January Empties & Disappointing Products

I always enjoy reading (and watching) other people’s empties posts. There is something really satisfying about finishing an entire product. I also think they may be the best kind of reviews – finishing a product completely gives you lots of time to evaluate its performance. Unfortunately, this month, I also included a disappointing product that I have no intention of finishing.

From left to right, here are January’s products:

NYX Micro Brow Pencil – This fine-tipped pencil is perfect for defining brows and filling them in. It has a self-sharpening tip on one end and a handy spoolie brush on the other. I have it in the lightest shade, Taupe, and the colour looks natural and not too warm against my skin. While it isn’t the cleanest brow product I have (that award goes to EcoBrow), you can’t beat the convenience of this pencil. I’ll definitely be repurchasing – which isn’t against the terms of my Winter No-Buy Challenge.

Aiki Skin Hair Oil sample – I got this sample with the purchase of another item from Aiki Skin’s line at a local artists’ market. I love that the line is made in Newmarket, and while this is a new line to me, I’ll be a repeat customer. I used the entire sample as a pre-shampoo treatment. I applied it all over my scalp and hair and put it in a messy bun while I cleaned up the apartment, then hopped into the shower. The oil smells nice, a bit herbal-y, and rinsed out cleanly.

Elate Clean Cosmetics Universal Crème for Cheeks and Lips – I received this product in a Petit Vour box, and unfortunately I consider this a total flop. While the cardboard packaging is eco-friendly and compostable, the cap does not close securely and feels a little bit cheap. I received the colour Love, which blends away to nothing on the cheeks and looks patchy on the lips. An entire chunk came off onto my hand when I swatched it for this post – no thanks! This is going straight to recycling.

Colgate Total Whitening toothpaste – I bought this toothpase for the sole reason that it was on sale for $0.88. I didn’t check the ingredients, and regretted not doing so when I realized that it contains triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial that can be found in soaps and disinfectants, and is definitely not something that I want to be putting in my mouth. The US FDA has even announced a ban, stipulating that “19 antibacterial ingredients, such as triclosan and triclocarban, must be removed from hand and body washes within one year because manufacturers have failed to prove they are safe and effective”, according to an article from September 2016 in The Globe and Mail. The article also cites potential side effects such as hormone interference. I finished the tube in the spirit of reducing waste, but will never repurchase.

Soul Flower Herbals Lavender Conditioner – This conditioner is pretty cleanly formulated and provided light moisturization. It smelled nicely like lavender and did the trick, but it wasn’t heavy duty enough for everyday use. As previously mentioned on my blog, this brand is a small, family-run First Nations business based in New Brunswick so I love to support them when I’m back home!

This month there were some hits and some misses, but regardless it’ll be satisfying to throw them all in the recycling!