April Empties 2020
During the month of April, I spent the full month sheltering in place indoors. With that being said, I focused on finishing up more of my opened body care products. Many of the products mentioned have not been previously reviewed and a few of the products are staples that will constantly be in my routine.
Please Note: items with a marked asterisk were gifted
Facial Care Products
Fresh Kombucha Essence
Price $32 for 1.6oz
The Fresh Kombucha Essence is an anti-pollution essence formulated with antioxidants such as Kombucha, which is fermented black tea. There’s been many debates on the thoughts of Essences and if they’re beneficial to your skin routine.
Further Reading: FACIAL ESSENCES: WHAT ARE FACE ESSENCES AND HOW TO USE THEM?
The texture of the essence is more on the vicious side whereas many essences are very watery. I used this in both my morning and evening routines, but I enjoyed it the most with my night routine. I feel like the essence helped to add another layer of hydration to my skin. After using the Kombucha essence my skin feels smooth and I can feel the hydration that it leaves behind.
I’m not sure how beneficial the essence is in terms to anti-aging. I really enjoy the essence and I have a back-up of it. It is pretty pricey, but I find the 1.6 oz mini size to be sufficient. My bottle lasted me 5 months.
Ingredients: Water, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglycerin-3, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum (Fragrance), Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, BHT, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Biotin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol.
Amore Pacific – Vintage Extract Essence
Mini 1 oz (about $35 an ounce)
I had my eye on the Amore Pacific essence for quite some time. This is one of the products that is constantly raved about by many skincare accounts online. The essence is known for is anti-aging and only contains 6 ingredients. It’s also said to improve with firmness of the skin, clarity and texture.
The first thing I noticed about the essence was how light weight is it. At this point in my skincare journey I’ve tried tons of essence in the past and this one has to be one the lightest ones I’ve used. The texture of the Vintage Essence feels very much like plain water. I can’t say I noticed a change in my skin from using it. Being that it is an anti-aging product, it very much be a product that you won’t notice a dramatic change with.
Being that I only had a mini, I really can’t form a full sound opinion on this. I think this may be a product results are seen after finishing a full size. For now, I don’t have any plans on purchasing the 5 oz full size for $175 or the 2.3 oz mini size for $95.
Ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Body Care Products
Bioderma Shower Cleansing Oil
Price $10.90 for 6.67oz*
The Bioderma Cleansing Shower Oil claims to provide 24-hour hydration, diminishes the signs of dryness and dehydration. The shower oil is well loved by those with that suffer from skin conditions and dry skin. The consistency of the oil is pretty fluid and does not lather.
This was one of my go to shower gel to use during the winter months. I really enjoyed using it alone and mixed with other shower gels. I also used it to shave and it helps to provide a smooth shave. Being that the formula is lightly scented, it mixes well with other shower gels. I find the the shower oil to be nourishing and is great for those that make suffer severe dry skin. I really enjoy this formula along with many others from Bioderma.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Peg-90 Glyceryl Isostearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Mannitol, Polysorbate 20, Xylitol, Laureth-2, Rhamnose, Niacinamide, Fructooligosaccharides, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate. [Bi 725]
Luesta Beauty- Rose Oil Body Wash
Price $14 for 16.9oz *
Luesta Beauty was founded in LA, California in 2011 to deliver quality hair products at a reasonable price. They’re products are made with all-natural ingredients. I received a package last year from the brand with a shampoo, conditioner and my beloved Rose Oil Body Wash. Being that it takes me so long to try out and get a good feel for the hair care products, I jumped into using the body wash right away.
First let me say that Rose is one of my favorite scents. The body wash is advertised as being moisturizing to help dehydrated skin. It also claims to calm breakouts and restore the skin. The first thing that stood out to me was the packaging. The body wash has a pump, which makes it easier to dispense along with controlling the amount that is dispersed.
