Empties: May 2019

I cannot believe May has already come and gone – it seemed to fly by!  My daughter finished Preschool and we are now into the swing of a more relaxed summer schedule – which I am not mad about!  This month I used up some staple products as well as some that were new to me.  I hope this feedback will help you if you are in the market for any of these types of products!  Keep reading below to hear my thoughts on a gorgeous new makeup find, some great skincare and a surprise hair favorite!

Skincare & Makeup

Product: Leahlani Skincare – Champagne Serum (now Happy Hour Balancing Serum)
Ingredients: *Vitis Vinera (Grapeseed and Chardonnay Grapeseed) Oil, *Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Flower Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, *Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Tocopherol, *Citrus Nobilis Peel (Orange Mandarin) Peel Oil, Calendula officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green and White Tea) Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil, **Tanacetum Annum (Tansy) Flower Oil, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos Tea) Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil
*organic **wildcrafterd
Price: $38
Thoughts: I truly enjoy all of the Leahlani products, and this one is no exception.  It was the perfect oil to take me through the transitional months from winter into Spring, when my skin couldn’t decide if it wanted to be dry or more normal. It provided my skin with adequate moisture as well as keeping it calmer and less inflamed.  I used this mostly in the morning, but did occasionally use it at night as well.  When my skin was feeling a little dryer, applying some Bless on top was always the perfect solution.
Repurchase: Yes!  This oil is a go-to for me during the Spring/Summer months!

Product: OSEA – Essential Corrective Complex
Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil*, Rosmarinus (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Thymus Vulgaris (White Thyme) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Juniperus (Juniper) Communis Leaf Oil*, Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) *CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENT
Price: $32
Thoughts: I love this stuff! It has been a staple in my skincare collection for about three years! It was actually the first natural blemish treatment I ever purchased when I transitioned my skincare products, and I hit the jackpot on the first try! It does a fantastic job at reducing the inflammation and redness of any active acne spots and helps them to go away much more quickly than if I do nothing. I have never tried another blemish spot treatment because I haven’t felt the need to when this one has proven to be so effective. My husband uses it as well, and little side fact – he has used this on ingrown hairs from shaving, and it even helps the redness and inflammation with those!
Repurchase: Yes! Definitely!

Product: 100% Pure – Bright Eyes Mask
Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Juice)*, Camellia Sinensis (Organic Matcha Green Tea)*, Organic Green Coffee*, Ilex Paraguariensis ( Organic Yerba Mate) Tea*, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Hydrosol, Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic) Acid, Plant Cellulose * Certified Organic
Price: $7
Thoughts: These masks are amazing!  I have been using them for a couple of years, and the results I get from them are always so good!  I leave the little gels on under my eyes for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time I have.  When I remove them, my eyes are always noticeably brighter and more hydrated giving me the appearance of being very rested (even when I am definitely not!).  I can always tell how much my eyes needed the masks by how thin the gels have become from the initial application!
Repurchase: Absolutely – I already have!

Product: Zoe Organics – Nipple Balm
Ingredients: Olea europeaea (olive) oil*, (avocado) oil*, beeswax*, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter*, calendula officionalis (calendula) flowers*, althaea officinalis, (marshmallow) root*. *Certified organic ingredients
Price: $11.95
Thoughts: This was a great product to have on hand right after my son was born and we were getting into the swing of nursing.  I didn’t need it much after that until I went to exclusively pumping, and then started using it again until I was used to that routine.  This stuff worked very quickly, has great clean ingredients, and is a must have for any nursing mom!
Repurchase: My nursing days are over, but I would happily gift this to any new moms I know!

Product: Kosas – Tinted Face Oil (sample)
Ingredients: Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Persia Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Silica, Kaolin, Mica, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Tocopherol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera (Tea) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil [+/-:Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77499, 77491, 77492)]
Price: $42
Thoughts: I picked up a sample from The Detox Market, and let me first tell you that this little sample tube lasted me forever!  Now, I wasn’t using it daily, but I did use it 2-3 times per week, and because you need the smallest amount of product, I was able to get a really good trial of it from the sample.  This tinted oil was the perfect quick makeup to have on hand, especially on days when I was out the door early to take my daughter to school.  I always applied with my fingers for a lighter coverage application, just to even out my skin and make it look more fresh and awake.  It blended in amazingly well and did look just like my skin! It wasn’t dewy, it wasn’t matte, but some magical place in between. I applied this almost immediately after my skincare for an even more seamless application.
Repurchase: Yes, yes!

