August Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! Here is a closer look at all the products that I finished up this month!

Face

OXY - Emergency Acne Vanishing Facial Cleanser - This is formulated with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion and claims to ‘rapidly kill acne bacteria to quickly help heal acne blemishes.’ This consistency was too liquid-y and I felt that it rand right through the spaces between my fingers even if they were closed. It did have a rather strong smell to it and I did have to really moisturize my skin afterwards because this was rather drying. Also, it is medicated and there is an expiration date on the back of the bottle towards the bottom so keep an eye-out for that!

Biore - Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (8 count) - You already know that I love using pore strips. I have recently heard that they may not be the best solution for your skin, but I will continue to use them because I love the results that it gives my pores! It also gives instant gratification by seeing all the blackheads and whiteheads that have come out of your pores to achieve a deep clean!

The Face Shop - Blackhead Out Dual Nose Strips - Here is the thing about this product, I tried to make it work but it did not work for me! Step 1 tells you to wash your face and then apply the ‘blackhead out nose strip’ for 10-15 minutes. I felt that it was too thick and kept moving around on my nose, not really sitting well or adhering well to my skin. I left mine on for 15 minutes and when I took it off, you are supposed to use cotton swabs to remove blackheads. I felt like some of my whiteheads, (I don’t get blackheads often,) loosened but they did not come right out like I imagined they would. 

Now during step 2 was where I had the most trouble. The directions tell you to clean the bridge of your nose and then go in with the ‘pore tightening nose sheet.’ I peeled off the backing and applied to to my nose for 20 minutes. I peeled it off and I felt that nothing had happened. I generally apply the Biore Pore Strips to a wet nose and tried using the other side of the strip that was not sticky to my wet nose making sure to leave it on for about 15 minutes but nothing happened! I was disappointed in this product and felt that I had wasted both my time as well as my money on it. Would definitely not recommend this item. I have loved everything I have purchased or received from The Face Shop in the past and this product really caught me off-guard!

The Face Shop - The Solution Moisturizing Face Mask (1 single-use face mask) - The hot weather has really been drying out my skin lately and simply applying moisturizer has not been cutting it for my lately. I wanted another option to bring moisture back into my skin and this really did it for me! I felt as though my skin drank up this face mask and there wasn’t much essence to pat into my skin face after removing the sheet mask. I also liked that it is marketed as a ‘light-as-Air Sheet’ that is only 0.21 mm and is semi-transparent. It really fit my face better and I have found other sheet masks that I have used in the past too thick and this was really ideal for me to use!

Hands

Bath & Body Works - Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Boardwalk Vanilla Cone - I could be wrong, but this may be the last back-up I have of this scent! I know I have featured this scent a lot in my previous blog posts. This is the old bottle and formula. Bath & Body Works has completely re-done the packaging and the new formula is now green.

Bath & Body Works - Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Honolulu Sun - To be honest with you, I had high hopes for this scent just based on reading the description alone which said that it consists of: ‘fresh island coconut and pacific palm.’ I didn’t really smell either of those fragrances and got tired of the scent half-way through the bottle.

Other/Miscellaneous

Nature’s Bounty - Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies with Biotin (80 gummies) - This product needs no introduction because it is a staple in my beauty routine. My nails are currently extremely strong and growing fabulously mainly due to this inexpensive product!

Sally Hansen - Hard As Nails Hardener - I can’t tell you how many of these that I have gone through and this product really works! I will continue to purchase this product for as long as they make it or until I find something better which is highly unlikely!

Bath & Body Works - Scentportable in Watermelon Lemonade - I have been using this product for years in my car but I have always forgotten to show you the label! This is a nice refreshing smell that is perfect for summer time. The only thing that I dislike about these scentportables is that the scent doesn’t last for more than 3 weeks for me and in the summer months, they can get quite warm to the touch in my car.

Jelly Belly - Minnie Mouse Special Edition - I received this as a gift for my birthday and I absolutely love the packaging! There are delicious flavours inside such as: Berry Blue, Birthday Cake, Bubble Gum, Coconut, Cotton Candy, Cherry Passion Fruit and Strawberry Cheesecake!

