts: I love this shower gel! It's very moisturizing and smells wonderful.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
23. Mia's Wish Cucumber Spa Bar Source: Purchased by me (in Chicago)
Thoughts: I love these bar soaps - they are among my favourite. This particular scent is very light and refreshing.
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Yes
24. Moksa Body Butter Source: December 2013 SeasonsBox
Thoughts: This body butter contains organic rosemary, mint, and sage. I liked the scent but not the texture... it was difficult to spread, a little greasy, and slow to absorb.
Rating: **
Cruelty Free: Yes
25. Le Petit Marseillais Framboise & Pivoine Hand Soap Source: Purchased by me (in France)
Thoughts: I love this hand soap. It has a nice creamy consistency - it cleanses well and does not dry out my hands. The scent is mouthwatering!
Rating: ***
Cruelty Free: Unknown
26. Pier One Imports Sugared Cinnamon Diffuser Oil Source: Swap with sarahnicolebear
Thoughts: This was fun to try but I found the reeds did not diffuse the scent very far. I had to be really close to the diffuser to smell the sweet cinnamon scent. I opened this almost right after receiving it so the little bottle of oil lasted a good 4 months or so.
Rating: *
Cruelty Free: Unknown
Hooray, this post only took me an hour and a bit so that is much more manageable! I love tracking my empties but I have to admit I was feeling a little overwhelmed because of how much time it takes to write one of these posts. I am trying to think of a few additional changes I can make to my blog to motivate myself to post more frequently. I'm not sure what the changes will look like - probably shorter posts more frequently - but I definitely want to keep blogging. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading and for your patience as I get my blogging schedule together!
