October Empties

☑ Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer (sample)

I don't usually use primers and I'm not sure this one really did something - at least I didn't notice a brightening effect.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Benefit The POREfessional 

☑ Avon ANEW Rejuvenate Mineral Facial Rinse-Off Treatment

I bought this a long time ago and I must admit I rarely used it. It's basically a clay mask to me (despite its fancy name) and it did nothing special. You could buy a super cheap clay mask at the drugstore and it would work just as well.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Elemis FreshSkin Face Mask Duo

☑ Magical Moisture Quenching Face Mask

Repurchase: no because as far as I know, you can't purchase this mask separately (it comes in a duo with the Deep Clean Purifying Face Mask , which did nothing for my dry skin)

What I'm currently using to replace it: other face masks

☑ Fruits & Passion Orange Cantaloup Foaming Bath

Smells nice in the bottle but almost nothing once poured in the bath. Very average foam that lasts about 10 minutes. Disappointing for the price.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care (30mL)

I think this did left my hair softer but I can't really tell as I always use a leave-in conditioner after washing my hair anyway. It has a nice thick texture though!

Repurchase: no, Unilever tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: Alberto Moisture Soak Conditioner

☑ Organic Aloe & Jojoba Creme Therapy

Repurchase: no as I'm sure I can find aloe vera products that work just as well at a fraction of the price

What I'm currently using to replace it: George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion

☑ mark. Mist Opportunity Multi-Tasking Refresher with kiwi/grapefruit 

I got this a loooooong time ago when I became an Avon rep as reps have access to amazing discounts and this was included in a special mark. starter kit. I use this every morning as a toner instead of washing my face with soap because it's so dry, but I don't feel it really did something for my face. I'm glad I finally used it up!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Equate Exfoliating Cleansing Towelettes (60 towelettes)

☑ Mario Badescu Kiwi Face Scrub (sample)

At first, I fell in love with this scrub because of its amazing smell and because it's so gentle... but after continuous use, I realized it did nothing for my skin... and it started to make the area around my mouth burn! Maybe I have an allergy to something in this scrub?


Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Bioré Daily Recharging Detoxify Daily Scrub 

September Empties

☑ Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner (sample)

I'm not sure if I have noticed my hair being more volumized after using these products, but one thing I noticed is the smell - it's amazing! I don't really care about which shampoo I use on my hair anyway, as long as it cleans my hair, that's all I ask!

Repurchase: no, P&G tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Colour-Vive Shampoo and  Alberto Moisture Soak Conditioner

☑ Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care Daily Treatment Conditioner (sample)

This product has an interesting texture, I've never seen something similar before. When you squeeze the product out, it's very thick and solid and it melts in contact with the hair. It also smells lovely, and I really think it has improved my hair's condition, leaving it soooo soft!

Repurchase: no, Unilever tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care (30mL)

☑ Fruits & Passion Grapefruit Guava Foaming Bath

Very average foam that lasts about 10 minutes. Disappointing for the price.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ L'Oréal Féria Shimmer Boost Hydrating Conditioner

This must be one of the best weekly conditioner I have used because the texture is so thick and it feels very moisturizing but sadly, I'm not sure I won't repurchase Féria hair dye in the future as I've been quite disappointed with the results for the price - not to mention that L'Oréal tests on animals.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: weekly deep conditioners from other hair dyes

☑ Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion

The smallest bottle available (8oz) is $15.00 and so not worth it in my opinion - it stinks alcohol so bad and it dries my skin more than refreshing it - not to mention toners are not really necessary, especially if you have dry skin like me. This product didn't feel refreshing, disinfecting or deep cleaning at all, and if I'm not mistaken, alcohol in a body care product is never good, is it?

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Nivea Visage Gentle Toner

☑ Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Cream with royal jelly

I always find it hard to properly review eye creams as I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I'm 22 and I do have some expression lines around my eyes but nothing really noticeable. I use eye creams as a prevention, thus I don't really look for an anti-ageing product.

I guess I was drawn to this eye cream because it contains royal jelly and it's an OK product but I didn't notice my eyes looking more radiant or awaken despite the little reflecting particles in the cream. The texture is nice and easy to apply but I won't use it in the morning when I'm in a rush before putting on makeup because it takes some time to be absorbed into the skin.

I didn't realize this until now but I've had milia around my eyes for some times and now that I've stopped using this eye cream, it has really improved!

At around $23, it is pricey, but I have yet to find a good eye cream that doesn't cost more than $15. Keep in mind that it's 98.2% natural!

Repurchase: I would, if it didn't give me milia ):

What I'm currently using to replace it: Avon Solutions Plus Ageless Results Eye Cream

☑ Neotoric Diabetic Oxygenated Advanced Healing Cream review

Because this cream is claimed to be "an exceptional intensive treatment for chronic dry, cracked, damaged, slow healing skin", I had high hope it would help with my eczema, but it didn't. Thid product didn't feel very moisturizing at all. On the packaging, it says it's great to use on feet, and that's what I did instead of just throwing it away.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it:  Udderly Smooth Shea Butter Foot Cream

☑ Lady Speed Stick Stainguard Antiperspirant/Deodorant in Powder Fresh

I loooove the smell of this, it smells like baby powder, but it's also very fresh. I don't think I've ever had problems with yellow stains on my clothes so I didn't notice if this antiperspirant/deodorant really prevented them. As for odor and wetness protection , I can't say it works all day. I mean, I won't stink by the end of the day, but let's just say I just don't feel as fresh as I felt in the morning, but I have yet to find a product that works 100%.

