Project Pan Them All | April Empties

Ladies, brace yourself for this post, because I'm excited to announce that I have tons of empties to show you! I'm so proud of myself!

I bought Avon Basics Care Deeply Body Lotion with cocoa butter* on a whim when I was an Avon rep because it was on sale also because it contained cocoa butter, however, I should have known better! I ended up using this lotion on my feet instead of simply throwing it away because it certainly does not provide24-hour moisturization, but it did work surprisingly well on my feet, leaving them incredibly soft and smooth after only a few uses! Who would have known?

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter is my first ever The Body Shop purchase and I'm soooo in love with it! It is my absolute HG body moisturizer as it works wonders on my eczema, and I'm so glad I finally gave in and tried one of those famous body butters. The consistency is dreamy - rich, creamy and perfectly thick - exactly what I'm expecting in a body butter! Sure, my skin still ocasionally itches and sometimes I have to apply moisturizer in the morning to get me through the day, but I haven't feel the need to reach for my steroid cream in a long time and this is a big step forward in my book. This is the jumbo size (400ml) and let me confirm that it really is jumbo! I have been using this butter since the beginning of December and I have only very recently used it up so it was definitely a great deal (it cost me $10 instead of $25).

It is extremely rare that I truly love a body lotion (I tend to favour body butters because of my dry skin and eczema) but it happened with George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion. It has a light texture but it never fails to relieve dryness and itchiness, meaning significantly less eczema flare-ups. Also, I could feel my skin being moisturized all day, which I don't think I have experienced with a lotion before!

As much as I absolutely loved the deliciously sweet and fruity smell of CALGON Take me away! Brazilian Beauty Passion Fruit & Brazil Nut Body Mist*, I won't repurchase it because body mists never last more than 30 seconds on me.

Skin RX Medi Peel Hyaluronic Moisturizer did not get rid of the stubborn dry patches on my forehead on its own, but it left my skin super soft. It's also recommended to apply a cream to seal in the moisture if you have dry skin, which I did, because once the hyaluronic moisturizer was absorbed in my skin, it left it feeling super tight and uncomfortale, which I though was strange for something that is claimed to moisturize. At $58, it's nothing miraculous. 

I usually try to stay away from clay masks because most of them tend to leave my skin even more dry than before, but I did not have this problem with Elemis FreshSkin Deep Clean Purifying Face Mask. Still, I won't repurchasing it because I don't feel it really did something for my skin.

My first experience with a scrub that you have to let sit on your face like a mask was with Montagne Jeunesse Apricot Face Scrub and I loved it! The texture is great - very thick and the exfoliating beads (which are really apricot kernels) are a good size and there are a lot of them, unlike some other cheap foaming scrubs. This Montagne Jeunesse face scrub left my dry skin feeling super tight and uncomfortable when I washed it off - like most clay masks I previously used - but it was OK when I applied my moisturizer. The day after, I noticed that my skin was not drier because of the scrub, but also that it was more glowy - what a nice surprise! The only negative things about Montagne Jeunesse packaging is that it's messy and not resealable, so I like to pour the leftover product in a little pot so it doesn't dry up and it's easier to scoop with your fingers.

I have been very kindly sent Pai Rosehip & BioRegenerate fruit & seed oil blend  along with the Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream and as I'm suffering from eczema, Nicola from Pai Skincare recommended applying them both at the same time, so adding a couple of drops of Rosehip oil into a pump of cream for an extra regenerative boost, which I did until I used up the seed oil blend. I have been using these two products twice a day every day since I received them always on the same area of my body - on my right hand, I developed a stubborn patch of eczema on my knuckles and even though my eczema on my fingers seems to have gotten better, I still get flare-ups sometimes so I also used these products on my fingers. I didn't notice improvements until the second week of use and OMG, I must say this stuff is seriously awesome! I didn't get flare-ups in those two weeks and that does say a lot! My right hand is almost back to normal although my knuckles are still a little dry but they are less red and irritated and they don't itch anymore - same with my fingers! Honestly, I can't believe it. This is the first time some products work really well on my eczema! Sadly, even though it works well, I simply can't afford it at $35.

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme seems to be a staple among a lot of beauty bloggers and as much as I love everything about it - its delicious smell, its thick and creamy texture, how well it moisturizes my parched cuticles, its super cute tin - I'm just too lazy to remember to apply it on my cuticles and nails every night so most of the time, I simply use it as a hand cream before bed because it tends to get a bit greasy.

mèreadesso Beautiful Body Balm is the first product of this brand that I tried and honestly, it does not make me want to try some more. I'm not even sure why it's called a "balm" when it's more like a simple lotion that did not even properly moisturizemy dry skin. It did smell lovely though, a bit sweet!

