The Highlights:
Kai Body Butter (reviewed here): I am still wildly in love with this delightful scent. Their Body Butter is so rich and emollient that it works wonders on dry winter skin while the scent evokes tropical days frolicking in the sun. You don't even need to ask, I am already working on another jar!
Trader Joe's Coconut Body Butter (reviewed here): I love this rich and thick coconut scented body butter. I kept this jar on my desk and dutifully used it every day, and it kept dry winter skin at bay.
Surya Brasil Amazonia Preciosa Hand & Body Lotion (reviewed here): Amazonia Preciosa Hand & Body Lotion is a lovely lightweight lotion that sinks in quickly but leaves skin soft, silky and unmistakably moisturized. I used this down to the very last drop!
Tom's of Maine Daily Moisture Beauty Bar with Olive Oil and Vitamin E (reviewed here): This is a super hydrating beauty bar that leaves skin very soft, silky and hydrated. I even used it for shaving since it was gentle and moisturizing enough to nourish the skin while creamy enough to get a close shave.
DermOrganic Daily Conditioning Shampoo (reviewed here): This sulfate-free formula is gentle and very conditioning. It does not strip the hair in the least bit, but it does have a lovely lather. I loved this shampoo right to the bottom of the bottle.
Gold Sakura Facial Cleansing Foam Shirasu Line (reviewed here): You will notice that this tube is a bit tattered courtesy of Lucy who managed to bring it back to her hoarder's lair to chew on for a while before I found and reclaimed it! This is a deeply cleansing facial wash that leaves skin baby soft. It's lovely used alone, but extraordinary when paired with a Clarisonic.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion (reviewed here): This is my very favorite toner because it is so effective and gentle, and it contains no alcohol.
Dr. Sebagh Eye Primer Lift Eye Contour Gel: I normally wouldn't even bother to comment on a single small sample packet, but I really liked this eye gel a lot. It is thicker gel that deeply moisturizes the delicate eye area. I want to get another couple of packets to try it a while longer, but I was impressed enough that I am contemplating its purchase.
Radical Skincare Peptide Infused Antioxidant Serum (review forthcoming): I am just about ready to review this lovely serum, and have already made quite a dent in my full size bottle. I can say without reservation that it is extraordinary.
Radical Skincare Anti-Aging Replenishing Extreme Moisture (review forthcoming): I covet my big jar of this amazing face cream. It is, without question, my very favorite cream to date. Radical Skincare is a true game changer, and if they make it I will use it!
Hair samples: Sachajuan, Bumble and Bumble, Rahua, Philip B: I didn't use any of these products long enough to determine how effective they were long term-- therefore I don't really have much to say about them.
What did you use, toss, give away or return in January?
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I designated January as "month of foil" and made a concentrated effort to use up as many sachet samples as possible. It was quite a lot of work figuring out what combos of products to put together and there were a few clunkers in there that had been hovering around for ages - but they are gone now. I will def do this again when I have amassed another load - which I will! However I won't do it in January when my skin needs all the TLC it can get in this extreme cold. I have to say though that my skin isn't looking too bad, I didn't break out, AND I'm really pleased with the amount I used up.
ReplyDeleteHi emmanyc! I love the idea of January as the "month of foil!" What a great way to motivate yourself to work through your samples. Figuring out what combinations to use can definitely be tricky! And yes, it is so easy to amass another load of samples-- they seem to multiply while we sleep! You are so wise not to do too much experimenting when your skin is stressed by the extreme cold-- that's the best time to use tried and true products that you can really depend on. Keep me posted!
DeleteI've been meaning to try the DermOrganic shampoo someday.
ReplyDeleteI had a few empties this month:
-Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush (mini-bottle)
-Rocky Mountain Soap Company mini Foot Butter
-Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Sprinklecake perfume vial
-Guess Gold shower gel
-Lush Snowcake soap
Hi Iris,
DeleteAs always you did a great job using up products in your beauty arsenal! I do think that you will like the DermOrganic Shampoo once you try it. :-)
what are your first impressions of rahua?
ReplyDeleteHi Chia-Yi!
DeleteIt was okay, but didn't blow my mind. I don't know how I would feel about it if I used it longer than I was able to with a deluxe sample, but it just didn't make a huge impression.
How do you empty so much? :)
ReplyDeleteAfter my emptying frenzy in October, things have been going slow. I emptied a few moisturizers and lotions in December, and this month I finished a bottle of CND Solar Nail Oil and a tube of Eucerin Aquaphor. I continued to give away or donate beauty products I'm not in love with, my primary makeup endeavour of 2013. I certainly made my dad's best friend's daughter happy with a goodie bag of mid/high end cosmetics! :)
I returned the two Black Friday Too Faced "Better Than Sex" sets. I really didn't need them!
Hi BooBoo,
DeleteThe key for me is to use things consistently when they start to show real signs of wear. For instance, when a lotion starts to dip below the half-empty point I tend to use it more often to finish it up. For me it takes a bit of discipline because I can get a bit bored with the same products over and over again. On the other hand, it's s nice to finish up something that has been sitting around for a long time.
Good job with your empties, and a very impressive continuation of purging things that you are not in love with! BRAVO!!! Good for you for returning the Too Faced sets that you decided you didn't really need after all!
I was thinking about this today, while elliptical-ing on the Elliptical machine. (Woo hoo! I made it to the gym!) My mind wanders when I'm doing repetitive tasks.
DeleteI use my products consistently as well. After a year+ of deliberately going through my stash, I now have one product per category -- body and hair care -- open at a time. My exceptions are hand creams and lip balms. I have two shampoos and two conditioners on the go currently, but I plan to reduce this to one each. I suppose my system doesn't promote finishing multiple items, though my rate of use has remained the same*. I don't have samples to plow through either.
* Correction: I've been using chemical exfoliants and other actives more sparingly during the winter. My skin is dry and feels 'thin' these days, and I've been piling on serums and moisturizers instead. Gosh, I want it to be Spring already!
Good for you for getting back to the gym! YAY you! That's a very sensible method. I have to switch shampoos and conditioners every few uses to maintain efficacy and avoid product build-up so I always have a couple of shampoos and conditioners open at the same time.
DeleteSmart call to use exfoliants a bit more sparingly during the cold months when your skin is being traumatized by the cold Canadian Winter! Serums and moisturizers are a good call! You certainly aren't alone in your desire for Spring to arrive!
I stopped saving for these posts since I am overloaded with STUFF in my house. I did finish my DermOrganic hair stuff though and am about 2 uses away from using up my Acai Balm for hair styling.
ReplyDeleteI am overloaded with stuff as well, and feel a bit overwhelmed by how much of it there is. I find that doing these Empties posts keeps me on track with using what I have, and makes me less anxious about how much stuff I have in my skincare, hair and body collections (which doesn't even begin to describe how much makeup I have amassed! Good for you for getting through your DermOrganic hair products!
Delete