Empties: October 2017

Empty beauty and skincare and bodycare products featuring Almay, Avene, Pantene, Saje, Rocky Mountain Soap Co, Annabelle, Lise Watier, Herbal Essences, Crabtree & Evelyn, Leaves of Trees, Tata Harper, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Cover Girl

Reflecting on this latest batch of empties is a bit like a greatest hits and misses retrospective of summer. Some have been featured on the blog previously (in which case I have an opportunity to revisit my previous opinions—yay!) and some are new to this post. Let's dive in, shall we?

Empty beauty and skincare and bodycare products featuring Almay, Avene, Pantene, Saje, Rocky Mountain Soap Co, Annabelle, Lise Watier, Herbal Essences, Crabtree & Evelyn, Leaves of Trees, Tata Harper, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Cover Girl

Almay Clear Complexion 4-in-1 Makeup Remover Purifying Towelettes ($11.94 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: A 4-in-1 makeup remover, exfoliating, and cleansing wipe that's also alcohol- and fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. This wipe was saturated with enough solution to get the job done and remove makeup and cleanse effectively, and it didn't sting around the eyes. Plus, the ingredients list boasts witch hazel, natural extracts, and salicylic acid, and other than artificial preservatives that could be potential allergens at higher concentrations it's a relatively "clean" drugstore find.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Eau Thermale Avène Thermal Spring Water ($22 at London Drugs, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Pure, sterile thermal spring water ideal for a refreshing spritz anytime of the day. This large size lasted years!

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo ($6.49 at London Drugs, previously featured here)

Quick notes: I still stand by everything I said in my detailed review.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser ($95 at BeautyMark)

Quick notes: This oil cleanser for the face feels and smells luxurious and is an absolute delight to use. It's meant to be the first makeup-removing step in a double-cleanse routine or the sole cleansing step if you're looking for something gentle on sensitive and/or makeup-free skin. Whenever I used it, I'd take an extra few seconds to massage my face and around my eyes to promote lymphatic drainage.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Saje Sleep Well Restful Sleep Mist ($19.95)

Quick notes: Didn't work as well as the Tata Harper Aromatic Bedtime Treatment in sending me off into a sound sleep. Hubs also complained about the way it smelled.

Would I repurchase? No.

Lise Watier Age Control Supreme Ultimate Body Butter

Quick notes: This product has been discontinued and I can understand why. Although the formula features Labrador tea extract (a potent source of antioxidants) and shea and argan butters, it didn't improve skin significantly more than what a less expensive body moisturizer could do. It did absorb quickly and provide long-lasting hydration though.

Would I repurchase? No.

Korres Castanea Arcadia Wrinkle Rewind Day Cream (available at Shoppers Drug Mart)

Quick notes: Very rich, but not as rich as the night cream version. Heavily fragranced. Works well under sunscreen if applied sparingly. Doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts. Love the fact that the formula is almost all-natural.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Korres Castanea Arcadia Wrinkle Rewind Night Cream (available at Shoppers Drug Mart)

Quick notes: Very rich and moisturizing, but doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts. Almost all-natural. Heavily fragranced.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Empty beauty and skincare and bodycare products featuring Almay, Avene, Pantene, Saje, Rocky Mountain Soap Co, Annabelle, Lise Watier, Herbal Essences, Crabtree & Evelyn, Leaves of Trees, Tata Harper, Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, Cover Girl

Annabelle Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads ($7.99 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: Oil-free and non-stinging, saturated with enough solution to get the job done, and at 85 pads for $7.99 it's a good value. The formula contains aloe and cucumber extract and no chemicals that rate higher than a 3 in the EWG database. The little round makeup remover pads are an ideal size for the eyes and removing stubborn lip colours.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. They're handy for cleaning makeup swatches off my hands and arms!

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Lemongrass Body Butter ($15)

Quick notes: Affordable, all-natural and super-nourishing on skin, with the most invigorating citrusy lemongrass scent. The solid twist-up stick is about the size of a regular deodorant stick and great for travel as it's a solid and doesn't count towards your precious liquids/gels quota. The only downers are that it's not as quick to apply as a spread-able body lotion and I used mine up way too quickly.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo

Quick notes: This one's a trial-size oldie I kept at work for quick touch-ups of greasy bangs. It relies on tapioca starch and natural essential oils to freshen locks, with silicones for texture. Not crazy about the scent, but it did the job.

Would I repurchase? In one of the new scents, yes.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser ($104 at BeautyMark)

Quick notes: Consider this the luxe, all-natural, grown-up version of St. Ives Apricot Scrub that's actually good for your skin.

Would I repurchase? No. I prefer a more powerful chemical exfoliant to be used 1-2 times weekly over a daily manual one.

Leaves of Trees Eucalyptus Mint Deodorant ($17 at BeautyMark)

Quick notes: As much as I adored the tingly fresh sensation of this deodorant and the all-natural eucalyptus mint scent, with continued use I developed an on-and-off allergic reaction to this that would leave my armpits red and itchy; when my skin wasn't sensitized it turned dark brown. I've since switched to using the Consonant and Agent Nateur natural deodorants exclusively and haven't had a reaction.

Would I repurchase? No.

Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange, Eucalyptus & Sage Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy ($11 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: Performed just as well as expected, but the Avocado, Olive & Basil scent is still my fave.

Would I repurchase? No.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Relax Aromatherapy Stick in French Lavender

Quick notes: The lavender scent wasn't very strong and faded quickly. Because this is an emollient product, I repurposed it as a lip balm.

Would I repurchase? No.

BV Spa by Bon Vital Pink Grapefruit Salt Scrub ($11.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart, previously reviewed here)

Quick notes: Inexpensive, mostly natural body scrub that works like a charm and has a yummy pink grapefruit scent. Works better on dry skin than wet skin. As you use it up it does get harder to squeeze out of the tube, which is why I cut mine in half and scooped the contents out and put them in a smaller container.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Whiffcraft Wake Up Your Face Facial Mist ($14, previously featured here)

Quick notes: Refreshing, but with continued use I found that sometimes the essential oils in the formula would sting my skin.

Would I repurchase? Probably not.

Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer ($140 at BeautyMark)

Quick notes: All-natural, smells great, non-greasy and fast-absorbing and, best of all, feels like it truly nourishes and replenishes skin.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum ($130-210 for different sizes at BeautyMark)

Quick notes: This all-natural serum promises to do it all: promote radiance and hydration; minimize fine lines and wrinkles; infuse skin with hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and antioxidants. It complements the Repairative Moisturizer nicely to create that signature healthy Tata Harper glow.

Would I repurchase? Yes. Despite how pricey this is, the fact that it's all-natural and proven to work and it's an all-in-one formula makes it worth it.

Cover Girl x Katy Kat Matte Mascara, L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($9.99 at London Drugs), Almay Intense I-Color Volumizing Mascara ($8.61 at London Drugs)

Quick notes: Smudge city with all of them.

Would I repurchase? No.

Estee Lauder Little Black Primer (available at Nordstrom, previously reviewed here)

Quick notes: From my previous review: "The formula is smudge-proof, flake-proof, and so thin that you can apply multiple coats without a single clump. It noticeably improves the appearance of my short, straight Asian lashes, defining and fanning them out while providing length and lift and locking in curl. My lashes don't look like I'm wearing mascara: they look like my own lashes, only a dozen times better. I've been wearing LBP on its own as a mascara alternative because I like a more natural look. For girls who want more drama, that length, lift, and curl set a great foundation for one's favourite mascara."

Would I repurchase? In a heartbeat.

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