Product: Max and Me – The Intuitive Facial Mist (travel size)
Ingredients: Achillea Millefolium Flower Water1, Bursera Graveolens Flower Water2, Citrus Aurantium Flower Water1, Myrtus Communis Flower Water1, Hamamelis Virginiana Flower Water1, Rosa Damascena Flower Water1, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract1, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil1, Lactobacillus Ferment, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil1, Sclerocarya Birrea Kernel Oil2, Bursera Graveolens Oil2 , Citrus Aurantium Flower Extract1, Hyssopus Officinalis Decumbens Oil3, Citrus Reticulata Flower Extract1, Styrax Tonkinensis Oil1, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Oil1, Agonis Fragrans Oil2, Tanacetum Annuum Oil3, Alcohol1, Benzyl Benzoate4, Benzyl Cinnamate4, Benzyl Salicylate4, Cineol4, Citral4, Citronellol4, Ethanol4, Eugenol4, Farnesol4, Geraniol4, Limonene4, Linalool4.

1 certified organic cultivation

2 wild-crafted

3 from monitored organic wild-grown harvest

4 natural constituents of essential oils

Price: $75
Thoughts: A Beauty Heroes box feature and a product I really wanted to love, as so many have raved about it, but I wasn’t completely convinced.  With a product like this, scent really is meant to enhance the user experience, but for me, I didn’t love the scent (maybe it was the Palo Santo, which I am not a fan of) so I already was a little put off.  The product itself worked well at hydrating my skin, but I just didn’t find myself reaching for it on a daily basis. Perhaps having a larger size to have more time to evaluate the effects on my skin, along with using it more regularly would have allowed me to see better results – as I mentioned, many love and rave about this.
Repurchase: Not at this time

Haircare

Product: EVOLVh – SmartCurl Hydrating Wash (sample size)
Ingredients: Water, pHytoBlend (proprietary concentrate blend of 20 herbs in an aqueous base), decyl glucose, disodium sulfosuccinate, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl glucose, coco polyglucose, seaweed extract, citrus aurantifolia, mango, lecithin, sunflower oil, soya, safflower oil, soy amino acids, vitamin C, wild pansy, sweet clover, apricot, nasturtium, nectarine, passion flower, citrus seed extract.
Price: $32/full size
Thoughts:  I haven’t always been a fan of this brand, mostly due to their products being very strongly scented, but I cannot deny that when most shampoos do basically nothing for my hair, this one did.  When I used this and allowed my hair to air dry, I could always see a difference in that my hair had more defined curls/waves and was slightly less frizzy – with no other products added.  Paired with some styling products, and my curls were looking really great! I would definitely be interested in experimenting more!
Repurchase: I would definitely consider it!

Product: Babo Botanicals – Smoothing Detangling Spray
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, , Isoamyl Laurate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Vegetable Glycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Gluconate, Natural Fragrance of [Currant (Ribes Nigrum) Absolute, Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Oil], Isopropyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sucrose Laurate, Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Organic Nutri-Soothe Complex [Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract*, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract*, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract*, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil.
*Certified Organic Ingredients
Price: $14
Thoughts: I picked this up on a whim from Vitacost to keep in my daughter’s swim bag, and I am so glad I did!  We have now been using it after her showers at home as well, and it does such a great job at releasing her wild tangles and making her hair easier to brush through.  It has never weighed down her hair or mine, as I have been using it too!  The price is pretty great as well!
Repurchase: Yes – we are on our 3rd or 4th bottle now!

Product: Tabitha James Kraan – Clean Shampoo (Amber Rose)
Ingredients: aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, aqua (water), decyl glucoside, betaine, glycerin, coco-glucoside, xanthan gum, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, rosa damascena (rose) flower oil*, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) leaf oil*, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, erythritol, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil*, cedrus atlantica (cedarwood) bark oil*, equisetum arvense (horsetail) leaf extract*, isoamyl laurate, levulinic acid, styrax tonkinensis (benzoin) resin extract, pelargonium graveolens (geranium) flower oil*, sodium phytate, sodium levulinate, calendula officinalis (marigold) extract*, citrus sinensis (orange) peel oil expressed*, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil*, citrus aurantium (neroli) flower oil*, sodium anisate, citric acid, citronellol**, limonene**, geraniol**, linalool**
* organic ingredient
** naturally occurring components of essential oils
Price: $35
Thoughts: This product came in a recent Beauty Heroes box, and while I was excited to try a new brand that I likely wouldn’t have purchased for myself, I just cannot get past the prices of luxury organic haircare.  The shampoo was a low lathering formula, which wasn’t a complete deal breaker for me, but not something I prefer.  The bottom line with this is that regardless of the price, it didn’t do a whole lot for my hair.  I didn’t love the scent either, and found myself kind of just ‘getting through it’.  It has gorgeous ingredients, and for those who enjoy a luxury haircare line, this may be for you!
Repurchase: Not for me

Thank you so much for reading!  I hope you find my feedback from these products I had used up helpful!  Let me know what you have used up recently or if you have tried any of these.

*Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in the above post.  By using these links, you will not pay more, but I may receive a small percentage of a sale from you purchasing a product through my links or by using my discount codes.  If you do choose to use these links, I truly appreciate your support!  Please view my full disclosure page HERE for more information.