Gillette - Venus Swirl Razor - This came with one razor and two refillable cartridges. I wanted to try it out because there was a lot of hype about it. I had seen numerous commercials and it happened to be on sale when I walked into Wal-Mart that day. The packaging also caught my eye because it said that it was new, had a flexi - ball (which I was intrigued about,) and it mentioned on the packaging that it ‘contours better to tricky areas for a flawless shave.’ I liked the idea behind it but I felt that there was so much going on with this razor and the razor head was too large for my liking. It is great if you are shaving your legs like it showed on the commercial, but I epilate my legs. It is also good to shave your armpits with but overall, I still love my BIC Soleil razors because they are small, disposable and get the job done!

Samples

Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (25) - I have used these in the past and they are an amazing product. They are durable enough to take off all of my makeup and they do not break while I am doing so. The cloths themselves are soft and gentle enough for sensitive skin. I will definitely purchase a pack of these when I run out of my current makeup wipes.

Caudalie - Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - I have been hearing a lot of people talking about this brand lately and I was glad to have finally been able to try it out. This is an oil-free formula that should be used on the face, neck and décolleté. It is complexion correcting and helps reduce dark spots, acne marks as well as acne scars. I feel like I would have to test out this product more to really be able to speak about it more. However, I tried searching it online on Sephora Canada and it told me that this item is restricted in Canada. I don’t know what is going on with this product and I feel like I would either have to find another retailer here that sells the product or I would have to purchase it in the USA.

Dr. Dennis Gross - Alpha Beta Glow Pad for Face (1 individual towelette) - This product is an ‘anti-aging exfoliating self-tanner with active vitamin d.’ It has potential but I recently got a natural tan from being outside and when I applied the towelette onto my face, I didn’t see any difference at all. I would say that it works best on more lighter-complected people.

Dr. Dennis Gross - Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel - I really did enjoy using this product because I loved how it made my skin feel after the fact. There are two steps to this process where step 1 exfoliates & smoothes the skin and then you go in with step 2 which firms and lifts the skin.

Hourglass - Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation Mattifying in shade Shell - I really loved how skin-like this foundation felt! The shade wasn’t too far off from what I would be in this foundation. I applied it with a beauty blender and it did transform from liquid to powder! I was impressed overall.

Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion 24-Hour Eyeshadow in: Original, Eden, Minor Sin and Anti-Aging - Of course the original is a cult favourite which dries invisible and keeps even the most vibrant colours in place. Eden is more of a nude matte formula which I enjoyed using. The third one is ‘minor sin’ which is a shimmering formula which has a slight pink tint to it which I enjoyed. It transformed my nude shades from the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette to more purple-toned shadows which I found to be very cool! Tip: I accidentally squeezed too much product out of this same shade and I just used my fingers to use it as a base for my highlighter on my face which worked out perfectly! Lastly, the anti-aging formula was nude shade and helped to colour-correct as well as to blurs any flaws. I traveled with several of these primers and thought that this was a genius sample pack!

L’Occitane En Provence  - Dry Skin Hand Cream with 20% Shea - This is great to put in your purse or take on-the-go. I do have dry hands due to my psoriasis and this really gave me the kind of moisture that I was looking for that my hands really needed. It is a great product.

Colgate - Total Clean Mint Toothpaste (x2) - This was a very standard and basic toothpaste to use. It is great to travel with and keeps your breathe smelling fresh.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

FTC: Not sponsored. Some links are affiliate. 

Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
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Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

May Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! This blog post is a few days late and I wasn't sure if I would post it at all because I didn't finish very many products last month. However, I still wanted to get something up for you and decided to post it anyway. 

Hair

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Re-Nutrition Intense Mask - This product contains royal jelly and it is "active serum enriched." It lasted me quite a long time and I really did enjoy using it. My hair felt softer and more moisturized after using it! I would put it in my hair before I would go to sleep, put my hair in a bun and wash it out the following morning. I would definitely repurchase this product because it is effective and it is very affordable!

Face

Classic Clean Sea Breeze Original Formula - This is an astringent and it claims that it 'deep cleans down to the pores' with a 'tingling, refreshing feeling.' I would have to agree. I had previously used the blue formula for sensitive skin and I would have to say that I prefer that one much more!

