I can't believe it's been three months since my last empties post! Since I decided to start doing these round-ups, I've been much better about saving my empty packaging and taking notes on each product in my bullet journal. Here's what I've gone through.
Diorshow Pump n' Volume Mascara ($37)
Quick notes: Dior usually hits it out of the park with their new launches, but this volumizing mascara was a rare miss. The brush deposited too much product on my lashes and left them looking clumpy and weighed down, and the "squeeze the sides to pump up more volume" design of the tube seemed more gimmicky than effective.
Would I repurchase? No.
Benefit They're Real! Mascara ($31)
Quick notes: Another mascara miss. Great brush with polymer bristles topped by a spiky round ball at the end to get at and define every lash, but the formula was smudgy.
Would I repurchase? No.
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara ($28 at Holt Renfrew)
Quick notes: Even the most chemical-laden, budge-proof mascaras usually smudge around my eyes, so I was skeptical that this ultra-natural formula would hold up. It gave my lashes a long fluttery look, which I liked, but left shadowy smudges below my lower lashline after a couple hours.
Would I repurchase? No.
Tata Harper Aromatic Stress Treatment ($106 at BeautyMark)
Quick notes: This aromatherapy roll-on smells divine and is so potent that a little goes a long way. While I like it as part of a signature Tata Harper facial when I visit Collective Skincare, I don't think it's as worthwhile a purchase for at-home use as the Aromatic Bedtime Treatment (which I adore and is still the only aromatherapy product I've found that really helps me sleep). There are other less expensive de-stressing aromatherapy products that work equally well.
Would I repurchase? No.
Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion ($12.99 at London Drugs)
Quick notes: Fast-absorbing and effective. Love the fact that it's a natural formula at an affordable price, with no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. Smells a little weird though.
Would I repurchase? Maybe.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream ($131.29, previously featured here)
Quick notes: You know when you're reluctant to use up a luxe skincare product because it's so expensive, but you know that it'd be a waste if you don't use it up because it'd probably go bad later? Yeah, that was how I felt about Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (#beautybloggerproblems). For a long time this moisturizer was like gold to me and I only used it on special occasions. My bridesmaids and I even used it on my wedding day to prep our skin! Eventually I used it up and was gutted when I ran out—this was ages ago actually, not in the last few months. Since then, I've been using the rose gold crystal-cut jar as a travel-size body lotion container.
Would I repurchase? Yes. It's expensive, but it's like an Instagram filter for the face.
Leaves of Trees Olive Argan Butter ($17)
Quick notes: This tiny sample size was part of a Leaves of Trees Discovery Kit I received from BeautyMark for review. The product has a thick consistency similar to Vaseline and is very moisturizing, especially on dry elbows and knees. Not as heavily fragranced as other Leaves of Trees products.
Would I repurchase? Maybe.
Leaves of Trees Pink Grapefruit Argan Lotion (various sizes, available at BeautyMark)
Quick notes: An all-natural fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula, with an absolutely divine pink grapefruit scent that invigorates the senses. Love, love, love!
Would I repurchase? Already have!
Consonant Come Clean Anytime Natural Cleansing Cloths ($9 at BeautyMark)
Quick notes: 100% natural and biodegradable cleansing cloths. Light refreshing scent. Non-stinging. Each cloth is soaked with enough product to cleanse the face and neck thoroughly. Good for wiping down arms and legs sticky from sunscreen and a day at the beach too.
Would I repurchase? Maybe. It's a great product all-around, but $9 for a package of 10 wipes is on the pricey side.
Estée Edit Late Night Eraser (previously featured here)
Quick notes: I liked it as a good pick-me-up for tired-looking eyes.
Would I repurchase? I can't. Estée Lauder shuttered its millennial-focused line Estée Edit earlier this year, and it looks like the only place that still carries any is Selfridges where it's marked "Low in stock." If this was one of your Holy Grail products you better stock up now!
Eau Thermale Avene High Protection Spray SPF 50+ (recently featured here, available at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Quick notes: I get a lot of sunscreen samples but this is one I keep re-purchasing for myself—that should tell you all you need to know about how awesome this sunscreen is. For a chemical sunscreen, it's relatively clean too—EWG ranks it a 3/10 on the toxicity scale and none of the ingredients are endocrine-disrupting.
Would I repurchase? Yes.
EOS Berry Blossom Body Lotion (previously featured here, $9.99 at London Drugs)
Quick notes: This body lotion has a lot going for it. The formula is fast-absorbing and long-lasting and smells great, it's free of parabens and full of natural ingredients. The only misgiving I have is that it uses BHT as a preservative, which is a potential endocrine disruptor. According to Health Canada, BHT concentrations in beauty products are typically less than 0.1% and considered safe. While I don't mind it in colour cosmetics like lipstick (because I don't wear makeup every day and when I do it's only on small areas of the skin), I'd rather avoid it in an everyday body care product I'd use on larger areas.
Would I repurchase? No.
Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner (previously featured here, $6.49 at London Drugs)
Quick notes: Everything I needed to say about this conditioner was said in my previous blog post. This one was used up unusually fast because Hubs loved it.
Would I repurchase? Yes.
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