Project Pan Them All | January Empties

I am pretty proud of myself since I seem to be on a roll with all of those empties! Next month might be disappointing since I just started using a few new products but oh well, you can't have it all every time, right?

I like to spray Marc Anthony Salon Expert Keratin Miracle Frizz-Smoother Leave-in evenly on my damp hair to ensure easy detangling and super smooth hair - it never fails to leave it incredibly soft, hydrated and manageable. I have been using it every time I wash my hair since I got it, and I can really certify that it is a miracle product! This is really my favorite product of the Salon Expert range and I am wondering if I will ever find an alternative that is just as great.

Elin Bianco Treatment Mask has been absolutely wonderful to revive my dry hair, especially after coming back from Europe this summer, since I did not bring any conditioner and I did not look after my hair at all for a whole month... or two. The texture is amazingly perfect - it feels thick, almost like a styling paste, so it never makes a mess in the shower. My hair was left incredibly soft and smooth after the first use!

When I first started using MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Extravagant, I found the formula to be way too wet for my liking - there was so much product on the brush that I had to wipe it on a tissue before each use and between each coat! Also, the mascara took forever to dry. I was happy to see the formula improve after a few weeks though, and I was left with volumized, lengthened and defined lashes that actually held a curl all day - and I have the straightest lashes ever! - after only one coat. I like to build up to three coats with this mascara for maximum effect, but be careful because it tends to start clumping at the third coat.

KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream is probably my all-time favorite eye cream, since it's almost a miracle for me to have found a rich and extremely moisturizing eye cream that doesn't give me milia! I can't comment on the dark circles and pufiness claims though since I mainly use eye cream as a prevention but also to keep my delicate eye area moisturized as it gets eczema flare-ups very easily.

I am usually very happy with their body butters, but The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Butter has been such a let down! It failed to calm my itchy and dry skin caused by eczema and it did not even seem to moisturize it, although it is said to be formulated for dry skin... even pure aloe vera did a better job than this product! Huge disappointment.

I have not tried a lot of their cleansers but LUSH Let The Good Times Roll was a pleasant surprise! Since I have dry and eczema-prone skin, I was happy to learn that, despite providing deep exfoliation, Let the Good Times Roll is gentle enough for everyone to use - my skin was not left tight or drier, instead, I could feel it being super soft and refreshed! Did you know that this best-seller was a holiday product that’s now a permanent part of LUSH's cleansers range?

Another product I was recommended for my eczema by the doctor I consulted when I had my monstruous allergic reaction after I went swimming in a supposedly radioactive lake this summer is Pro-Derm PostX2, which is supposed to be a miraculous moisturizer... but of course, I did not notice any improvment. Another almost $70 thrown out the window... thanks eczema.

I was given Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion* some times ago but I did not want to use it since it is not cruelty-free, but I must admit it came in handy - at least temporarily - to calm those rashes I was struggling with after my adventure in the radioactive lake. It did relieve my itchy and extra dry skin thanks to cooling menthol and colloidal oatmeal, but with ingredients such as parabens and alcohol, I knew this was not a long-term solution, so whn I ran out, I purchased some aloe vera as a more natural replacement.

I asked a pharmacist which supplement was recommended for vegetarians and he told me that plant foods do not contain vitamin B12, but that as a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, I could obtain most of mine from milk, dairy products, and eggs. The requirement for vitamin B12 is very low, but it is essential, so I decided to give Jamieson B12 a try anyway. I also purchased Jamieson Vita-Vim Vegetarian which I seem to prefer since it provides a full complement of nutrients necessary to support daily metabolic processes, and allows one to optimally use food to help generate energy, combat fatigue, and resist infection. 

In my attempt to soothe my eczema flare-ups, I decided to try Uremol 20 Intense Relief Moisturizing Cream since I have heard urea has been clinically shown to temporarily relieve minor skin irritation and soothe dry, itcy skin. It was not very effective though since it burned my skin so much when I applied it! Once again, aloe vera seems to do a better job than this chemical-filled product.

KORRES Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, was great for my dry skin. I absolutely love the weightless soufflé texture that instantly melts into my skin to leave it extremely smooth, soft and moistured by morning, and best of all, this product won't leave your face - or pillow, or hair! - even the slightest greasy!