This has to be one of my favorite body washes! Very little product is needed to get a good lather. I do agree with the claims of it being moisturizing. This bottle lasted me so many months and I fully intended on keeping this in my body care product rotation.
Ingredients: WATER, SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE, GLYCERIN, ROSA RUGOSA FLOWER OIL, HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, SODIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, SODIUM LAUROYL GLUTAMATE, COCAMIDE MEA, FRAGRANCE, BENZYL ALCOHOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, DISODIUM EDTA, PEG-7M, DICHLOROBENZYL ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, CI 17200
Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Skin Care Oil
Price $5.93 for 4oz *
The Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Oil is free of parabens, synthetics colors/dyes and does not test on animals. Sweet Almond Oil is known for being multifunctional. It’s known for being stable, high in oleic acid and contains linoleic acid. I really like that the oil comes in a container that allows for easy disbursement.
I was gifted this oil by my sister several months ago. When I initially received it I thought it would be too heavy. But this actually worked out to be one of the best oil oils that I ever used! Only a little of oil is needed and I haven’t used any other oil that left my skin so soft! At the price and the performance, I will definitely be purchasing this again!
Ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate).
Truly Beauty Unicorn CBD Whipped Body Butter
Price $35 for 6oz.*
When I initially received this Body butter I thought it was going to be another just for show products. I’ve tried several products from the brand, but they were pretty much a flop for me. However, the Unicorn CBD body butter changed my mind.
The body butter is a whipped texture that quickly dissolves and melts into the skin. The cream is made with 300mg of CBD, which is aimed to calm inflammation and redness. While using this cream I can’t say that I felt any of these effects. I noticed on the ingredient list that CBD Isloate is listed at the end of the list. CBD isolate is a crystalline solid or powder that contains 99% pure CBD.
Overall, I like how moisturized my skin felt hour after using it. I find the price tag of $35 to be overpriced. Being that the body butter is sold at Ulta and they often offer sales and discounts, I would like to repurchase this if it goes on sale.
Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Cocos Nucifera (Organic Coconut) Oil, Kakum Butter, Mango Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Maranta Arundinacea (Arrow Root), Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Betaine, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Populus Tremuloides (Aspen Bark) Extract, Gluconolactone, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Spirulina Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Water, Glycerin, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Organic Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Extract, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Distillate, Vegetable Collagen, CBD Isolate, Fragrance
Taos AER Deodorant
Price $12 for 0.7oz (travel size)*
Scent: Palo Santo Blood Orange
The Taos Aer products are made with 100% natural ingredients and are formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, silicones or known toxic ingredients. At the current time the company only has deodorants in their collection. The deodorants fit well into the clean beauty notion.
I had the opportunity of testing out the Palo Santo Blood Orange scent. I found the scent pleasant, but I don’t feel the scent blend suited me. Even with that being said I used the deodorant daily. I did not suffer any irritation with the formula. I like how quickly the formula dried and I never felt the need to reapply as the formula lasted throughout the day very well.
Ingredients: Organic Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Seed Oil, Distarch Phosphate (Corn Starch), Organic Tapioca Starch, Sodium Bicarbonate, Silica, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Glyceryl Undecylenate, Tocopherol, Palo Santo (Bursera Graveolens) Wood Oil, Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha) Oil, Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis) Peel Oil, Blood Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Peel Oil, Limonene , Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol
Products Previously Reviewed
Hair
Oyin Handmade Pomade: RIDE OR DIE: HAIR CARE FAVORITES ($14.00)
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Mask- ($12.00)
I thought I previously reviewed this. I’ve purchased this mask many times and it’s the only Shea Moisture mask that I actually enjoy using. This hair mask is great for deep conditioning very curly and course hair textures. I will definitely repurchase this in the future.
Face
Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Hydration Mask: MY TOP 5 FACE MASKS ($38)
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum: The largest size bottle of 1.69oz lasted me a full year! TOP 10 BEAUTY PRODUCTS OF 2019 ($134)