Project Pan Them All | December Empties

Hi ladies! I have fallen super behind in blogging, actually I feel like I never really truly got back to it since coming back from Europe this summer. I had to get my personal life back on track - which was not always easy - then I started a comapny with my sister in law, and then, in the blink of an eye, Christmas was upon us! Now that things have calmed down after the chaos of the Holidays, I feel like I am ready to commit to blogging again. Maybe not everyday, like I was used to some times ago, but definitely one or two articles a week. Quality before quantity, right? Thank you for sticking with me ladies!

I found Natureplex Hydrocortisone Cream Maximum Strength in a Dollar Tree while I was in Wildwood a few years ago, and it was actually great at relieving the red and itchy rashes all over my body due to my radioactivity exposure when I went swimming in an abandoned mine this summer - yes, I know. The tube is very small and I used it very quickly, but I guess for $1, it's still nice!

Since I have discovered Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water, I am absolutely sold on cleansing water, and at $10 (instead of $23.50) at Clarins Fall Warehouse Sale, I simply could not pass up NUXE Micellar Cleansing Water with 3 Roses and Green Tea! I does not work as great as my HG from Marcelle and I would not repurchase it, but it still leaves my face smooth, clean and fresh.

I was recommended Pro-Derm Hydrogel from the doctor I consulted when I had my monstruous allergic reaction after I went swimming in a supposedly radioactive lake (as mentioned above). Made with a synergy of plant and marine ingredients to ensure exceptional efficiency, Hydrogel is claimed to rapidly soothe sensible skin. Its usage is recommended after aesthetics interventions or to regenerate the skin’s protective film after bathing, showering or shaving. I did not find it especially moisturizing and I was disappointed with how fast I used it up, especially given its expensive price - around $60! Not to mention this is my second tube...

Nothing really seems to work for the eczema on my hands, and Karen told me how great Aveeno Active Naturals Eczema Care Cream* worked for her a long time ago (hence why I purchased it before going cruelty-free), but sadly, it is not the case for me. Not matter how consistently I use it, I always have to go back to my cortisone creams. Not to mention that it seems to burn my hands more than anything else...

LUSH Heñata Bath Bomb was the cutest bath bomb! Quite simply, this is like a piñata for the bath - but it’s a hen, so it’s a Heñata (get it? awwww!). This cutie has to be smashed against the side of the bath so it can release soap paper flower petals to scrub up with. It is perfumed with fresh and citrusy tangerine, bergamot and mandarin oils - yum!

I always have to be careful not to take a too hot bath because of my sensitive skin and my eczema, but LUSH The Melting Snowman Bath Melt truly has skin-softening properties. Cocoa butter and almond oil nourish and soften the skin, while cinnamon leaf invigorates and help shake off fatigue.

I bought Freeman Goodstuff Organics Moisture Shea Butter Vitamin E Whipped Body Butter back in 2010 so I am a bit ashamed to feature it now, but I have used it up pretty quickly recently. I remember buying two tubes of this and being amazed after using the first one, but I guess I wasn't struggling that much with eczema because now this just seem to have done absolutely nothing for my skin. Totally rubbish. Although it still smells divine!

For some reasons, I prefer to pamper my feet in the winter, although it would be more logical to take care of them in the summer... but Eucerin Intensive Repair Extra-Enriched Foot Cream was actually great! Not too thick yet not too thin, it seemed to sink right in, leaving my feet super soft and smooth.

Yes, I realize Degree Invisible Sheer Powder Anti-Perspirant* is not cruelty-free, but it was a gift, and I have yet to find a product not tested on animals that works just as well and that smells just as good. This will be tough. Help, please?

*Please not that these products are NOT cruelty-free

What Did I Bring With Me In Europe?

Hello ladies, it has been a while and I hope you are all well! In my last post, about almost two months ago, I mentionned I was travelling in Europe without a return date in mind. After visiting Ireland, England, France and Spain, I got back to Montreal on July 19 and things have been crazy busy for me since then - dinners with friends and family, camping, parties, etc. Yesterday was the first day I could relax at home, unpacking my stuff and treating myself to a much needed pampering session.

