REVIEW: Urban Rituelle Natural Hand & Body Wash and Purifying Face Scrub...

My love affair with Urban Rituelle products goes back, way back - at least 7 years in fact. A search on my blog reveals no less than 15 articles, and their fragrance diffusers and hand creams have made numerous appearances in my empties posts because they are exceptional - lovingly created, exquisitely presented, and the UR Team are constantly working towards developing products that are not only beneficial to our bodies (and souls) but also have the least impact on the environment ♥...

Recently they so kindly sent me six of the products from their new Natural Remedy range (there are 11 in total), which also includes face products - woo hoo! And I can assure you that each and every one of them is chock full of natural ingredients, an absolute pleasure to use, beautifully packaged, and all materials and ingredients used are chosen with sustainability as a priority - UR's philosophy is that their products not only have to work brilliantly, feel and look sensational, they also must be made with the greatest respect for our planet and its dwindling resources ♥...

I'll be reviewing all of the above in the coming weeks, but for now, I'll start with those categories that are most dear to my heart ♥...

Mandarin, Orange & Geranium Natural Hand & Body Wash (500ml, RRP $37.95)

I'll begin with the packaging which is a cream cardboard box made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper ♥ The list of ingredients is impressive to me as there is only one item (2nd last) that isn't either naturally derived or certified organic, and that's Dehydroacetic Acid, which Google explains is a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Everything else is either natural or, better still, organic - things like Kakadu Plum, Hibiscus Flower Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Argan Kernel Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil and Rosehip Fruit Oil. There are no sulphates, parabens, mineral oils, phthlates, synthetic colour or fragrance, and no PEGS or silicones. The dark brown bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and the pump dispenser is the kind you pivot left or right to open and close ♥...

The golden liquid inside has an almost gel-like consistency, and it smells as if it were divinely inspired - predominantly geranium, but there is also a tinge of citrus, lavender and patchouli to steer it into the realm of family-friendly rather than girls-only. I'm besotted - it's the only hand and body wash that I've EVER moved from shower stall to vanity and back again just so I could experience it more than once in the same day! I definitely need another bottle lol. The suds are creamy and fragrant, and anyone with skin prone to dryness will be blissing-out just like me as this formula is so nourishing, calming and moisturising. There is a partnering Hand and Body Lotion in the range, but I'm not even sure I need it after this! LOVE ♥♥♥

Mandarin, Lime & Neroli Purifying Face Scrub (100ml, RRP $25.95)

Similar recycled cardboard box with UR's Earth-friendly mission statement(s) on one side, and equally fabulous (and comforting) ingredients information on the other two. 50% of the tube is made from post-consumer plastics, it's 100% recyclable, and has what I regard as the essential flip-top cap for easy dispensing, especially in the shower. Over half of the ingredients in this beauty are organic - Aloe Leaf Juice, Kakadu Plum, Gooseberry Fruit Powder, and there's also White Kaolin Clay and Hibiscus Flower Extract. The sloughing granules are small and firm, and there's no indication as to what they are made from but I'm guessing that the Ground Bamboo Stem may be involved here. The scent is very subtle, and I would call it more earthy or natural rather than citrus-inspired - but the Mandarin, Lime & Neroli essential oils are there, just not in predominance, so scent-sensitive folks are well catered for...

As for the results, my face feels amazing. I almost always use scrubs in the shower, but I've tried this over the basin, and unlike other brands in my kit, it's super easy to completely rinse off the fine granules. Incidentally, afterwards, I paused in my skincare routine as I was distracted by something else, and by the time I got back to the remaining steps, I was delighted to observe that my skin felt fabulous as is! No tightness, no feeling as if the surface had been stripped - just deeply cleansed, super-soft and supple skin, and I massaged the rest of my products into an ultra-smooth and healthily glowing surface. Needless to say I'M HOOKED ♥♥♥  

All Urban Rituelle products are Australian made, cruelty-free, and if you don't wish to order from their website or visit their Caringbah store, there are over 1000 stockists around the country, plus with every purchase I have made over the years, I have received a free soap - a different one each time (how do they know?) ♥...

Thank you Urban Rituelle for this beautiful gift, and I'm both excited & delighted to have the opportunity to review all of these stunning products in the weeks ahead. I'm so in love with what you create, and I hope your dreams filter out into the world ♥...

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

December 2020 Empties & Giveaway!...

I've always felt blessed to have been born in this country, and especially given the state of the world right now, I'm grateful to live in what I believe is the safest place on planet earth, and wouldn't want to call anywhere else home - here's hoping your day is a special one ♥ As for my December Empties, it's two to one in favour of the regulars quantity-wise, but there's a few newbies that I'm delighted to report on, so without further ado ♥...

