July 2023 Empties for the Face, Body & Hair

Purchased & Press Sample (Affiliate Links)

I managed to use up 8 products during the month of July, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything that I used. I would definitely use all of these products again, but other than the hand soap from Trader Joe's I have other products to use up before I consider replacing what is featured here. 

Men's Spongellé Men's Super Buffer from the For the Two of Us Gift Set (on Sale for $20.00 from Spongellé): Men's Super Buffer Verbena Absolute: "The invigorating scent of Verbena Absolute is the perfect scent to kick-start your day, take to the gym or to refresh in the evenings. Enriched with a blend of energizing extracts , this All In One Men’s Treatment will cleanse, scrub and hydrate." This set is such a deal, and the Men's buffer smells fantastic! Purchase Again? I am tempted to buy a few as gifts because the price is excellent.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Apple, Pineapple, Rum

Middle: Clove, Sage, Pepper

Base: Sandalwood, Amber/Spicy, Vanilla

Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffer in Freesia Pear Body ($16.00 from Spongellé): This buffer boasts a very refreshing and uplifting aroma that features floral middle notes that are tempered by woody base notes and fresh fruity top notes. This amalgam of notes is a decidedly fruity floral with warmer edges, and the result is an uplifting delight to the senses. Purchase Again? Yes, but I need to use up my remaining Spongellé body buffers first.

Fragrance Notes:
Top: lemon, grapefruit, pear
Middle: freesia, peony, floral bouquet
Bottom: woody, musk, amber

Trader Joe's Pink Pomelo Grapefruit Hand Soap ($3.99 for 17 oz. from Trader Joe's): Trader Joe's Lavender Chamomile Hand Soap and Trader Joe's Pink Pomelo Grapefruit Hand Soap are worthy of your consideration! They both produce a satisfying lather, and yet they neither strip, nor dry out the hands. The former doesn't overpower with the potential pungency of lavender because it is tempered by the chamomile, and the latter isn't an overly powerful citrus. Instead, they are both uplifting, pleasant and delightful. Hands are left soft, nourished and lightly hydrated. Purchase Again? I already have!

FaceTory Urban Calm Gel Cleanser with Fermented Pear and LHA ($42.00 for 4 oz. from FaceTory and their Amazon Store): This is an ultra-gentle lightly lathering gel cleanser that thoroughly cleans the skin without stripping it, and leaves it very soft, smooth and hydrated. It has a very light and fresh herbal aroma, but it isn't long lasting or in the least bit cloying. Purchase Again? Not in the near future because I am swimming in facial cleansers, but I would definitely consider purchasing this when I need to purchase a cleanser.

Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate ($46.00 for 1.6 oz. from Nordstrom): is an effective water-gel hydrator that immediately melts into the skin, without leaving behind a greasy residue, and it infuses the skin with a serious surge of hydration– just as the name would suggest. It is fragrance-free, formulated for most types of skin and it leaves skin soft, smooth, hydrated and balanced. Furthermore, it contains Hyaluronic Acid- which effectively helps to retain hydration while lightly plumping the skin. I am personally very fond of water-gel moisturizer formulas for my normal/combination skin, and I think that this is a good one. I like to layer this under my regular moisturizer du jour, and find that it offers my skin sustained hydration throughout the day. Purchase Again? While I really loved this, it is going to be a very long time before I need to purchase a Hyaluronic Acid based serum.

Banish The Defender Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ($59.00 for 50 ml. from Banish): is a lightweight mineral sunscreen that is neither greasy, nor does it leave behind a white film. It boasts a peptide-rich formula that offers skin light hydration, ample sun protection, and the formula offers a light blurring effect. It plays well with makeup, and it is fragrance-free. It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and like all sunscreens it should be reapplied frequently (about every 60-80 minutes) to remain effective. Purchase Again? I just opened a new sunscreen, and therefore it will be a while before I need to purchase another, but this was excellent!

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Gel Cream (Renamed Mattifying Gel Cream. $144.00 for 1.7 oz. from Erno Laszlo): is a moisture-rich, deeply hydrating and fast-absorbing gel cream that melts into the skin, leaves behind no residue whatsoever, and immediately delivers results. The antioxidant-rich cream is formulated to be utterly weightless and it does an exquisite job quenching dry and dehydrated skin. It calms and soothes inflamed skin, and leaves it soft, supple and luminous. While it contains fragrance, toward the middle of the ingredients, it doesn't have much of an aroma to speak of. Purchase Again? I just opened another jar!

shu uemura muroto volume shampoo for fine hair ($52.00 for 10 oz. from shu uemura art of hair, Sephora and The Bay): This shampoo thoroughly cleans the hair without stripping it, drying it out, and without leaving behind any sort of oily residue. It rinses clean and it has a nice light aroma, but the scent is neither long lasting, nor in the least bit cloying. Purchase Again? It is on my list, but I need to use some open shampoos first!

Overall Assessment: I really enjoyed each and every one of these products, and would definitely use them again, but as I said I have a lot of open products to finish before I consider purchasing anything other than the Trader Joe's Hand Soap. What did you use up, toss out, give away or return in July? Any real winners or losers to report?

Purchased and Press Samples (Affiliate Links). All views expressed are categorically my own. 

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