Another disappointement from LUSH, Space Girl Bath Bomb. This did not smell anything in the bath and while I appreciated that it fizzed slowly while turning and swishing around in the bath, which is always entertaining, despite being infused with grapefruit oil, Space Girl did not left my skin moisturized or toned.

On the other hand, I had a pleasant bath with LUSH Bearded Lady Bubble Bar, which I got as a Christmas present maybe two years ago but LUSH did not bring it back last Christmas so I'm afraid it has been discontinued, hend why I won't be posting a complete review about it. I can't really explain the scent as to me, it didn't really smell anything, but it was pleasent and relaxing, but sadly, the scent didn't really intensified in the bath. I got a considerable amount of bubbles for the tiny piece I used, but they didn't last long - maybe 10 minutes. I could feel my skin being softer and moisturized while I was in the bath and after, which is always appreciated when you have dry skin like me.

Because I have so many shower gels, body wash, soaps, etc. laying around, I cheated with Simply Basics Cocoa Butter Body Wash and I actually used it as a bubble bath, and I must say it did not work really well. Yes, it did create some pretty amazing bubbles at first, but they quickly vanished. Oh well, this was a bit of a cheap product anyway.

On my neverending quest to find the perfect teeth whitening product, I bought Scope White Mouthwash on a whim when I saw it on sale for around $5 at the drugstore about one year ago and even though I said that I would update you with my progress, well I'm sad to have to report that two bottles of this stuff later, my teeth are still somewhat yellow. Thank you Scope.

I love how Lara Beauty Conditioning Cleanser for Sensitive Skin (not pictured, I forgot to keep it and threw it away) is really gentle on my dry skin and does not leave it with that squeaky clean feeling. It also does not really foam, making it less irritant.

*This product is NOT cruelty-free

The Seasons Change - So Does Your Beauty Routine!

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

When the warmer weather sets in, it's important to switch up your beauty routine as well. It's time to say goodbye to heavy body butters and welcome to light lotions, and throw away this heavy-duty foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer instead. I have been thinking to write a post about how I switch up my products as the seasons change but I guess I have always been too lazy - time to stop slacking now!

Because I have dry skin that is prone to eczema, I still have to be careful to moisturize it properly, but not overdo it. I try to switch my super heavy products for a lighter alternative that is still able to properly moisturize my skin.

In the winter, I like to use a serum followed by a moisturizer day and night. I will continue to use my current combo at night because I don't care if it feels a bit heavy because I will be going to sleep anyway, but for the day, I will switch up Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel Cream for dry skin for Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel. These products are from the same range, hence they deliver similar benefit, but the Hydrating gel feels lighter and it also melts when it comes in contact with the skin, which is very refreshing.

My two favorite cleansers are from Burt's Bees - the Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream and the Orange Essence Facial Cleanser - because they take great care of my easily irritable skin while leaving it feeling pampered. However, both tend to be a bit heavy for the spring and summer months, when my skin needs less TLC. As much as I appreciate the fresh and tingly feeling Noxzema Noxzema The Original Deep Cleansing Cream with Eucalyptus Oil provides, it tends to dry out my skin if I use it morning and night, so I use it only a night, followed by an heavy duty night cream.

I have a soft spot for body butters in the harsh winter weather because my eczema tends to flare-up much more easily and I have to be careful with which products I use on troubled spots. I have been trialing I Love...  Strawberries & Milkshake Body Butter recently and even though it's not the thickest butter I have tried, it's still a bit too much in the hot weather. A lotion I have discovered back in November and that I instantly fell in love with - it rarely happens, believe me - is George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion. It has a light texture but it never fails to relieve dryness and itchiness, meaning significantly less eczema flare-ups. Also, I could feel my skin being moisturized all day, which I don't think I have experienced before!

L -R: e.l.f. Shimmer Gloss Pink, NYX Mega Shine LA~LA~, Revlon Super Lustrous SPF 15 Pink Afterglow, Annabelle Big Show (my own concoction), Eyeko Liptastik Hot Lips, Barry M Glossy Tube 11

I am not a regular lipstick wearer because I am cursed with constantly dry and chapped lips, but while lipsticks can look dull and harsh in the warmer weather, why not switch for a bright colored lipgloss? If you are not a fan of lipglosses, maybe try some colorful lipsticks such as NYX, Essence and Barry M.