*Please note that Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion is NOT cruelty-free

Project Pan Them All | December Empties

Since I was so in love with The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, I had high hopes for the Mango version as well, but I ended up being imensely disappointed! Despite being formulated for very dry skin, just like the Shea version, it is not nearly as thick - in fact, I had the impression of using a greasy body cream! And when I say greasy, I am not kidding - it takes forever to be absorbed into the skin, and the oiliness transfers on everything I touch, including my boyfriend, who kept complaning that I was all "buttery"! I never got proper results with continuous use, since my eczema-prone skin started to itch again after a few minutes of applying this product.

Since body mists usually never stay on the skin very long, I used Calgon Mmmmm! Vanilla Swirl Body Mist* mainly as a room spray, and it really smells amazing, but never sickly or overpowering.

I bought Clarins Intense Bronze Self Tanning Tint For Face and Décolleté in June 2011 so I guess it has passed its expiration date since it barely shows up on my skin anymore, when it used to give me a nice, dark, uniform tan. I hate the idea of a tint anyway, since it's super liquidy and virtually impossible to blend on the skin.

LUSH Gingerbread House Bubble Bar is probably the cutest bath product I have seen with its little snowy roof and cinnamon stick chimney, and its sweetly spicy smell just like fresh gingerbread makes me want to eat it! I usually prefer sweet scents but this bubble bar happily surprised me - as soon as I popped it in the bath, it created a mountain of spicy and fruity foam, while turning the water a bright orange, and best of all, the scent lingered for as long as I relaxed in the bath, without being overpowering. It is a warm, inviting and relaxing smell that just makes you feel good.

I used Eucerin Intensive Repair Extra Enriched Foot Creme daily and my feet really felt incredibly soft!  I was sure I would not like it because of its light formula but I have been proven wrong. I find the tube is too thin for daily use though because I used it up within two months!

My mother and I bought a couple of those Icy Breeze Spearmint Breath Spray in a Dollar Tree while we were on holiday in Wildwood and they really work amazing for only $1! I kept mine in my handbag for a quick breath refreshment whenever needed, and the small bottle lasted me a fairly long time because one spray is all you need for long-lasting fresh breath.

I was not expecting to be completely blown away by NYX Doll Eye Mascara Long Lash but it is one of the best mascara I have ever used! Everything about it is great - its brush which lets you reach even the smallest lashes in the corners of your eyes, its not too dry yet not too wet formula which lengthens, volumizes, curls and defines even the shortest lashes, and it never flakes or smudge. A true drugstore gem!

*Calgon Body Mist is NOT cruelty-free

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

Yes, until last year, I was a The Body Shop virgin because as much as I wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200ml body butter that I can find at the drugstore for half the price? But that was until I came accross an irresistible 3 for $30 offer on the whole The Body Shop website, which led me to order a few of those mystical body butters.

The first butter I decided to try was the Shea Body Butter as it is designed for very dry skin and from what I have heard, it is claimed to be the thickest and most moisturizing of all The Body Shop body butters, which turned out ot be absolutely true - it is truly a little worker on my eczema! After that great experience, I was eager to try another of their butter, but I can't say I was exactly pleased...

As I used up the last bit of my Burt's Bees Aloe & Linden Flower After Sun Soother, the weather was getting colder and I always favour heavier body creams in the winter, so I figured out it was the perfect time to try another The Body Shop body butter that I have bought last year, and I chose Mango because it is also designed for very dry skin.

I ordered this body butter in the jumbo format (400ml) because it was included in the 3 for $30 offer, but I think the jumbo sizes have been discontinued since then - or am I wrong? When I used the Shea Body Butter for the first time, I was worried I would not be able to go through this humongous tub before the end of the winter (I don't use body butters in the summer, they are just too heavy) and I only hoped it would not go bad too soon, but the Mango butter is less thick than the Shea version - it's actually more like a thick cream.

I can't say I fell in love with the Mango body butter's texture like I did with the Shea version. The consistency is like a rich cream, but it's not solid like the Shea body butter. It melts on my skin but it does take some times to be properly absorbed, and yes, it is greasy, even on my dehydrated skin!

The Mango Body Butter does not smell synthetic to me - but then again it is not something that usually bothers me, as long as it's done right - it actually smells like fresh ripped mangoes, yum! I can smell it on my skin a few hours after applying it, but it does not linger all day or overnight. 

