Product Empties

This month's mini reviews on products I've finished, from a seat in sunny Arizona. Letting you know how I feel about each product and whether or not I would repurchase. Definitely a heavy hygiene basket this time, but I've got a sprinkle of skincare, haircare and fragrance for you too.

Hygiene

Tree Hut: Vanilla Shea Sugar Scrub - I'm not sure what I was expecting, so maybe its my fault that I feel a little disappointed about this scrub. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine exfoliator, not too harsh or gentle and, relatively affordable. Yet, it felt like any other five to ten dollar scrub, and the smell of this one just doesn't work for me, which is a shame as I love vanilla. Sad to say, but at least in this scent, the Tree Hut scrub isn't a repurchase for me.

Tree Hut: Vanilla Moisturising Shave Oil - Unlike the scrub, this is an absolute game changer. I don't think I've had such a smooth shave for such little work before, even with pricey shave butters. This oil is hydrating, makes my skin soft and silky, and it doesn't clog my razor. I've already repurchased it – in a different scent, I think I just don't vibe with Tree Huts version of vanilla – and I'll be buying a spare before I travel home.

Native: Coconut & Vanilla Body Wash - Again, I'm not sure if my expectations were set too high, given all the hype surrounding this body wash, but I've already moved on from this after one bottle. It does smell good, leaning more on its coconut then vanilla, but that smell does not last at all. Not on my skin, not even in my bathroom. Whilst I appreciate it's created with clean ingredients, I didn't appreciate that it didn't feel as effective as a body wash half it's price, especially in Arizona heat. Not a repurchase for me.

Sol De Janeiro: Beija Flor Elasti-Cream - I think you all know about Sol De Janeiro's beloved body creams by now, and whilst they are pricey, I do think they are worth the splurge. I brought both this one and the Bum Bum cream with me, and even spending half my day in the sweltering heat, sweating my tanned cheeks off, my skin still felt and smelled good. As this scent works better for floral/woody combinations, I'll repurchase it during the colder months.

Hair

Camille Rose: Curl Maker - I've spoken about my love for this product several times in the past and, finishing another bottle, my opinion hasn't changed. It's the only style product with a jelly consistency that I can use in my very light weight hair and, I still get volume and bouncy girls – no crispy crunch for me sir! It isn't the cheapest, but it works brilliantly for all types of curls, smells divine and lasts quite a while, so I never feel like I didn't get my monies worth. Once I've been through my rotation of new hair products, I'll be tossing this in my basket.

Flora & Curl: Rose Water Detangling Solution - I absolutely hate the smell of this, but by god does it do a fantastic job. I always use a detangler and so I've been through a lot of different bottles and brands. This product goes above and beyond almost any I have used in many years. It's lightweight, hydrating, effortlessly separates my curls and makes my hair look so damn healthy. It really would be the perfect detangler, if only I could get over the smell. The scent is like hay fever in a bottle, and for all my hay fever sufferers out there, I'm sure you can imagine how unpleasant it would feel to have the scent of pollen chasing you around all day. It is just so strong, and pungent. Alas, if you like strong plant/floral scents or can live with it I do recommend this, but I'll be staying away from it for the sake of my nose from now on.

Skin

Starface: Black Star Pimple Patches - I'm sure you've seen a person or two with stars on their face, hiding the evil beneath recently. Whilst it might seem a little odd, I find the patches to be cute, playful and work as intended. I love that they come in black, are easy to apply and don't feel sticky. I've left them on both during the day and overnight as spot treatments, and they always calm down inflammation and shrink my break outs. They are however, pimple patches that work just as well for half the price, save you don't mind shedding the cute aesthetic. Personally, I'd keep a box of these around for when I need to go outside on a bad skin day, but I'm not in a rush to grab another box.

Dr.Jart+: Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturising Cream - She's an icon, she's a legend, she is the moment; are the exact words that come to mind when I think about this cream – thanks Wendy! If you use any type of acidic serum, retinols or even chemical exfoliators, then I highly recommend this for repairing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. It's hydrating, gives my skin a dewy glow, has a lovely consistency and feels incredible. I definitely noticed a difference in the overall health and plumpness of my skin whilst using this. Soaring into my list of my top five moisturisers, it's worth every penny. Definitely a repurchase.

Fragrance

Frenshe: Cashmere Vanilla Body Mist - It certainly wasn't love at first sight, but I grew to appreciate this mist. At first, it wore like any basic vanilla, with average projection and lasting power. However, I warmed up to it after layering it frequently with the Laura Mercier: Vanille EDT – a personal favourite of mine – and found the body mist provided an extra boost of gourmand goodness that felt almost elevated. I was even complimented on how good I smelled at the post office – so you can believe I wore this combo till it ran out. Of course, it is a body mist, so I got a few hours at most, but given the affordable price, reapplying it through out the day didn't feel like a waste and I just popped it in my bag when I was on the go. I'd say it's worth picking up if your looking for a vanilla body mist for every day, that will pair with almost anything and is reasonably priced.