My all-time favorite fragrance is, without any doubt, Jessica Simpson Fancy. I don't even understand why I have never properly talked about it on this blog, maybe because I find fragrances so hard to describe and so, hard to review? Still, Fancy is a deliciously sweet gourmand fragrance that smells just like dessert. While not everybody likes to smell like a cake fresh from the oven, when the warm weather comes, I like to wear something a bit lighter, fresh and even fruity and floral. My favorite pick would be Harajuku Lovers Baby, which is described as a powdery musk, fresh, clean and soft scent. To me, this perfume smells a bit of baby powder with a hint of fruit and vanilla. 

L - R: Revlon Minted, Julep Blake, Essie Neo Whimsical, Borghese Verona Pink, Barry M Peach Melba

I'm not the kind of girl who only wear pastel nail polish in the spring or summer and swears by dark shades in the winter. I wear what I want when I feel like it, but still, it's fun to pain your fingers joyful shades when the sun is shining! Why not swap those dull and boring dark reds for some happy mint green and banana yellow?

What changes are you making to prep for spring?

March Empties

Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Moisturizing Gel-cream for Dry Skin This was my first experience with a Marcelle skin care product and I'm pretty happy with it. At first, I was skeptical that a gel-cream would cure my dry skin, but if it didn't heal it completely, it definitely helped it a lot.

At first sight, I would have though this moisturizer would be best for use in the summer because of its light texture, but don't underestimate it as it's very moisturizing - yes, it really helped my dry and irritated skin through the harsh winter weather. The only thing I found odd about this cream is that when you rub or scratch your skin, little gel residues fall off so you have to be careful when you apply foundation or retouch your makeup through the day. Oh, also, it's beyond me that some companies still choose not to formulate their day cream with SPF, but oh well, I guess you can't have it all. See my super old and horrible review here.

Repurchase? Yes

What I'm currently using to replace it: Zorah Biocosmétiques Xia Ultramoisturizing Facial Cream

Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme (sample size) This is similar to Burt's Bees Beeswax & Almond Milk Hand Creme which I have used up in January and did not like. Because my job involves submerging my hands in the water and manipulating harsh chemicals a lot, I need to keep my eczema-prone hands moisturized so I keep sample-size hand creams in the pocket of my uniform. I really hate the texture of this hand cream, it's really thick and hard to spread on my hands, I guess it's because of the beeswax. It might be OK for night time but it tends to make my hands sticky during the day and that's annoying! This smells better than the Beeswax & Almond Milk one but it's very strong (which doesn't annoy me personally).

Repurchase? No

What I'm currently using to replace it: George's Special Dry Skin Cream (travel size)

Pharma Science pms-DESONIDE Cream 0.05% Another cream for my eczema which did not really work. At least it did not discolored my skin like some stronger ones did.

Repurchase? I hope I won't have to!

What I'm currently using to replace it: other eczema treatments

LUSH Lil LUSH Pud Bath Bomb This was the very first LUSH bath bomb I tried and I was very disappointed with it. There is nothing exciting to say about this bath bomb: it turns the water an ugly greenish-brown (reminds me of poop!), it didn't fiz for a long time, and it didn't moisturize my skin or anything. Also, in my opinion, it smells more of gingerbread than pudding, but the scent quickly dies down once this bath bomb has stopped fizzing. See my review here.

Repurchase?  No

Alberto VO5 Hot Oil Hair Treatment These have been around for such a long time and it seems everybody and their mother (and grand-mothers!) swear by them but it just didn't work for me. I didn't notice any difference in my hair, but at least I'm glad it was not left all greasy like some oil do.

Repurchase? No

Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes I received a coupon for a free box of this some times ago and even though Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes are designed "To feel cleaner and fresher than toilet paper alone", after reading the ingredients, I decided to use them on my face for a quick clean in the morning when I'm in a rush before school or work.

It worked well and my skin was not irritated at all - if I remember well, these wipes contain aloes. The only thing I did not like is that the wipes did not stay wet for long and I had to spritz them with toner but oh well, they were free after all! I also like that they come with an "EasyReach hanger" so that you can simply scotch it to a wall which makes it very handy.

Repurchase? No, I would rather use $1 baby wipes from the dollar store.

What I'm currently using to replace it: Cottonelle Fresh Flushable Moist Wipes

Passion Savon Oatmeal & Banana These were OK I guess although I have tried better handmade soaps that smell better and don't melt as quickly, such as the ones from LUSH and MJ's Soap Shop. See my review here.

Repurchase? No

Passion Savon Chestnut & Chocolate Torte These were OK I guess although I have tried better handmade soaps that smell better and don't melt as quickly, such as the ones from LUSH and MJ's Soap Shop. See my review here.

