Nubian Heritage Repair & Extend Shine Gel
If you saw my recent Best of Curly Girl Hair Products, you'll know that this gel did not make it onto that list. I've heard a lot of good things about Nubian Heritage, but this gel was my first time trying anything from the brand. I've ended up only using it a couple times due to how strong and perfumey it smells. Super disappointing because it's one of the few Nubian Heritage products that's made without either Japanese honeysuckle extract or palm oil. It also did seem to work really well, with a good hold that was neither overly crunchy or sticky. The smell - courtesy of a "proprietary essential oil blend" - is pretty overpowering though, and it tends to hang around all day, so I'm not sure it's worth it.
Sukin Aloe Vera Gel
The thing that I said was maybe just a bad product? That would be this one here. Aside from the company's fondness for phenoxyethanol, I really like Sukin products, so when I was given a spare tester from the health food store I was working in at the time, I expected good things. It's hard to find aloe gels without a ton of fillers, and although Sukin's has only three ingredients - aloe leaf juice, alcohol, and hydroxyethylcellulose - it's awful. Using alcohol as a preservative requires a moderately large amount, and with so few other ingredients to buffer it, the aloe gel is left smelling like straight up rubbing alcohol. The alcohol also seems to negate any of the moisturizing properties inherent in the aloe, making the gel pretty useless. I'm really not sure what anyone was thinking when they made this product.
Pure Anada Fresh Mandarin Pressed Mineral Cheek Color
I featured this Pure Anada blush in a roundup of new blush favorites early in the fall, but since then, it's mostly fallen out of my good books. Pure Anada's pressed products have a weird, plastic or putty-like scent that the company attributes to the raw, unrefined jojoba oil they use to bind them, and whether or not that's what the smell is, I'm just not a fan. I like the experience of putting makeup on to be enjoyable, and even luxurious at times, so something that makes me feel like I need to hold my breath while applying it, just isn't what I'm looking for. It's a shame too, because the color is really pretty.
Schmidt's Lavender-Sage Deodorant
I already let the cat out of the bag on this one when I wrote about how I transformed my Schmidt's into a deodorant that didn't sting or irritate my armpits, but I thought I'd stick it in here too, in case you missed that post. The deodorant, in its original state, kept me stink-free, but it completely tore up my armpits. And apparently I'm far from alone on this, as a lot of you described similar experiences with Schmidt's, both in the comments on that post and on Instagram and Twitter.
EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm
As one of the few all natural lip balms that's easily accessible in stores here, I'd wanted to try EOS for years, but I only actually got around to it last month when my mom bought me this one. The ingredients are good, the egg shape is cute, and I love the Sweet Mint flavour/scent, but the balm itself is just not as hydrating as I would like. I even sometimes feel like it has the opposite effect and actually dries out my lips.
[EOS Fans: Do the balms vary by scent? I also have an unopened strawberry one, but I may end up passing it on if it's going to be equally lackluster in terms of moisture.]
The All Natural Face Midas Cream Concealer
I'm always looking for products that will conceal my dark circles, and the yellow-toned Midas has garnered a lot of positive attention. Sadly, it doesn't work for me. The concealer is illuminating, but it gives hardly any coverage, so instead of achieving the bright and awake under eye look I'm going for, I end up with a layer of shine that may even make my dark circles look more prominent. Needless to say I'm not a fan.
Have you used any of these? Are there other underwhelming products that have left you disappointed recently?
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Re the EOS balms, I find them to be less hydrating than some others I've used, but still ok. I haven't really thought about it in great detail as I have about 5 different flavours open in different places (my car, desk, handbag etc.) but I think some might be better than others. I just got the coconut milk one which I'm very excited about (it came today) but I'd have to get back to you on its performance.
ReplyDeleteGood to know! I'm wondering if maybe it would work better in the warmer months, when my lips aren't as dry or desperately in need of moisture. I'll have to wait until the summer to test that out though :)
DeleteI also find EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm does not fit. . My lips want more.
ReplyDeleteGood to know it's not just me!
DeleteI'm with you on EOS. I wanted to love but..
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad! The packaging is so cute, I wanted it to be amazing :)
DeleteI haven't tried ANY of these products but I was put off the EOS balm because I saw it EVERYWHERE and saw a couple of bad reviews from some people I trust so I assumed it was one of those products that gets sent out to lots of bloggers for PR... Maybe I am just cynical!!
ReplyDeleteI like these kind of posts :-)
Rach xx
Thanks Rachel! I know a couple people in real life - non-bloggers and non-naturally inclined also - who swear by EOS, so I was hoping for more.
DeleteAnd, I definitely think like that too :) It looks incredibly sketchy when the only positive reviews for a product are from bloggers who received PR samples!
I was also disappointed with the EOS balms x
ReplyDeleteGood to know! It definitely has me wondering now what other lip balms people are used to when they think the EOS are amazing :)
DeleteTry the coconut milk EOS. I also had the same problem with the strawberry balm, but the coconut milk not only smells amazing, but my lips are so thankful since it is very hydrating.
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall that there was something in the coconut milk one I wasn't crazy about. I'll have to take another look! Thanks for the tip :)
DeleteEvery EOS balm I have ever tried dries out my lips and makes them peel!
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I doubt I will bother trying more flavors after this one!
DeleteI've tried the EOS balms in two different scents, both in winter and summer months and didn't like them. They make my lips dry out and peel. What does work me though is the Body Shop Coco Butter stick. Best lip balm for any season! ( and I've tried about 40 different balms. No joke).
ReplyDeleteToo bad. I guess EOS's popularity just goes to show how far cute packaging can get you! Thanks for the suggestion :)
DeleteLove these posts! I've tried EOS lip balm before and found it only started to work half way through the product. I too hate the scent of pure anada products, their eye shadows are my fave though!
ReplyDeleteAhh, good to know about the EOS. Although, I'm not sure I'll even make it half way through at this rate. Pure Anada's colors are so pretty, but I'm such a scent person, I can't get past it, haha :) I know they say you can let them air out, but I haven't had much success. Have you had any luck getting rid of the smell?
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