I was not blown away by this butter. Even with continuous use, The Body Shop Mango Body Butter could not completely soothe my irritated skin and too often, my skin started being itchy again after around 15 minutes of applying this product, which is asbolutely unacceptable for the price, and especially because it is claimed to be great for very dry skin! If you have problem skin that requires heavy-duty moisture, I would recommend to skip the Mango Body Butter and go for the Shea version instead, which is much better and actually works amazingly well.

The body butters are available in store for $19.00 for 250ml and on The Body Shop website and you get free shipping with any purchase of $75 (be sure to check out RetailMeNot for coupons before ordering!)

Project Pan Them All | June Empties

Julep The Best Pedi Créme Ever! was a nice surprise in my Julep Maven Boho Glam box from last April. For $22, I wish the tube was bigger, but even though the cream is light, you don't need a lot of product to cover both feet. The cream smells absolutely delicious and fresh - juicy cucumbers, yum! I can't say I was absolutely amazed at the difference this cream made for my feet, but yes, it did leave them softer and smoother.

I already used Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer a long time ago and it absolutely did not work for me... which was not different this time. I received a sample through Facebook and it lasted me a relatively long time but it absolutely did not made me look tan. I was hoping I could use this lotion to touch up my tan, but no, it's useless because it did not even moisturize my skin properly.

Zorah Biocosmétiques Bioserum Structure is awesomely moisturizing and it lasted me quite a long time because I only needed about two drops to cover my whole face. I like how this product leaves my face imediately soothed and smooth. If you use the right quantity, Bioserum Structure is quickly absorbed into the skin and you don't have to wait forever to apply your night cream.

Crest Complete Scope Outlast in Long Lasting Mint is supposed to provide a cool, refreshing brushing experience and a fresh feeling that lasts up to 5x longer than a regular anticavity toothpaste but I will have to disagree with the latter statement though because I have yet to find a toothpaste that leaves my breath as minty and fresh as Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste does!

Marcelle Hydra-C ComplexE Facial Exfoliating Gel came in the Hydra-C Xmas Black Box I bought at Groupe Marcelle Spring 2010 Warehouse Sale but I was incredibly disappointed with it. It's not abrasive enough for a good exfoliation and the product just vanishes super quickly - I had to refrain myself from throwing it in the trash!

I received a sample of The Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream as part of Meredith's giveaway prize and OMG, this stuff smells sooooooooooooo good, almost like the real stuff! I also appreciate how it's really more like a shower cream than a liquidy gel. I'm so glad to have a full-size backup in my stash!

I was really pleased with AHAVA Foot Cream unique texture - it really felt thick and a bit muddy, which was awesome and really moisturizing! I never used something like this before.

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

Mail of the Week (March 5 - 9)

My prize from Meredith's giveaway Seriously, sometimes, I just can't believe my luck! I don't have a wishlist because I try to limit my purchases and use up the stuff I already have, but the whole The Body Shop Chocomania collection has been the only thing on my mind lately, so you can imagine my surprise when Meredith announced me as a winner!

I received my prize super quickly and I never expected to receive so many things - the prize consists of more than $150 worth of the new Chocomania bath and body products. I gave the heart shaped tin to my mother and I can't wait to try everything else - it smells soooooo yummy! Thank you so much Meredith and The Body Shop! =D

Marc Anthony New Dream Wave Amplifying Collection I could not believe my eyes when I saw this big package waiting for me at my doorstep - how cute is the little suitcase packed with seashells? I have been very curious about this collection ever since I started hearing about it, especially about the Beach Spray - is there anything sexier than tousled beach hair? This is even more exciting since I have never tried anything from Marc Anthony before!

Febreze CAR Vent Clips Air Freshener in Linen & Sky I have been very kindly sent this new air freshener as a member of ChickAdvisor Product Review Club. The Febreze CAR Vent Clips are designed to deliver up to 30 days of intensity-adjustable freshness to eliminate unpleasant odours leaving a light fresh scent behind - and it really does smell amazingly fresh! I have offered to my father to test this on my behalf as he uses his car way more than I do. I hope he will like it!

♫ Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen

What Am I Bringing To Toronto?

