Empties Review: Colgate Optic White

Last sample for the plane ride! I grabbed this one in particular because I thought that it would help me to combat coffee stained teeth, which I had noticed were a particular problem for me the last time I was in France. I don't know if its the fact that I drink coffee more frequently in France, or that the coffee is usually stronger, but something about it makes me feel like my teeth become dingy and brown.

This sample size tube actually lasted me quite a while, basically through the end of October and my autumn vacation. I wasn't using the Colgate Optic White system in its entirety, so I do not think I am able to judge the whether or not the claims made are valid or not, but I can say that this kept my teeth at a constant shade. I did notice an immediate and significant change if I had just drank coffee before brushing my teeth, but other than that, my teeth remained the white that they already were. I was pretty happy that they didn't get any darker!

My verdict: I would be very interested to try this toothpaste in conjunction with the rest of the Colgate Optic White system to see how they all worked together. If this toothpaste could keep my teeth from getting as discolored as they usually do while I am abroad, maybe the whole system would really take my smile up a notch!

Empties Review: Ulta Tinted Lip Balm in Berry

I am DEVASTATED that I have run out of this lip balm. I got it about two years ago when my mom was on a tinted lip balm kick and decided that this particular color didn't suit her, and I have absolutely fell in love with it. I am a big fan of a red lip, but my go to red lip colors don't always offer longevity. So, I'd keep this lip balm in my purse with me for touch ups and it would completely enliven the color of the lipstick again! This was also great for days when I was doing my makeup on the run, because its basically fool proof to put on and takes mere seconds.

My verdict: Great product. I would absolutely purchase this again! I would even make a point to go get it soon if there were Ultas in Europe! I guess I'll have to find something to tide me over in the mean time.

Empties Review: Lumene Time Freeze Firming NIght Cream

Also a sample that I got on sale before my departure, this cream came along for the ride over to France and for the transition period. I was reading somewhere that using anti-aging products can increase the turnover of cells on your face, thus making acne go away faster and healing post-acne marks more effectively, so I was down to try this! What I found was a night-time moisturizer that left me wanting a little more. Perhaps it was the firming agents, but I didn't wake up feeling like this had soaked into my skin. Instead, I just felt like it was sitting on top of my face.

My verdict: Perhaps this cream does live up to its claims, but for what I was looking for, it didn't do the trick. Not thinking of repurchasing anytime soon.

Empties Review: Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Day Cream SPF 15

I got this in a sample size (0.5 FL.OZ.) right before I left the States so that I would have something to get me through the transition into France. It comes in a nice compact jar and was also really easy to throw into my carry on. This was also the period of my most severe hormonal and stress-induced acne, so I was looking with a moisturizer with some SPF and something a little extra to give my skin a boost.

I did end up liking this moisturizer and thought it was doing great things for my skin at the time. Since then, I have been taking the suggestions of some French dermatologists and pharmacists near me and using heavier/more hydrating moisturizers, which I think has actually helped prevent my acne from getting worse. I don't think that this moisturizer was hydrating enough for my skin to stop overproducing oil, however, I only had the sample size, so I don't know how my skin may have grown accustomed to this product over a longer period of time.

My verdict: Love the SPF, love the idea of brightening (although I didn't notice any brightening while I was using it), but not hydrating enough for my skin. If you aren't looking for deep hydration, I'd say you could give this a go, but not to expect any life-changing differences out of the "brightening" claim; it's a nice, but regular, light moisturizer.

Empties Review: Secret 48HR Odor Protection Completely Clean Antiperspirant/Deodorant

Another deodorant! This one I bought in a mini from my drug store in the States so I would have something to reach for on the plane. And this worked! Definitely a fan of the clean and fresh scent of this, and it did what it said it was going to do. I was able to put this on at the beginning of my flight in New York, and still smell it about 36 hours later when arrived at my final destination and started to unpack. It was also a pretty convenient size to keep in my purse in case I thought I started to smell and wanted a touch up (which I did pretty frequently with the Arm & Hammer deodorant I just reviewed). Or in case I forgot to put deodorant on in the morning. Does anyone else forget to do that when they are in a rush?

My verdict: Good standard deodorant. I would purchase it again, probably only if it was on sale though, because I like to try new things and that's how I decide what to use next. Currently can't get it easily in France, so I'll have to try out some European brands!

Empties Review: Arm & Hammer Essentials Fresh Deodorant with Natural Deodorizers

Over the summer I was really trying to use all natural skin care, because I thought I was having hormonal body and face acne because of additives in products. So I saw this Arm & Hammer deodorant on sale for a dollar, so I decided to give it a try.

I really loved the scent of this deodorant! It has baking soda and a bunch of natural oils as deodorizing agents, so it smells exactly as it describes itself: fresh and light and lovely! I'm super attracted to fresh and clean scents, and that's definitely what I want from a deodorant.

As for odor protection, I didn't think that this really worked for me. Especially because I started wearing this one during the summer, I found that I started to smell after only a couple of hours. And noticeably. I don't think that I ever remember thinking that I smelled just during the every day life :/. I wouldn't consider myself a particularly sweaty or smelly person, but I was when I used this!

My verdict: Definitely not repurchasing this. I love the smell, but that's about it. Will definitely continue to explore natural or safer deodorants, but not this one.