Repurchase: I would, if only Colgate-Palmolive Co. were not conducting tests on animals

What I'm currently using to replace it: Secret Scent Expressions Ooh-La-La-Lavender Antiperspirant/Deodorant

☑ Diane Lai Soothe Sport Treatment review

This is my favorite product from the Diane Lai line. I especially like to use it on my affected hand as it's fast absorbed into the skin and non greasy. It does a great job at calming the itch and it helps heal the redness. The texture is perfect - it's rich without being thick as a butter but it's not milky either. The Soothe Spot Treatment has a very subtle lavender scent which is pleasant and relaxing. Even though eczema can't be completely healed to this day, I'm glad to have found a natural product that help keep flare-ups under control. I would love to continue using Diane Lai products, but the price is a little steep for a student budget.

I didn't want to use the Soothe Spot Treatment too often because the bottle is so small for the price ($34 for 30 ml), and  technically, I haven't really used it up - I don't know what happened with the pump but I can't get any more product out! I tried to wash it in case it was blocked or something, but nothing worked, so I decided to scoop out as much product as I could but I wasn't able to completely "save" it. Oh well.

Repurchase: no, it's way too expensive ):

What I'm currently using to replace it:  Diane Lai Rejuvenate Daily Moisturizing Lotion

August Empties

☑ L'Oréal Sublime Mousse Conditioner

I absolutely HATED this mousse hair dye. The conditioner was OK, but I will not repurchase the hair dye. See my review to understand why.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: L'Oréal Féria Shimmering Boost Hydrating Conditioner

☑ John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo & Conditioner (sample)

Free samples are always nice, but I'm still not convinced by these shampoos and conditioners specifically desgined for brunettes. They didn't prevent my hair color from fading and they sure didn't illumniate it.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

☑ Udderly Smooth Udder Cream Body Cream (sample) review

This must be one of the best body cream for my dry and eczema-prone skin. It is non greasy and it's absorbed very, very quickly into the skin, leaving it imediately smoothed and moisturized. I was actually quite surprised at how fast it soothed my dry and irritated skin and eased the itching due to eczema. This cream is also soooooo inexpensive ($2.75 for 4 oz. tube), I will be sure to repurchase it!

Repurchase: yes!!!

What I'm currently using to replace it: Jergens Naturals Aloe Soothing Body Moisturizer with Cucumber

☑ Fruits & Passion Orange Cantaloup Foaming Bath Cream

This is total crap! Despite its steep price ($23.00 for 250 ml), what you get is far from the "thick, creamy, fragrant foam", as claimed. The foam disappears after 10 minutes and even if the product smells great in the bottle, I can barely smell something once poured in the bath. It did leave my skin softer, but not enough to skip moisturizer.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ Fruits & Passion Blackberry Musk Foaming Bath

Again, very average foam that last about 10 minutes. Disappointing for the price.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: random bath treats

☑ Biotherm Aquasource 24h Deep Hydration Replenishing Gel (sample)

This sample was very small so I'm not too sure what to say about it, except that gel moisturizers are never a great match for my dry skin, as most are not moisturizing enough.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel Cream for dry skin

☑ Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion (sample) review

This lotion is eco friendly, cruelty free and vegan and it can be used all over your body. Despites its formula being a little too light and watery for my liking, it works well but boy is it pricey ($25 for 4 oz)! For now, I'm currently testing a new face cream so I'm using the full-size version of this lotion on my hands to see if it will help with my eczema.

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

☑ NeoStrata Sunsation Insta-Tan For Face Deep Dark

I've had this for so long but I've never really been into self-tanners until recently, and I'm not sure if it's because it's too old or just because it's total crap, but I don't get a tan at all when I use this product. I have also tried it on my body but no, nothing. And it's supposed to be deep dark...

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint For Face and Decolleté

☑ Jergens Naturals Aloe Soothing Body Moisturizer with Cucumber review

Despite its light texture, this product is very moisturizing and I do think it has slightly helped with my eczema. I'm absolutely in love with the clean and fresh scent - perfect for summer!

Repurchase: yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Hand & Body Lotion

☑ Hana Shine Shield Thermal Protectant (2 oz) review

This product is a thermal serum that can be used as a leave-in conditioner, which I did and I feel it did a pretty great job. When I first used this product, I didn't feel it did something for my hair, but I changed my mind after a couple of days of using it. My hair were definitely softer, shinier and more manageable. I woould not repurchase because I think $29.99 for a 2oz bottle is definitely expensive!

Repurchase: no

What I'm currently using to replace it: Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream Sleek & Shine