If you follow me on Twitter, you may know that I was incredibly fortunated to win Ubisoft Just Dance Superstar Contest! The prize consists of a trip up to four people and includes two nights stay in a luxury downtown Toronto hotel (Hyatt Regency Toronto), limo service, spending money, four tickets to a concert or a show and four copies of Just Dance 3 Ubisoft video game. There was no concert or show available on the dates I could go (damn you school!) but instead, they have set up a VIP treatment for my friends and I in a nightclub - complete bottle service and a private booth! I can't wait!



I thought it would be interesting to show you what I bring with me to Toronto. Normally, I would not even have bothered with makeup and all that stuff but the thing is that we will be interviewed and the Just Dance camera crew will follow us around while we shop on Queen Street West so hey, a girl gotta look good!

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Single in Night Sky, NYX Eyeshadow in Sensual, e.l.f. Mechanical Eyelash Curler, Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Pout, Marcelle Power Volume Mascara, Joe Fresh Style Duo Concealer in Light, Wet 'n Wild Brow & Eye Liner Pencil in Taupe, Sigma E55, Sigma E40, EcoTools Angled Eyeliner Brush.

Marcelle Concealer Palette in Universal Beige, Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit, Marcelle BB Cream, Leopard Gold Color Retractable Makeup Brush from BornPrettyStore.com

Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo, CHI Silk Infusion, Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria Fragrance roller ball sample, Carmex Original Jar, Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter, Elemish Freshskin Peachy Perfect Gentle Face Wash, Elemis Freshskin Softly Softly Daily Moisturizer, Elemish Freshskin Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturizer, KORRES Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream, Marcelle Essentials Cleansing Water (in a Klorane travel bottle)

Everything goes in that super cute makeup bag (:

I realized that I don't have many travel size products because I tend to use them up first instead of having them laying around because I don't travel much and when I do, I don't bring tons of stuff with me. I don't have any mini format body cream, and this is the only really important product to me, so I'm stuck with that jumbo The Body Shop Shea Butter LOL! I also tried to bring multi-tasking products such as Too Faced Leopard Love and Marcelle BB Cream but overall I think I did great as I stuck mainly with essentials.

I can't wait to go shopping, spending money that you didn't work for feels so good, doesn't it? Instead of making a list of things I want, I made a list of places to shop at and I'll see! I was thinking maybe some MAC lipsticks even though there's none in particular I really want and some LUSH Valentine's Day stuff! I know I will be given a gift card to shop at H&M with a personal stylist and that's where the Just Dance camera crew will follow me around (so exciting!) but I will have some cash left to spend however I want (:

My friends and I will fly to Toronto today at 1:00 and I'm so excited! I will be sure to take tons of pictures =D

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

The Body Shop® difference: Our Body Butter is the original and in our humble opinion, the world’s best. But we aren’t the only ones who think so. Our Shea Body Butter is a hit with celebrity fans like Jennifer Lopez, Victoria and David Beckham, and Reese Witherspoon. So you are in good company when you indulge in the luxurious, 24-hour, non-stop moisturizing formula, packed with Community Trade ingredients. And you can feel good when you use it, knowing that you are helping to provide a community of women in Ghana with regular work and income. 

Best if you want to: Treat your skin to non-stop moisturization with a rich, intensive cream featuring the clean scent of shea. 

Best for: very dry skin 

How it works: Community Trade shea butter has antioxidant vitamins A and E to help protect and nourish skin. Community Trade cocoa butter is an excellent moisturizer that melts at body temperature, leaving skin soft and silky smooth.

Yes, until very recently, I was a Body Shop virgin because as much as I've wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200ml body butter that I can find at Wal-Mart for only $6 (I'm talking about SPAresource body butters)? I've always been happy with those drugstore body butters but I ran out of them and my eczema always seems to worsen in the winter and there's no way I will use a body lotion instead, it's just not enough moisturizing.

So at the beginning of December, I stumbled accross The Body Shop's 3 for $30 offer on their whole website, and I figured out it was the perfect time to give those mystical butters a try as they would cost only $10 each with free shipping. To see what I have ordered and to read what I thought of their customer service, you can click here to be brought to my shopping post.

The first butter I decided to try was the Shea Body Butter as it's designed for very dry skin and from what I have heard, it is claimed to be the thickest and most moisturizing of all The Body Shop body butters, which is exactly what my parched and eczema-prone skin needed!

