Empties: June 2018

15 skin and body care and makeup empties in this latest round-up, ranging from department store to all-natural and drugstore finds!

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Limited Release Vanilla Candy Cane Body Butter

Quick notes: Rocky Mountain Soap Company's body butters have become my go-to natural body moisturizer of choice: They work, they're super portable and spill-proof (perfect for my barre kit), and they're affordable at $15 a pop. This one was part of the limited edition vanilla candy cane-scented holiday gift set, and even though the scent sounds like it would be overly saccharine I didn't find it cloying at all.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Juara Coconut Illipe Hand & Nail Balm ($20 at Birchbox)

Quick notes: Remember when Birchbox briefly launched in Canada before the exchange rate made it untenable? At that time I was getting sample subscription boxes for review consideration, and this little tube of hand and nail balm was in one of them. I loved the richness of the formula and the coconut-y scent. A little goes a long way.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. The fact that it's not readily available everywhere is a deterrent as I still prefer going into a store to buy things instead of ordering online. (I'm old-school that way!)

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron & Coriander Energising Body Smoother ($37 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: Not really my kind of body scrub. I like my body exfoliants to be full of small granules and on the drier side, whereas this was more like a thick gel with sparse yet large particles. I had to use a lot to achieve the results I wanted, and as you can see, towards the end I had to cut the tube in half to scoop out what was left of the product.

Would I repurchase? No.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron & Coriander Energising Body Sorbet ($47 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: Loved the invigorating scent, the whipped jelly texture, the cooling sensation upon first application, and the long-lasting results. This was my go-to during the winter. However, I'm not crazy about the relatively high price tag considering the ingredients list is full of silicones and synthetics.

Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Agent Nateur No. 3 Deodorant ($29.50 at India Rose Cosmeticary and Kiss & Makeup; previously featured here and here)

Quick notes: I loved this deodorant right up until the end! It smelled good and glided on so smoothly during application, plus the packaging was an Instagram dream (before all the lettering scraped off, that is). The only things that would make me think twice about repurchasing it are the relatively high price tag, and the fact that it's only available at two specialty beauty retailers around town that are a little out of the way.

Would I repurchase? Maybe.

Happy Spritz Sweet Dreams Darling Essential Oil Spray ($28)

Quick notes: I picked this up at an indie boutique in Mt. Pleasant that doesn't seem to carry Happy Spritz anymore. The lavender and chamomile-infused formula is supposed to soothe and send you into a deep slumber, especially when spritzed generously in the air and on bed linens. It didn't seem to work for me though. Aside from the Instagram-worthy packaging, this product was a bust.

Would I repurchase? No.

For Beloved One Hyaluronic Acid Sheet Masks (approx. $65, available at T&T)

Quick notes: I'm not as sheet-mask-crazed as my fellow Vancouver beauty blogger Jayne, but in my limited experience For Beloved One makes the nicest, most luxe sheet masks I've ever tried. The clingy, jelly-like bio-cellulose fibre feels great on skin and each mask is dripping in essences. These are on the pricey side compared to the $1-$5 sheet masks you might find at Asian discount stores, but worth it if you're in the mood to splurge. Plus, you can scoop the essence out of the package and rub the used sheet mask all over your body and limbs!

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water ($14.90 at London Drugs, previously featured here)

Quick notes: I can't quit this product. On lazy nights, it's my face cleanser. It also removes makeup effortlessly as the first step in a double-cleansing routine.

Would I repurchase? Already have.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Eye Cream ($54 for full size, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Good basic eye cream that does what it's supposed to. Doesn't itch or burn around the eye area or make my eyes puff up (which can happen with some eye creams).

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Fresh Rose Face Mask ($75 for full size, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Fresh's masks are part of the reason why I don't indulge in sheet masks that often—they just seem so much easier and less messy to apply, you're only supposed to leave one on for 5-10 minutes (compared to up to 20 minutes for a sheet mask), and in terms of cost per use, they're less expensive than a sheet mask. The Rose Mask is one of the ones I keep going back to. I think I still have one more sample of this in my stash to use up, but otherwise I'd totally repurchase.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

EOS Organic Lip Balm (various flavours, $3.49 at London Drugs, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Affordable, all-natural, yummy-smelling, and effective.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil ($34 for full size, previously featured here and here)

Quick notes: A cleansing oil with a gorgeous scent and texture and plenty of slip. Great as the first step in a double-cleanse routine, but also great for dissolving sunscreen and cleansing a makeup-free face.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

KB Collection Small Traceless Hair Ties—Cotton Candy ($9.95 at Chatters)

Quick notes: Officially hooked on these gentle plastic-coil hair ties.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Dior Addict Lip Glow in 'Lilac' ($41, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Moisturizing and long-lasting with a hint of sheen and colour (in this case, a cool-toned pink).

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Curvitude Mascara ($10.99 at London Drugs, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Still loved the applicator and formula right up until the end, but with continued use I did notice a bit of minor smudging around the 8 or 9-hour mark. A solid choice, but not a Holy Grail.

Would I repurchase? Maybe.