Empties #3

Well, its been about a month and I've worked my way through more items.  A lot of the items this time are items I've had for a while and I've only just got round to using them up.  Still shopping the stash and with some product groups, especially the make-up, its going to take a very long time before I can test new products.

So firstly, the 'from Nature' body washs.  These were some of the products that I got for Christmas and having been using them in conjunction with my other shower gel.  The statement on the back is that they are 'fragenced to awaken your senses, with ingredients known to benefit you skin'.  I have to admit that the Mango smelled lovely and, for that, I enjoyed using it, but the coconut actually smelt like bananas to me and wasn't the most pleasant to use (I hate bananas and the smell makes me feel unwell).  As for the skin part, I didn't really notice any difference to other body washes and shower gels I have used before, in definitely didn't add any moisture.  I might be being a bit unfair though as the winter's been pretty bad this year and my skin has been especially dry.  I've tried to find information about this company online, but nothing has turned up so there's no link I can give.  However, I'm not too bothered as I won't be buying this product as there wasn't anything outstanding about the body wash, I can't find any information about animal testing. and its full of parabens and sulfates.

The next item I've had in my bag for years but pulled out this year as the cold weather and need to have the heating on more has definitely made me need to add moisture to my skin. This E45 cream used to be my go-to moisturiser when I've had problems with my skin and it does state that it has 'been clinically proven to treat and soothe dry, itching, flaking, chapped, rough and calloused skin, sunburn and detergent hands'.  However, it didn't seem to work this time (even when put on under sleeping gloves).  It could be that I've had it for too long or maybe my skin has just got used to it now, but I won't be repurchasing it.  There's no information about animal testing on the product but they are down as testers on the peta website, and this item does contain a number of parabens and sulfates. To find out more about the product yourself you can have a look here.

I absolutely love, love, love the Soap & Glory 'Scrub your nose in it'.  Its basically a face scrub and face mask in one.  How I usually use it is to use it as a scrub after I've washed my face and then leave on my face while I shower, washing it off at the end.  It's advertised as a 'simple solution for large pores and clogging' and it's so true.  It also leaves my skin so soft without there being any drying feeling.  While they don't test on animals (though I have seen some statements on the internet about how some of the items used in the products have actually been testing on animals even if the product itself has not...huh) it does contain some parabens so I will be looking for a more natural alternative.  I'm working through a back-up that I have at the moment so I have some extra time, it is going to be difficult to find an alternative though as this one is so good!  If you want to know more about this product click here.

The Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil (really long name) is meant to help 'moisturize, revive and create softness and strength while helping to protect your hair from harmful styling heat and UV damage'.  This has been a difficult one for me to test as my hair is nautrally soft any way and the lack of styling, drying and product adding that I do means that I hair doesn't have to deal with too much damage. However, if you do a lot of styling then this product would probably be great! I also use jojoba oil in my conditioner any way and that does a lot of the same work.  Since finishing with this product I haven't noticed any difference in my hair, though that could change over time, but I do absolutely love the smell of this.  This item doesn't contain any parabens or sulfates, so its great for sensitive skin, and doesn't test on animals.  If I ever get to the point were I start doing lots of styling I would definitely consider buying this again, but I'd also want to test out just plan argan oil to see if it was just the same.  I am looking at trying the shampoo and conditioner though, once I've used up the products I have already, but if you want to learn more about the argan oil just click here (though be aware the packaging has now changed).

Now I have two Body Shop products.

The first is the Nutriganics Softening Gel, which is a gel to oil cleanser.  There's not a lot of information about what the product is meant to do on the container itself, a part from 'lifts away make-up and impurities' and that its meant to help with the first signs of ageing (I didn't realise the last bit until I'd brought it and was looking at it more closely on the bus home), but there's more information on the website.  It was a nice product to use and the only problem I had with it was that my bathroom is freezing, so it took a while (and some holding under my heater) for the product to turn from gel to oil causing it to pull a little bit on my skin to begin with.  I didn't notice a whole difference to my skin (and no changes to the fine lines), but I like that it contain organic, community trade products, something the Body Shop is very good at, and that the Body Shop has a strong no animal testing policy.  This fact is ruined a little bit by the fact that they're owned by L'Oreal, a big animal tester, but hopefully they'll have a positive affect on their parent company.  The only down side to this product is that, while it says that its parabens free, it does contains Sodium Benzoate and, while its not a paraben there is some debate about whether its any better for you. That said, I do think I'll buy this again in the future as a go to when I'm not able to make my own products (more on that in the future).

The very last item is The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Butter.  This product smells gorgeous and contains fair trade cocoa butter (my favourite product).  It was a pretty good product and worked well on my skin despite it being so dry over winter.  I did notice a difference, but I did have to use it on a daily basis, something I don't normally do, and it was definitely a night time cream as it left a layer on the skin afterwards.  This was a seasonal product, so there's no webpage I can send you too, which is a shame as I would wear this all year round.  While it isn't tested on animals, its worth bearing in mind that it contains bees wax and so is not vegan friendly.  Again, it does contain a paraben so, while I would probably use it again, I am going to look for one without.