L - R: 200mL and 400mL body butters

I ordered this body butter in the jumbo format (400ml) because it was included in the 3 for $30 offer, but otherwise, it retails at $25 (!!!) Even though I was warned, let me confirm that yes, the jumbo size is really jumbo! At first I was worried I wouldn't be able to go through this humongous tub before the end of the winter (I don't use body butters in the summer, they are just too heavy) and I only hoped it wouldn't go bad too soon, but I have been using this butter since the beginning of December and I'm already half way through it (I use it every night after showering all over my body).

As soon as I started using the Shea body butter, I fell in love with its amazing texture. The consistency is dreamy - rich, creamy and perfectly thick - exactly what I'm expecting in a body butter! Some say it's greasy, but hey, this stuff has been designed for very dry skin for a reason! If you have extremely dry, dehydrated skin, like me, it soaks it all up in a matter of seconds without leaving greasy residue behind.

In the tub, the butter looks hard and solid but it really melts as soon as it comes in contact with the skin.

It's a little hard to describe what Shea smells like but I would say it's a sort of neutral clean and fresh smell that is slightly earthy and nutty, with a hint of floral. I think it's a very creamy, cozy and comforting smell that is not overpowering but I would not say it's very light either. I also doesn't linger on the skin very long, which is disappointing in my opinion.

At first, I must say I wasn't blown away by this butter. I mean, I have tried quite a few body butters in the past and I always went back to the ones from SPAresources because they were inexpensive, did the job quite well and had that perfectly buttery texture. However, I have realized that with continuous use, The Body Shop Shea Body Butter soothed my irritated skin and I haven't experienced any eczema flare-ups since I started using it. 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 and this is a big step forward in my book.

Of course, the main issue for me with these butters is the price: mini (50 ml / 1.7 oz) for $6.00, regular (200 ml / 7.0 oz) for $18.00 and jumbo (400 ml / 13.5 oz) for $25.00.  I won't need to buy these full-price anytime soon because I guess it will take me a long time to get through the six butters I ordered in December, but The Body Shop always has some kind of deals going on such as buy 1 get 1 50% off, buy 3 get 2 free, etc. But still, I'm not convinced these body butters are a must have if you don't have problem skin that requires heavy-duty moisture.

The body butters are available on The Body Shop website and you get free shipping with any purchase of $75 (be sure to check out RetailMeNot for coupons before ordering!)

Shopping: The Body Shop, Wal-Mart, San Francisco & Giant Tiger

San Francisco knit cardigan on sale for $10.99 I never thought this store was carrying interesting things until I saw this rack of items on sale for only $10.99! Most of the clothes in this store are pretty pricey (well, at least for my budget) so you can imagine my surprise when I spotted this cozy cardigan and yes, they had my size! It's very soft but oh so warm, even if it appears to be made of a thin material. At first sight, I thought the cut looked strange (it doesn't fit close to the body) but I like to cinch it at the waist with a big belt.

San Francisco sweater on sale for $10.99 The problem with my wardrobe is that I don't have a lot of long sleeves tops, so when I spotted this sweater on the sale rack, I immediately grabbed an X-Small and rushed to try it and yey, it fitted! I wish it was a little bit longer so I could wear it comfortably with leggings but because of the opening on the front, it does look a bit strange. I still like the mix of black and purple though!

Betty Crocker scented candles on sale 3 for $10 I can never resist scented candles, especially at such a nice price! When I was flipping through Giant Tiger's weekly flyer, I immediately spotted them and I knew I had to have them! I never knew that Betty Crocker had scented candles (they aren't listed on their website) so that was a nice surprise, but there's always nice little surprises at Giant Tiger (: There was only three scents available so I picked one of each, even though Strawberry Shortcake was the one that smelled the yummier in the store, but I must say I was quite disappointed when I lit them once I got home as you have to litteraly stuff your nose in the jar to get the slighted hint of scents. The two other scents were Blueberry Pie and Cherry Pie, but please don't go wasting your money on these.

Pepperidge Farm scented candles on sale 3 for $10: I got fooled once again! I actually bought these at Giant Tiger before buying the ones from Betty Crocker and they smelled nothing, so I thought maybe I would be less disappointed with the ones from Betty Crocker because... I really don't know why as Pepperidge Farm is a well known brand too, but oh well, at least they didn't cost me a fortune, and it's always nice to have candles laying around the house. I picked up Verona Apricot Raspberry, Apple Caramel and Strawberry.