Empties Review: NPW Cherry Face & Body Mini Wipes

These wipes I was actually allowed to take as a sample as leftovers from an event that happened at my summer job, which was pretty awesome at the time. They were really convenient to carry around while I was traveling, either during my flight over to France or during my two-week vacation in October. They come in a small 2"x5" package with a pretty pink and yellow star pattern all over, so I think they've got convenience and packaging down.

As for the actual product, I can't say anything particularly amazing about them. They were about half the size of an average makeup wipe, which made taking off a full face of makeup quite difficult; however, they did stay damp for the two months that I had the package open, which I was happy about. Although the product advertises a cherry smell, I didn't really get much of that smell after the initial opening of the package, and my sensitive skin wasn't bothered by whatever fragrance that was added.

My verdict: If someone were to give these to me for free again, I would gladly accept them! If I had to buy a full-sized pack, I'd probably skip it. They were super convenient for traveling and because they were free, but weren't life changing product me.

Empties Review: Greenland Fruit Emotions Body Butter in Mint-Lavender

This item came as a gift from my mom just before I set off for France in September. She knows that I am obsessed with both mint and lavender scents separately and thought that this body butter would be right up my alley. Running from $8 to $10 a pop depending on where you purchase, she told me it'd be the perfect cream to throw in my carry on or purse in a pinch.

I was super pleased with the smell in this body butter! It felt like I had been shipped off to a spa, with really strong fresh lavender notes and sharp mint. The Fruit Emotions line of Greenland brand  cosmetics markets 95% organic ingredients, and I could definitely tell the difference between this lavender scent and some of the synthetic lavender scents I have come across in the past.

In terms of hydration, this body butter was pretty good at keeping my skin hydrated during the late summer/early fall months. I did end up reapplying daily on particularly stubborn dry patches, like on my elbows and ankles, but that is usually the norm for me. I do not think this would be enough to keep me feeling hydrated during a harsh winter in upstate New York, but for the very moist, Seattle-like climate of my town in France it was perfect.

My verdict: Good body butter with an amazing, almost therapeutic scent. If you are particularly fond of stress-relief scents, this may be something you want to try. In France, though, as opposed to the United States, authentic lavender is everywhere and really not that expensive; as a result, I think I might be able to find something along these lines for less money per ounce. I am not currently able to get ahold of this brand of products easily in France, but if I did see this product on sale somewhere I would definitely pick it up again!

Empties Review: Noxzema Deep Cleansing Cream

I bought this over the summer when I was going through a really rough patch with my hormonal acne. I was looking for something that would be super gentle and moisturizing, but that still would take off all of my makeup and hopefully get whatever gunk there was out of my pores. And, last, I was looking for something without harsh sulfates as a lathering agent, because I thought my sulfur allergy could be making me react negatively to sulfates. (Is that even scientifically possible? I have no idea. It was something that got into my head when I was trying to get rid of a particularly awful breakout.)

When doing research about the product, I found that this has been marketed for generation for different dermatological problems. Originally put into production in 1914, it claimed to help soothe eczema and harsh sunburns. My mom remembers Noxzema being marketed for clear and plump skin when she was a kid in the 60's and 70's. Today, I don't see much overt advertising for the product. It obviously has stood the test of time and continues to sell to a certain part of the population, being still in production.

What I found with this product was actually pretty awesome. The product comes as a creamy solid packaged either in a tub or a bottle with a pump (perfect for keeping down liquids when traveling :D) and only runs between $4 and $6 depending on where you buy it. It did do a good job of getting off my makeup after I had used a makeup removing wipe and left my skin feeling refreshed and clean. The eucalyptus in the product gave it a medicinal type smell that I actually really liked and also left a tingling sensation on my face which I got used to after a few uses.

Over a long period of time, this cleanser remained a simple fix for cleansing before bed and didn't strip my skin of too much moisture. When I looked at the ingredients, it does list Linseed, Eucalyptus and Soybean oils as three of the main ingredients, so this may be the reason why I didn't experience any tightness or dryness from this product.

My verdict: This Noxzema Deep Cleansing Cream is a good drugstore option for a basic oil based cleanser. It was perfect for my sensitive skin and left me with a blank canvas that I could then treat with prescription or more targeted products. It didn't do anything particularly to fix my break-outs, but did offer no further irritation or cause for redness and clogged pores. I would definitely repurchase this in the future, especially in the travel size for overseas trips to put in my carry-on. At the moment I'm trying something else recommended by my dermatologist, but this is definitely something I would go back to.

Empties Reviews: 2015 New Years Resolution

Happy New Year! As part of my 2015 new year's resolutions, I am going to try to blog a lot more frequently than I have been over the last few months. So look out for more posts coming your way very soon!

The first step towards this goal: As part of this new personal initiative, and also part of a little cleaning that I've been meaning to do, I've decided to start putting empty products reviews up on this blog. I've seen loads of bloggers and YouTubers do this in the past, and they seem to go over pretty well. Mainly, I think, its because using up an entire product gives you insight as to how the product works initially, over a long period of time, the staying power, how long it lasts, etc. And you can always add if you plan on repurchasing or not now that the product is totally gone! For the next couple of weeks then, I'll be uploading the "Empties Reviews" of individual products on this blog when I have the time. Most of these are things that I brought over from the States when I first made the trip over the pond and a couple of samples that I've gotten browsing through the French shops!