Repurchase? No

George's Cream - Dry Skin Relief

 Relief for all kinds of skin problems . . . 

George's Cream and Moisturizing Lotion were created for lasting dry skin relief. Although there is no cure for many skin problems, George's provides relief from different types of skin symptoms and conditions. It works! That is why it is recommended by dermatologists, pharmacists and physicians. The therapeutic benefits of George's will provide immense relief for those suffering from many different conditions.

I'm really thankful to be offered the chance to try all of those products that are meant to help with eczema, and I'm especially excited to share my thoughts with you on these products because trust me, they really work! George, the owner of George's Cream, sent me the Light Special Moisturizing Lotion and the Special Dry Skin Cream to try. George's Cream and Moisturizing Lotion were created for lasting dry skin relief and although there is no cure for many skin problems, George's provides relief from different types of skin symptoms and conditions, such as eczema.

George's Cream and comes in two varieties:

• George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion is a lighter version that is gentle enough for sensitive skin but still soothes and protects problem skin.
• George's Special Dry Skin Cream is a thick cream intended to provide lasting relief of many skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. It is recommended by dermatologists, pharmacists and doctors.

George’s Cream and George’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion are two fragrance free moisturizers that do not contain lanolin, parabens or urea. The cream comes in 3 package sizes: 30g tube for the purse ($2.99), convenient 90g tube ($6.99) and an economical 450g jar ($15.99). The lotion comes in 2 package sizes: 30ml tube for the purse ($2.99) and an attractive 360ml pump ($10.99).

I know some of you think the packaging looks weird and even creepy, but I actually like it! It's simple but original and cute at the same time.

The first few days I started using George's products, I almost immediately noticed a huge difference on my skin! It relieved dryness and itchiness, meaning significantly less eczema flare-ups. Also, I could feel my skin being moisturized all day, which I don't think I have experienced before! The tricky part with eczema is that you have to make sure your skin is constantly moisturized, because thirsty skin means dryness, which leads to ichiness, which leads to red and irritated skin, which is called eczema.

L - R: Light Special Moisturizing Lotion and Special Dry Skin Cream

Despite it's light - but not runny - texture, I used George's Light Special Moisturizing Lotion at night as soon as I stepped out of the shower and I never felt the need to re-apply in the morning - my skin still felt supple and comfortable. The lotion is absorbed almost instantly into the skin, leaving it smooth and moisturized all day.

As for the Special Dry Skin Cream, I like to keep it in my purse because of its small and convenient size. Because of its name, I thought it would be thicker than the lotion, but the textures are actually similar and I even think the cream is lighter than the lotion.

I almost didn't need to rely on my steroid creams since I started using George's Cream, and that means a lot to me.

George’s Cream is sold through national and independent pharmacies, drug chains, grocery retailers and convenience stores across Canada. Click here to see the list of stores that carries George’s in your area.

Disclaimer: One or more products were sent to me for consideration to review. I am not affiliated with this company and the fact that the products were free absolutely does not influence my opinion.

Mail of the Week (October 31 - November 4)

George's products: I'm really thankfull to be offered the chance to try all of those products that are meant to help with eczema. George, the owner of George's Cream, sent me the Light Special Moisturizing Lotion and the Special Dry Skin Cream to try. George's Cream and Moisturizing Lotion were created for lasting dry skin relief. Although there is no cure for many skin problems, George's provides relief from different types of skin symptoms and conditions, such as eczema.

Hard Candy products: Since I fell in love with the only Hard Candy product I ever tried, Fox in a Box Blushing Quad in Spicy and Sweet, I simply couldn't refuse the opportunity to try some more of their products! I was very kindly sent World Balmination Glossy Tinted Lip Balm in Bridal Blush and Lash Tinsel Glitter Mascara in Seventeen's A Dream.

H&R Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron (1" inch) from Flat Iron Experts: Honestly, I'm not sure I really like my Karmin G3 Salon Pro Professional 100% Pure Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron that I won this summer - it takes too much time to really straighten my hair and it seems to tug it way too often - which is incredibly disappointing for the price (regular price: $295.00)!

Betty Hula The Secret Anti-Ageing Oil sample: I've been offered to try some Betty Hula products samples a long time ago and I eventually forgot about them until I received this in the mail. I'm not usually a fan of oil but I've been told that this is supposed to help with eczema so I can't wait to try it!

Kashi Fruit & Grain Peanutty Dark Chocolate Granola Bar and a coupon for one free box: I tweeted and posted this freebie on my Facebook fan page a while ago so be sure to follow me to stay in the know for future offers!

♫ Someone Like You - Adele