I'm Feeling Empty - Part 4

Ever since 2012 started, emptying has been a quick process. There was one week where I managed to empty four full sized body products at the same time. This could possibly be my best record so far. And now that it's a quarter way into the new year, it's time for another epic empties post!

Skincare


My Beauty Diary Sheet Masks - My new rule is that every 10 sheet masks will count as one full size product. The count today? 10.

Hada Labo SHA Facial Wash - I still really, really love this cleanser and I am sad to see it go. However, the AHA + BHA cleanser is much more effective so I'll be repurchasing that one more over this one.

Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel - If you haven't read my review on this fantastic gel moisturizer yet, do it now. It will be the perfect moisturizer during the Spring and Summer. It's refreshing, lightweight and cheaper than my old HG - Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief!

Lip Care

100% Natural Lip Roll-On Coconut* - This isn't actually emptied but I'm tossing it on account of it is a strange lip oil?? I feel nostalgic each time I use the roll on but the actual oil inside isn't moisturizing and rather greasy.

Sweet Leaf Bath Co. Pomegranate Lip Balm* - Also unfinished but I'm tossing it out. My lips used to love beeswax-based lip balms but not so much anymore.

Nivea Milk & Honey Lip Balm - The only lip balm that is actually emptied! I quite like this lip balm and when I thought I had lost it, I bought another tube of it. Soon after, I found the first tube under my car seat. It's cheap and it works, what else can I say?

Hair Care

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray - This is my second can of Suave's dry shampoo and while I don't use it often, it seems to run out very quickly. It's cheap, it works, I like the scent but it is not available in Canada as far as I can tell. I bought four back ups the last time I crossed the border.

Korres Hair & Scalp Scrub - Discontinued but I'm not mad or sad about it. This stuff sucked big time.

Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner - Average conditioner, not much to say about it. It weighs down my hair if I use it too often and it doesn't fight the frizz too well.

The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter - I love this stuff to death! It's the best deep conditioner/hair treatment I have used to date. It's lighter than most conditioners but I still get that deep hydration my hair craves. It fights the frizz, the scent isn't too salon-ish.

Body Care

The Body Shop Earth Lovers Apricot & Basil Shower Gel - I thought I liked the smell of Apricot & Basil until half way through the first bottle, I realized I don't. And by first bottle, I mean that it's the first of three to go.

Lush Honey I Washed the Kids - "Mmmmm" is all I can ever say when I smell Honey I Washed the Kids. The scent doesn't last long but it's enough to make me want to eat my own arm off.

Soap & Glory Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em - UGH. Have I mentioned how mad I am that Soap & Glory prices were raised? I have? Well I'm still pissed. For $20+, I say pass on this body exfoliator. It melts quicker than I can spread the stuff over my body. Between Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em and Scrub, Actually, the latter is much more worthwhile. It works and the squeeze tube packaging is easier to handle in the shower.

eos Refresh Hand & Body Lotion - I will forever hate the smell of this lotion but forever love the formula. If you've ever tried the hand lotion, they're exactly the same. As I hand lotion, I own and use better but as a body lotion, it's great for the warmer seasons. The lotion delivers the perfect amount of hydration without any residue. It spreads easily and it's also fast-absorbing. Though, the SO whom has acute dermatitis can't use this lotion. Each time he's used it, he break out in itchy hives.

Deluxe Samples

Elizabeth Grant Biocollasis Complex Gentle Cleanser - When Luxe Box was still called Loose Button, I jumped on the subscription band wagon. In my box was this cleanser. The cleanser has a thin, fluid consistency similar to the Korres White Tea fluid cleanser. However, this cleanser turns into a foamy, drying mess. Although the cleanser is touted to re-balance the skin's natural pH, it does the opposite for me. Do not recommend.

Avène  - No idea what this stuff is called but it's one of Avène's makeup removing lotions but with a gel texture. I hate it.

Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup Remover - Love, love, love! To be fair, I will officially review this eye makeup remover when Canada opens its first Target.

Korres Vitamin E Face Primer - No matter what moisturizer I used underneath, this primer would always pill. Instead of a smooth canvas, I ended up with little bits on my face and my foundation would look uneven and streaky.

One 'n Only Argan Oil - My hair dresser gave this oil treatment way back when my hair was damaged to no end. Of course, I forgot to use it until now and even with my healthier hair, I find this argan oil to be "meh". Dimethicone is the very first or second ingredient listed in the back while "argan oil" is further down. This probably explains the "meh" response my hair had.

Pond's Evening Sooth Wet Cleansing Towelettes - Surprisingly good but I won't be repurchasing. Pond's still tests on animals *sadface*

Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser - No good. NO GOOD!

