Mad Hippie Eye Cream
Audreiana from True Beauty By Nature has spoken highly of this eye cream, so I was excited to find it and pick up a sample in a local health food store. Unfortunately, I had a bad reaction to it. I tried it at night and the next morning I woke up with super sore eyes. It did make a noticeable difference on my dark circles after just one use, which is pretty amazing, but along with the soreness, I also had blurry vision and my eyes were extra sensitive to sunlight for the rest of the day. Not something I'm rushing to try again!
Delizioso Skincare Creamstick Eyeshadow in Bronze Sunlight
Delizioso Skincare Creamstick Eyeshadow in Bronze Sunlight
I got this in the November Natural Beauty Box, though it's taken me a while to give it a thorough trying out. It starts off as a nice product - pretty color, goes on creamy - but my problem is that when I try to blend it out, all the color just wipes off.
Desert Essence Fragrance Free Conditioner
I consistently hear really good things about Desert Essence's haircare, so when iherb was sold out of my regular Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell conditioner, I decided to give this a try. It has a nice, faintly sweet scent and the texture is very thick and creamy. My hair feels extra silky when wet, but the conditioner leaves it looking stringy when it dries. Keep in mind that I have fussy, curly hair, so conditioners are graded on a pretty steep curve here.
Honeybee Gardens WaterColors Nail Polish
If you're a regular reader, you probably know that Honeybee Gardens is one of my favorite brands for affordable makeup, but unfortunately these have not been as big of a hit as the rest of the line. I don't have any issues with the actual polishes, but rather their removal. Water based polishes are healthier than solvent based, but you do need to remove them at least weekly, or else they can become seriously bonded to your nails. I only paint my toes and I'll admit that I'm generally not super regular about removing/changing my polish. I thought I would be fine, since water based polish is supposed to be easy enough to remove, but I really have to struggle to get these off, and that isn't something I'm happy to do on a weekly basis. That said, I haven't tried Honeybee Gardens' own remover, so maybe that's my problem? If you're someone who does change your polish more regularly, I think these would work really well - they're pretty colors that go on smoothly and they don't smell, which is pretty fantastic.
Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to know if you agree/disagree!
Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links to iherb. Get $5/$10 off your first purchase with coupon code ITI429.
Desert Essence Fragrance Free Conditioner
I consistently hear really good things about Desert Essence's haircare, so when iherb was sold out of my regular Acure Argan + Argan Stem Cell conditioner, I decided to give this a try. It has a nice, faintly sweet scent and the texture is very thick and creamy. My hair feels extra silky when wet, but the conditioner leaves it looking stringy when it dries. Keep in mind that I have fussy, curly hair, so conditioners are graded on a pretty steep curve here.
Honeybee Gardens WaterColors Nail Polish
If you're a regular reader, you probably know that Honeybee Gardens is one of my favorite brands for affordable makeup, but unfortunately these have not been as big of a hit as the rest of the line. I don't have any issues with the actual polishes, but rather their removal. Water based polishes are healthier than solvent based, but you do need to remove them at least weekly, or else they can become seriously bonded to your nails. I only paint my toes and I'll admit that I'm generally not super regular about removing/changing my polish. I thought I would be fine, since water based polish is supposed to be easy enough to remove, but I really have to struggle to get these off, and that isn't something I'm happy to do on a weekly basis. That said, I haven't tried Honeybee Gardens' own remover, so maybe that's my problem? If you're someone who does change your polish more regularly, I think these would work really well - they're pretty colors that go on smoothly and they don't smell, which is pretty fantastic.
Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to know if you agree/disagree!
Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links to iherb. Get $5/$10 off your first purchase with coupon code ITI429.
Thanks for mentioning me, I definitely think these posts are useful, to add balance and show that you don't just "love" everything. I tried those honeybee polishes when they readily available in the UK and the formulas flaked off my nails, not sure what I was doing wrong with them but I had the opposite problem from you. x
ReplyDeleteNo problem! I don't know if you tried the HBG on your fingers or toes, but from what I've read, water based polishes will bond to your toes better/faster than your fingers since the nails tend to be drier. I've never tried them on my fingers, but I'm curious if they'd behave differently there...
DeleteInteresting post, I'm using Desert Essence shampoo and what am I not understanding because they are SLS/SLES free. Is it the Sodium Coco-Sulfate you are referring to?
ReplyDeleteOops! I was going on memory, but you're right, it is sodium coco-sulfate, not SLS. From everything I've read though, I'm under the impression that the two are pretty similar :S
DeleteFrom what I've read sodium coco-sulfate is basically less refined SLS. It may be a little bit gentler than SLS, but still very similar.
DeleteI don't disagree girls, they are similar, it's still a sulphate and probably best avoided but I do continue to use desert essence :)
Delete@Mary
DeleteThat's good confirmation...that's pretty much what I've read too.
@Sarah
Shampoo and conditioner can be such hard products to find, so if the DE works for you, that's great :)
Great post! :) Haven't tried any of these products but i loved Desert Essence's coconut line xx
ReplyDeleteThanks! The coconut definitely seems to be one of their more popular scents :)
DeleteI've tried the DE green apple and ginger shampoo and conditioner and it was ok but not sure if I would go out and buy it. It didn't irritate my scalp tho so that's a good thing. But I'm pretty sure their shampoos don't have sls in it.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to change polish on my toes every week either. Mine are usually good for 3-4 weeks before I have to change it.
I like to hear the good and the bad about products. If a blogger loves everything then I get skeptical about honest reviews. I also remember to to take into consideration their hair and skin type compared to mine.
You're right, it's sodium coco-sulfate, not SLS, my mistake! I do think the two are pretty similar ingredients though, once you get to reading more about them.
DeleteGlad I'm not the only one who isn't eager to change polish every week. My toes are usually good for about a month too, so I'd just as soon do it less frequently! Water-based is great ingredient-wise, but I haven't found a way to really make it work for me yet.
I haven't enjoyed any DE products that I've tried, to be totally honest. Loved this post though, can't stand bloggers that only have positive reviews and comments.
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know! I think the conditioner is the first product I've used from Desert Essence.
DeleteInteresting to see what hasn't worked alongside what does - I think you're right about using the HBG remover though, I think I've read somewhere that water-based polishes need a different kind of product to successfully get rid. Be interested to know if you do give these another go. x
ReplyDelete