Empties | May 2013

I seriously need to stop getting through so many products every month! I always feel so overwhelmed when I come to write these empties posts because I have so much to talk about! So, let’s take a deep breath and just get on with it.  I’m so happy that my empties are starting to get filled more and more with cruelty free products. I’m finally starting to make a good dent in my collection of animal tested products.
Superdrug Semi Permanent Hair Colour in Rich Chestnut A year ago I switched from getting my hair dyed with permanent color at the hairdressers to doing it myself at home with semi permanent color. It was one of the best decisions I ever made for my hair. It’s condition has improved beyond measure. It’s also saved my a fortune! I had been using L’Oreal’s Casting Creme Gloss in Chocolate and I have to admit that it is really good. Sadly L’Oreal are responsible for the torture and death of thousands of animals so i just couldn’t keep buying from them.
The Superdrug own brand dye is cruelty free, BUAV approved and a dead ringer color wise for the L’Oreal dye. It’s been lasting just as long too. I love it. As far as cruelty free hair dyes go, this is...ready for it...holy grail! Repurchase: Definately Weleda Lemon Balm and Orange Blossom Conditioner I love Weleda’s skin and body care products but I wasn’t impressed with their shampoo last month, and I wasn’t impressed with this conditioner this month. It was decent enough that I was happy to finish off the bottle, but otherwise...meh. Repurchase: No
Essential Care Gentle Hair Shampoo I love Essential Care products and this shampoo is no exception. I received it in this Amarya Beauty Box This shampoo is described as balancing and conditioning which is perfect for my greasy roots and dry ends.  Repurchase? Definately Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste I picked this up in Holland and Barrett where they have a good selection of cruelty free. It’s ok. It did the job but I found it quite chalky. Repurchase? No. I’ve tried better cruelty free toothpastes.
Superdrug Total Care Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste If you’re looking for a cruelty free toothpaste which looks, tastes and feels just like the big brand toothpastes then go for this one. It works just as well as the likes of Colgate but you can use it with a clear conscience. It’s also BUAV approved. Another winner from Superdrug. Repurchase? Yes YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation in B20 My Mum passed this foundation on to me almost a year ago, before I went cruelty free. You can read my full review of it here. To summarise though, the coverage is perfect for that dewy, not too made up look, however on my oily skin it slid off very quickly. Repurchase? No.
Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 02 I recently finished off this concealer in 01 and was really sad to see it go. I was reluctant to finish off the last of this 02 color as well. I’ve used this concealer as my go to under eye concealer for years, and finding a suitable cruelty free replacement has been a challenge, but I have found one. Stay tuned to find out what it is! Repurchase? No Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Cleaning Milk I reviewed this cleanser in my last post so I won’t bang on about it too much here. It’s suffice to I liked it alot! Repurchase? Yes
Green People Gentle Cleanser & Makeup Remover I received this product in this Amarya Beauty Box. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It gently removes makeup and cleans your skin. It would be great for very sensitive skins as it is so basic and gentle, however it didn’t blow me away. I think my skin just needs a little bit more Repurchase? No.
Elemental Herbology Cool & Clear Facial Cleanser I really, really liked this little sample. It smelled good and left my skin feeling really clean, but without that sore, tight feeling. It definitely lived up to it’s claim of removing all makeup and balancing out oily areas. Bloody Caroline Hirons, skin care Goddess that she is, has put me off foaming cleansers, and unfortunately this is a foaming cleanser. Repurchase? No. Stupid Hirons. Lavera All Round Cream That’s me finished my second tin of this wonder cream. I’ve sang its praises before here and here so I won’t go on about it again. I am tempted to use those magic words again though...holy grail. Repurchase? Forever.
Veet Hair Minimising Body Moisturiser This isn’t cruelty free but it came inside a magazine so i thought I might as well just use it. it was rubbish. It smelt very artificial, it wasn’t particularly great as a moisturiser and i think the hair minimising thing is most likely a load of bollocks. Repurchase? No.
Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion This product moisturises my skin really nicely, it’s cruelty free and it smells of fruity, fruity yum yums. What’s not to like? Repurchase? Yes Avon Skin So Soft Creamy Body Wash This came as part of a gift set I got for Christmas. Avon are not cruelty free and the scent was very artificial and overpowering. I tend to prefer fresh, fruity body washes to heavy creamy ones too. Repurchase? No
Sophyto Exfoliating Treatment I used to love a good, rough, grainy exfoliator, but again Caroline Hirons has spoiled them for me! To replace them I’ve been looking for exfoliators which use fruit enzymes to exfoliate instead. That’s what this product does and I really liked it. It gives you are weird sort of burning/stinging sensation on application but apparently that’s normal! It’s weirdly satisfying but may be too much for very sensitive skin types. Repurchase? Yes.
Dr Hauschka Firming Mask I love a good face mask, but I tend to prefer cleansing clay masks and hydrating masks. I’m not quite at an age where I feel a firming mask is a top priority. It was nice enough to use though, but it’s difficult to comment on it’s firming capabilities when my skin is still naturally pretty firm. I’ll definitely bare it in my for a few years time though. Repurchase? Not right now.
LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub This is another product which I’ve raved about many times before on this blog. I could easily make this at home but LUSH are just so good at it! This is my FOURTH finished tub! I use a LUSH lip scrub every single day in the shower. Repurchase? Always. Weleda Skin Food This is a cult natural beauty product which I’ve been meaning to try for years, so I was really pleased to receive it as a free sample with an order from Naturisimo. It is ah-maz-ing. I never thought something so thick and rich could be so good for my oily, spot prone skin but it worked wonders. i can’t wait to buy a full size version and write an in depth review soon. Repurchase? Immediately!
Dr Hauschka Melissa Day Cream This is my third  tube of this moisturiser. Me likey. For a full review click here. Repurcase? Yes
Dr Hauschka Rose Body Moisturiser Rose, rose, rose. Yum, yum, yum. Dr Hauschka’s whole rose range is wonderful and this body moisturiser is not exception. I love that the rose scent is modern, not frumpy. The texture was rich and delicious, a pleasure to use. Repurchase? Yes Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Conditioner This was another sample from a magazine. I finished the shampoo last month and wasn’t impressed with it. This conditioner performed a little better but was nothing mind blowing, and Tresemme are not cruelty free. Repurchase? No Has anyone else written an empties post this month? Post me your links if you did! I love having a nosey at a good empties post :-)