Life Brand Skin Firming Peel-Off Face Mask in Honey & Caramel - It is free of parabens and it claims to "hydrate and tightens skin." I did notice that it did both however, I did not smell any caramel at all. It is rather on the messy side because it is a peel-off mask. Also, when applying, make sure that you put on a nice evenly coated layer because if you apply it too thick, it will take forever to dry and it will not be fully dried when you decided to peel it off making a very messy situation for you to deal with.

rue beaute! Grapefruit Vitamin Rich SOS Hydrating Face Mask - I actually found that my skin drank up this face mask! It is extremely hydrating like the name suggests and I really enjoyed using it!

rue beaute! Blueberry Extract Emergency Makeover Face Mask - These sheet masks are very easy to use and I enjoyed the scent of this mask!

rue beaute! Coconut Hydration Rehab Your Skin Face Mask - I would suggest checking out these sheet masks because they are only $1.99 USD for one and they do wonders for your skin!

rue beaute! Hangover Ginseng Face Mask - It claims that it is 'soothing and hydrating for even skin.' I love the packaging and the word 'hangover' made me laugh and that is why I purchased this mask in the first place to be honest with you.

Body

Secret Scent Expressions Clear Gel Antiperspirant in Cocoa Butter Kiss - This is a great smelling deodorant but I feel as though I need to reapply throughout the day. I really like the clear formula!

Hands

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Driftwood Surf - I absolutely love this scent and it reminds me of men's cologne! It is "a blend of: nectarine blossom, ocean driftwood and warm amber."

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Watermelon Lemonade - This scent was decent but I would not repurchase it. It isn't one of my favourites sadly. I wish there was more of a watermelon scent than a lemonade scent to it.

Samples

Orange Naturals MagPop! in Tangy Orange - I received these three samples to review and I always keep it 100 as you all know. I did thoroughly enjoy these because of the convenience factor and also, it is great for taking on the go! The orange flavour is great and you can read more of my thoughts regarding this product.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand & Face Wipes in the Citrus Scent - These come in very handy! They don't take up much room in your purse and I even can clean various surfaces using these!

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths - I have a lot of individual packs of these and you will see them quite frequently in my upcoming empties blog posts! I adore these wipes and remove all of my makeup!

Benefit Dew The Hoola - My friend gave me this sample to try-out and even though I haven't ever owned the original Hoola Bronzer in powder form, I have swatched it in Sephora multiple times. I can tell you that the original formula is much better than the liquid bronzer. I do not like it because even though it is easy to apply with a beauty blender, it shows up very light on my skin even though I am on the more fair side. I wish it was darker in colour and do not recommend this to anyone with tan skinned or even darker than that!

Josie Maran Vibrancy Argan Oil Foundation Fluid in Juicy RG50 - My friend also gave my this sample to test and this shade worked pretty well for my skin tone! I loved the formulation and it did not oxidize on me throughout the day. My skin looked flawless and I loved the coverage that it gave my skin! I would say that it is a medium to full-coverage foundation. I applied it using my beauty blender and it looked fantastic! The price tag is a bit steep as one bottle retails for $55 CAD. Also, the finish is more dewy because there is argan oil inside. I would recommend setting it with a good powder before going on about your day.

Stay tuned this week because I have a fun blog post coming out & I will be posting another Project 10 Pan blog post shortly!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS NOT SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!

April Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! Long time no talk! I didn't have enough items earlier in April to do an empties blog post so I waited a few extra days until I finished up some more items.

Hair

Selsun Blue Anti-Dandruff Shampoo - This one with the red label is my least favourite to be quite honest with you. There is only 1% of Pyrithione Zinc which is less than other formulas. I find it to be not as effective to battle my oily/dry scalp.

Oral Hygiene

Equate Flosser Picks (90 Count) - I purchased these at Wal-Mart and they did the job well! They are affordable and do not break while using! I definitely recommend these!

Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste - I am really not a huge fan of this product but what I do like about it is that it comes in the gel formula. It is inexpensive and I have stocked up on these so I must get through them!

Face

Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream for Combination/Oily Skin - This is an item that I purchased at The Body Shop when they sent me a 50% off coupon which I used on this item. I found it to be hydrating but it did not help with my skin type. I would not repurchase this. I did like that it absorbed quick into the skin and I used it in the morning before I applied my makeup.