Nexcare Acne Dressing - I am waiting for the perfect angry pimple to review the Nexcare Acne Dressing, I swear. These little sticker things are magnificent and everyone and anyone needs an emergency pack on hand!

Samples

Lastly, the samples I managed to plow through (not many) since January. I mainly focused on hair shampoo & conditioner packets and now it's time to go through some tinted moisturizers and foundation samples. I have many skincare samples to go through too but I'm happy with my regimen at the moment. Time to tally!

Full size: 10
Deluxe/Travel size: 8
Samples: 14
Tossed: 2

I will admit that there are moments where I want to simply throw out a product but when I can help it, I do my best and persevere and that is what makes emptying such a rewarding experience for me. But that's just me.

What about you? What do you like about emptying and how well have you been doing with your emptying challenge?


* Items marked with an asterisk were a part of a giveaway prize. 

Underarm Woes: Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Wild Rose Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Review

When is "too much info," too much? If you're the type of person to be easily sickened by armpit stories, do not continue reading this post!
I'm only human and I do have b.o. (body odor)! If you don't, I'm extremely jealous annnnd I kind of hate you. For those who share the same curse as me, let's find our Prince or Princess in stick or roll-on formula to save us from the Evil Witch's black magic!

I'm on the search for a deodorant or antiperspirant that WORKS. I still haven't found either that work well for me but if you have any recommendations DO SHARE!
Before I start the review I'd like to share my knowledge on the difference between deodorants and antipersipirants. Yes, there is a difference.

Deodorants are nifty. Like antiperspirants, deodorants contain active ingredients which help fight the bacteria that grow under your pits but doesn't keep you from sweating! The bacteria is the source of armpit odor and if you rid yourself or prevent bacteria from growing, you won't suffer body odor. It is as simple as that. While most deodorants are more natural than antiperspirants the downfall is the sweat!
Antiperspirants like deodorants contain active ingredients that prevent you from sweating! My take on antiperspirants is that they plug your armpit pores to keep you from sweating and keep the bacteria from growing. Antiperspirants aren't as natural as deodorants but they work better (sometimes). I prefer deodorants over antiperspirants because I like natural over chemical. If you want to know a bit more, visit The Beauty Brains! (P.S. Antiperspirants have a bad rep for being cancerous but I'm no scientist or doctor so I won't get into that controversial schtuff!)

At last, onto the review. For the past 6 months or so, I've been using the Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Wild Rose Anti-Perspirant Deodorant.

*Stock Photo*

The Details: This unique anti-perspirant/deodorant formula contains a Pro-Epil Complex with natural extracts and Dove 1/4 translucent moisturizers. From first use, it smoothes and conditions your underarm skin. Within weeks, you'll start to notice that your underarm hair feels soft, fine and easy to remove. Overtime, your underarm hair will look and feel less noticeable. Feel stubble free for longer.

First off, I can certainly say that the Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Wild Rose Anti-Perspirant Deodorant does not work. I think this stuff is complete crap! Personally, I shave my underarms only for special occassion where sleeveless dresses are to be worn or tank tops during the summer and I occassionally pluck. It may sound nasty but a lot of girls do it and I am not ashamed. Although I already have fairly thin armpit hair, for the some hairs that are thicker, I like to pluck those. You can still see a fair bit of darkness on my underarm area & I usually use lemons to whiten it but it isn't enough. The entire time that I used this antiperspirant I found that it didn't help remove underarm hair easily like it promised or make my underarm hair feel finer than it already is. I still noticed underarm hair and felt the stubble!
As a anti-perspirant, I kept the wet pits away. (Woooo!) As a deodorant, it did not conceal my body odor. (Booo!) I was also left with a fair bit of white marks on my shirts too! In conclusion, it didn't work for me! I'm fine with wetness but I am not okay with body odor. I only have one good thing to say about the Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Wild Rose Anti-Perspirant Deodorant and it is that Wild Rose smells lovely. Wild Rose is very light, rose-ish and clean; feminine. While I said rose-ish, it isn't floral like a bouqet of flowers but like one simple rose!

I would not recommend this to anyone. If I weigh the pro's and con's, the scent does not beat the white marks & lack of deodorizing power!
Have you tried it? Did you like your results or hate them like I did?

*Update, July 17 : I was watching Because I Said So on the Women's Network when the Dove commercial for the Ultimately Smooth came on. Apparently 99% of the women who used the deodorant would recommend it. I guess I'm the minority here...
I still wouldn't recommend it!*
Active Ingredient(s): Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY (14.8%)
Other Ingredient(s): Cyclopentasiloxanem Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-8, Fragrance (Parfum)m Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Silica, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Steareth-100, Nylon-12, Sorbitan Laurate, BHT, Palmatine, Red 40 Lake (CI 16035).

P.S. I bought this myself and I'm not being paid for this review. Neither am I affiliated with the company.