I was wondering what was an interesting way to give you ladies a glimpse of my travel and I figured out it could be nice to share with you what I brought in my backpack, beauty-wise. Since this was not a glamourous holiday but more of an adventurous sleep-in-the-woods one (youth hostels are still amazing though!), I did not bring any makeup or really interesting things, and to save space in my bag, I kept it very basic. Can you believe I still brought too much stuff?

I have been very curious about Dr. Bronner's Magic "All-One" Bar Soaps that are completely biodegradable and vegetable-based, and  that have tons of uses such as hair and body wash, laundry wash, shaving cream, deodorant, etc., but I almost gave up since I could not find it anywhere in stores - not even online - at an acceptable price. To my great surprise, I found a rack full of Dr. Bronner's products at my local La Moisson by pure coincidence - this store is right next to where I live and I still can't believe I never stepped foot inside before! As if this was not enough, Dr. Bronner's Soap Bars were reduced by half, so I paid around $2.50 for the Baby Mild one.

Another multi-tasking product I knew I had to take with me was Get Creamed Body The Balm. Made of coca butter and shea butter, this is absolutely wonderful on my dry patches of eczema, and I could not believe I ran out of it so soon! It's easy and mess-free to apply but also to carry around while travelling thanks to its packaging similar to a deodorant stick.

Since my first destination was Ireland and I had not planned my trip for warmer countries, I did not bring sunscreen with me - I know, I know! After getting badly sunburned despite the cloudy sky of Normandy and heading to Spain soon, I knew I had to find some sun protection, and I decided to give
Lovea Dry Oil SPF 30 with Tahitian Monoi a try when I walked by a Carrefour. I was a bit reluctant to buy just another sunscreen since I already have so many at home, but I have never tried a dry oil before, and how could I say no to a product that protects from the sun while nourishing the skin and giving it a better tan?

I was hesitant to include Degree Anti-Perspirant Invisible Sheer Powder* in this post, especially since it is not cruelty-free (made by Unilever), but I won't lie - it was the only one left I had at home, it works great for me and its scent is just heavenly, especially since I did not bring any perfume.

I never seem to be able to completely use up those conditioners that come with box hair dyes, and I usually end up giving them away, but I figured out Clairol Perfect 10 ColorSeal Intensive Conditioning Cream* was a nice size for travelling. I did not really use it that much though, due to pure lazyness.

I planned to use Dr. Bronner's Magic Bar Soap mainly as body wash and no 'poo "shampoo", and altough it lathers amazingly well and is not too rough on my dry and sensitive skin (I did not feel the urge to apply moisturizer after showering), it left weird greasy/waxy residues on my hair - it was a total mess! It just felt weird and to me, it looked dirty. I did not give up imediately, but after a few weeks, I could not stand it anymore, so when I walked by a Monoprix in Étretat, I searched for a no 'poo or low 'poo alternative, and I chose Lovea Organic Nourishing Shampoo with Shea butter from Burkina. I wanted something that did not contain SLS, and although this product contains Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, it does not seem to mess up my "no-poo" regimen that much - I can go almost a week without washing my hair! This shampoo also leaves my hair amazingly soft, silky and shiny.

Before leaving for Europe, I found EthicBioskin Nourishing and Regenerating Lip Care in my stash and I absolutely fell in love with it! Made of raw cocoa and shea butter, and also organic and vegetarian, this is my current favorite lip balm - it works like nothing else I have tried before! Providing intense moisturization, this product deeply nourishes lips. I also love how it is non-greasy or waxy.

I had not tried Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment before since receiving it in the February 2013 Canadian GLOSSYBOX, but I figured out it was a nice size for travelling and so, the perfect time to try it! As for the Clairol conditioner, I did not end up using it much too, but I love how it is not greasy and how I need only the smallest quantity for smooth, shiny hair. Oh, and the smell - hmmmmm!

*Please note that these products are NOT cruelty-free