Hands

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Oh Snap! - I have mentioned this before and I really can't get enough of the packaging! I am a huge sucker for packaging and aside from that, the gingerbread scent is absolutely heavenly! 

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Vanilla Bean Noel - I have been using this scent for years and love a great vanilla scent!

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Perfect Beach Day - This scent is amazing! On the side of the bottle, it is described as having the following inside, "watery melon, young coconut and sparkling bergamot." I already want to buy another bottle of it! You need to smell it for yourself!

Body

Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Carried Away - I have known about this scent for quite some time and have repurchased it many times. At first, it can seem rather strong but it wears nicely throughout the day. The notes are: raspberry, white jasmine and vanilla. It is perfect to wear around Valentine's Day!

Johnson's Baby Soothing Vapour Bath - I am a huge fan of Johnson's baby products and wanted to try something new out. I wasn't a huge fan and the formula is quite liquidy. I will go back to my other favourite products from the same brand!

Face Masks

The Face Shop Character Mask - This particular one has brightening properties and it is a fun mask to use! I found my skin to be tighter and very subtle after use! It is paraben free and I will want to use this again in the future!

Life Brand Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask with Hyaluronic Acide & Konjac - It claims to be hydrating and to also smooth the skin. I would have to agree and it was very affordable at Shoppers Drug Mart. They have many different ones to choose from!

Life Brand Brightening Facial Sheet Mask with Ouija & Scutellaria Extract - I have been on a sheet mask kick lately if you haven't been able to tell! This one promotes radiance and brightens your skin. I say that their claims are true and that it is a very easy product to use! You only leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

Samples

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths - I used up 4 of these and they are such great wipes! I will definitely purchase a pack of my own once I am out of wipes!

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleaner for Face & Body (All Skin Types) - I finished an entire bottle of this product a few years back and I forgot how much I liked it! It helps break-down my makeup and does not irritate my eyes!

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Body (All Skin Types) - Same deal, I went through a bottle of this awhile back and it really absorbs quickly into the skin after a shower! My only issue with these two packets is that you HAVE TO use scissors to open them and I didn't have them close-by which led to much frustration to get it open.

The Face Shop Verbena Soothing Body Cleanser - I was given two free samples at the store with my purchase and the scent was very light as well as refreshing! It was extremely pleasant to use and I enjoyed these samples very much!

L'Occitane Milk Concentrate for Body - This was a great body lotion that I even used on my face! It is lightly fragranced and absorbed quickly into the skin with no sticky feeling being left behind.

Lionesse Gem Skin Care White Pearl Day Moisturizer - This is apparently a $200 skin care item if you buy the full-sized version. It does feel luxurious and did not make my face break-out but I don't like it enough to drop $200 on it.

The Body Shop Oils of Life - It says that it is an intensely revitalizing facial oil. I wouldn't use the word "intensely," but other than that, I would have to agree. I used it at night and my face felt fresh in the morning when I woke up.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth - Youth Cream - I REALLY enjoyed using this cream! It wasn't too thick and really penetrated into my skin. It was so soft the next day and I am wanting to purchase a larger size when I go through my other skin care products! I can't say enough good things about it!

Kaizen Naturals Whey Protein in Vanilla Bean - I want to give a shoutout to this company for sending me a sample of their product! I previously had a bad experience with another brand of protein powder and was skeptical to try another one. I am certainly glad that I did because this one tasted like a vanilla milkshake! I just added the entire packet to my water and stirred for 20-30 seconds are directed on the back. Some benefits are that it is: gluten free, there are no artificial colours or flavours, it is sweetened with Stevia, from grass fed cows and there is low temp filtration. There are 24 grams of protein, only 120 calories and only 1 gram of sugar which is amazing! I had a great experience using it and am excited to see which other flavours they have!

Miscellaneous

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies with Biotin - These vitamins really need no introduction because I speak about them all the time. Basically, they are my holy grail and help my hair as well as my nails grow long & be strong!

TUMS Antacid Ultra Strength 1000 mg in Peppermint (72 Count) - I have been using TUMS for over a decade and always have some in my purse. They have helped me on numerous occasions as well as my friends! I can't be without them.

Secret Scent Expressions Antiperspirant in Va Va Vanilla - This is in my top 3 favourite deodorants of all time and it is vanilla scented! I can't say no to that!