Mitchum Anti-Perspirant & Deodorants on sale $2.97 each: I went to Wal-Mart because I saw in their flyer that got2b products were on sale for $3.97 and I seem to be on a never-ending quest for their Powder'ful Volumizing Styling Powder, but once again, it wasn't available. I'm starting to think my local Wal-Mart doesn't even carry it. I also saw in the flyer that Mitchum anti-perspirants and deodorants were on sale for a nice price and in an attempt to go completely cruelty-free (which I doubt is really possible), I figured I would give them a try (Mitchum is owned by Revlon). As I'm enjoying my current Secret Scent Expressions gel (which is not cruelty-free) because it dries really fast, I decided to try Mitchum PowerGel Flower Fresh and Shower Fresh and as there was only one Advanced Control Utltimate Strength & Protection left, I guessed it must be good, so I picked it up as well.

My order from The Body Shop on sale 3 for $30 : I kept the best for last, of course! Yes, until very recently, I was a Body Shop virgin because as much as I've wanted to try their body butters, I always thought they were too pricey for me - come on, why would I want to pay $18 for a 200mL body butter that I can find at Wal-Mart for only $6 (I'm talking about SPAresource body butters)? I've always been happy with those drugstore body butters but I ran out of them and my eczema always seems to worsen in the winter and there's no way I will use a body lotion instead, it's just not enough moisturizing.

So I stumbled accross The Body Shop's 3 for $30 offer on their whole website, and I figured out it was the perfect time to give those mystical butters a try as they would cost only $10 each. Even the jumbo size (400mL) was included in the special and trust me, I would have ordered only the jumbo size if I could, but they were sold out except in Shea and Mango, so here is what I ordered, for a total of $68.35:

• Coconut 200mL
• Cocoa 200 mL
• Brazil Nut 200 mL
• x2 Shea 400mL
• Mango 400 mL

I chose to play it safe and order only the scents that were designed for dry or very dry skin because I really didn't want to be disappointed.

I placed my order on November 25 and I received a confirmation email telling me that my order was currenly being processed and that I would receive another email when my order was shipped - which I never got and I was a bit worried - and I received the package on Thursday, which is pretty good. I wasn't expecting such a big box so I was super excited to see it! I'm not sure how I feel regarding the Purolator man as I wasn't at home when he delivered my order so he just left it on the porch for everyone on the street to see and the butters were all hard and cold... oh well, at least I got them, and I didn't had to go to the Purolator office to claime my package! I love how the butters were carefully packed (:

L - R: 200mL and 400mL body butters

Even though I was warned, let me confirm that yes, the jumbo size are really jumbo! I wonder how long they will last me, I only hope they won't go bad too soon! I have started using the Shea jumbo body butter and so far, I'm loving it, the texture is dreamy - exactly what I was expecting! - and I can't wait to see if these butters will help with my eczema.

The body butters are still $10 on The Body Shop website and you get free shipping with any purchase of $40 (be sure to check out RetailMeNot for coupons before ordering!)

Thank you mom!

My mother went to Montreal this past week-end and she brought me some goodies!

Fortune Cookies: I love those! I love reading the little fortune in each cookie. This bag is so big... but I know I could eat them all in one sitting LOL.

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover: There was a sale at The Body Shop, I think it was buy 2 get the 3rd for free or something like that. I don't think I have tried something from this brand before but I definitely hear a lot of rave about their body butters. I don't fancy a particular brand when it comes to make-up removers as baby oil does the trick perfectly for me, but I can't wait to give this one a try!

And those products were on sale for around $4 at Jean Coutu, if I remember well:

 Garnier Fructis Style Volume Booster and Alberto Heat Styler Heat Protector Miracle Mist

Garnier Fructis Style Volume Booster: The instructions simply say to distribute product from roots to tips and let air dry. I'm a little sceptical about this, but I guess at around $4, it's worth a try!

Alberto Heat Styler Heat Protector Miracle Mist: I almost grabbed this product with my $5 off voucher the other day... but I'm glad my mother did! I already have two heat protectant sprays so I don't really need another, but I can't wait to try it.

 
Thanks mom! ♥