BIC Soleil Twilight Razors (5 Count) - These are incredible and really help me get a close shave! The only downfall is that they dull very quickly and I find myself replacing them quicker than I would like to. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS NOT SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!

March Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! It is time again for another round of empties! You can sort through my used up items with me and see everything that I went through for the month of March! 

Hair

Nioxin Cleanser for Fine Hair #1 Normal to Thin-Looking Shampoo - This was a product that was recommended to me by my dermatologist. It was about $50 and lasted me for about a year. The formula is blue and is not thick. It was a decent product overall and I was using it to help with my scalp because it was very dry. 

Face

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips - I can’t go a week without using my Biore pore strips! They effectively remove all the extra gunk on my face and leave it feeling very clean! It is gross, but I enjoy seeing what exactly came off my face which is usually many white heads!

Mouth

Colgate Total Toothpaste in Clean Mint - Again, it is a very affordable and basic toothpaste. It performed as it should and didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.

Altoids Smalls in Cinnamon - These are very powerful but I feel that because they are so small, I need to take two instead of one to get the fresh breath that I am looking for!

Crest 3D Luxe Whitestrips in Glamorous White - These are my number one go-to strips I use when I want to whiten-up my smile. There are 14 treatments and like the packaging suggests, there is a “strong grip” and there is “no slip.” I recommend these to all my friends and family. I do suggest waiting to buy them when they are on sale because they can get quite expensive.

Body

Bath & Body Works Shea & Vitamin E Body Lotion in Mahogany Teakwood - This scent is one of my favourites! It is very musky and masculine. There are also notes of lavender!

Hands

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Oh Snap! - This was such a great scent to use around the holidays! The packaging is what originally drew me to this particular bottle!

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Vanilla Bean Noel - This is a scent that Bath & Body Works comes out with around the holidays and if you love vanilla, you have to check it out!

Bath & Body Works Gentle Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in White Pear & Fig - They describe it as a “crisp white pear layered with frosted fig.” It was nice to use but I wouldn’t run out to buy it again anytime soon.

Kleenex Fresh On The Go Wipes - These came in handy and are very convenient to throw into my purse. What I didn’t like is how they seal the packaging. The protective seal kept coming off and because it couldn’t adhere on properly, some of my wipes did in fact dry out.

Vitamins

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies - You already know that I love this product and I am already on my next bottle!

Nature’s Bounty - Vitamin C & D3 (100 softgels) - I purchased this bottle when I was getting sick to help get my body back on track. I felt as though it did help me and I will purchase this again in the future!

Samples

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths - I love Cetaphil cleansing cloths in general and when I received these, I was overjoyed! They are very strong and durable cloths. You can remove your entire face of makeup at the end of the night using only 1 cleansing cloth. They are ultra soft and they will not irritate your eyes when you are taking off your eye makeup. They are great to take on the go no matter what your lifestyle is like! They are also fragrance free which is another great selling point. I used up 6 of these and have plenty more in my stash!

Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve - This is my second deluxe sample of this particular formula and I would not go out and purchase it. My friend hated the smell of it because it is extremely minty and it was a very standard product in my opinion. 

Derma E Hydrating Day Creme - I was sent these samples for my consideration but my opinion is honest. I did really enjoy using this fabulous product! It is: soft, hydrating, fast to absorb, not sticky and there is a light scent that reminds me of bubblegum! I would actually purchase this because it is not too thick and there is a ton of vitamins infused into this cream such as vitamin C and E. Also, not to mention all the beneficial antioxidants like green tea! 

Jeunesse Instantly Ageless -  I was to give a shoutout to Karen from Idaho who was kind enough to send me two samples! I found that it absorbed very quickly into the skin, there was no scent to the lightweight formula and it felt tightening on the skin in a good way! The formula is pink in colour and you only need to use less than a pea-sized amount. You need to work quickly and remain expressionless until it fully dries on your face! If you use too much by accident, it will appear white on your face and you can gently remove the excess with a damp cotton swab. 

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. THIS BLOG POST IS NOT SPONSORED. SOME LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS.

Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase here
*LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR YOUR AUTOMATIC CODE!

Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases here
Hautelook - A flash sale web site where I get most of my footwear and accessories from!