Body

Oral-B 3D White Diamond Strong Whitening & Enamel Strengthening Rinse  (473ml, RRP $9.99)

Given the comfort and success with both the White Glo and Colgate mouthwashes I've been using of late, I thought I'd try my luck again with one specifically targetting teeth whitening. But in hindsight, I was pushing my luck. While this Oral-B is an excellent product, my mouth is obviously overly sensitive and it stings way too much for me to use comfortably on a regular basis...

Repurchase?

No - for now I'll stick with the ones that are tried and true...

Schmidt's Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant (75g, RRP $13.99)

Back in May last year, I reported on this in my April 2020 Empties post that it was scratchy and too painful to use due to large hard lumps of baking soda. I still don't know if it was old stock or simply a dodgy batch, but I gave it another go and am relieved to find that in either ideal production or storage conditions, this is a winner. It's actually as smooth and creamy as the Lavender + Sage variety, and the citrus shot makes it even more desirable for the hot weather. It's actually my current fave, just wish I knew for sure what caused the issue with the formula of the first one I tried. I'm hoping it was old stock ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Yes, I have another one stashed away and it looks like it's going to be just fine ♥♥♥...

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash (200ml, RRP $19.95)

Another one from the range to add permanently to the collection in my shower rack. The predominant scent is orangey (it's actually mandarin & grapefruit lol) on a sandalwood base (yum!) and the formula is just as softening and moisturising as the other three I adore (Citrus, Pomegranate & Lavender, which is to be reviewed shortly). Honestly, my skin loves this set, and they look so colourful and pretty in my shower stall ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Ry has them on special at the moment for $13.97 each, and with the enticement of free shipping, I've just placed an order (not that I needed an enticement ha ha!) ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Colgate Plax Alcohol Free Gentle Mint Mouth Wash (500ml, RRP $6.49)
Natures Commonscents Natural Goats Milk & Paw Paw Body Wash (500ml, $8.00)
Reach Dentotape (100m, RRP $9.99)
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Hydrating Body Wash (384ml, RRP $19.99)
Swisspers Makeup Pads (Pack of 80, RRP $3.99)

Face

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel For Oily Sensitive Skin (200ml, RRP $25.95)

This 50ml sample came in a gift promotion, and I was pleasantly surprised with how gentle and effective it was despite it targetting an acne-prone audience. A lightly foaming gel that smells fresh and crisp (is it lemon?), it sure takes off my long-wear makeup without any effort. It's perhaps a bit of overkill on my mature skin which has a tendency to dryness in winter, but it did keep my oily-T under control when the humidity hit ♥♥...

Repurchase?

Probably not - there are so many cleansers out there that I love more, and are better suited to my older complexion ♥♥...

Nutrimetics Nutri-Rich Smoothing Lip Polish (15g, RRP $30)

This has been discontinued so I'm not going to spend too much time on it - bought it almost 2 years ago and only just now finished it. It was a great product and certainly softened and sloughed my lips whenever I used it (once per week), but somehow it was awkward to dispense and apply. So many times the product slipped off my finger before I could get it to my pout, so I wasted quite a bit. Perhaps they'll bring it back in a different format ♥...

Repurchase?

No - discontinued...

Olay Eyes Ultimate Eye Cream (15ml, RRP $48.99)

I've had this in my drawer for around six months, waiting till I'd finished a few of the others on my bench. Well, it was worth the wait - there's something about the formula and the soft apricot colour that instantly makes my under-eye area look and feel heaps better. Very hydrating, and while I don't have dark circles, I do have a tendency towards a faintly bluish tinge directly under my lash line, and this counteracts that in a flash ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

I'm torn between this and the Regenerist one, which is more effective on my fine lines, but I'm pretty sure I'll grab another jar next time it's on special - it's ideal for day time, and I'll use the other one at night ♥♥♥...

Olay Regenerist Retinol Night Moisturiser (50g, RRP $59.90)

Was excited to try this whole range as products containing retinol do seem to have a more obvious impact on my face than those without. This is a lovely cream with limited improvements showing on my skin, but I have to admit I've been interspersing it with other night creams I was sent to test, so I haven't given it a proper chance to do what it's supposed to. While I can well appreciate that its lack of scent is a huge bonus to those folks who have sensitivities, I find it boring despite the purple packaging. If I buy it again I'll have to add a few drops of essential oil to it, which hopefully won't irritate my skin. Might seem silly, but for $60, I need to love it a bit more ♥...

Repurchase?

Will give it another chance next time it's on special ♥...

Skin Physics Oxygen-C Vitamin C Brightening Serum  (30ml, RRP $19.95)

This was sent to me to trial and I well and truly loved it. For what I would classify as an inexpensive serum, it really made a difference to the appearance of my complexion. Prior to using it twice daily I had areas of pinkness around my nose and chin that always seemed to be there, but they have literally gone bye-byes, and that's pretty impressive after a short period of use. It spreads so easily, and even shrank my pores a little and made my freckles less obvious ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

This will be a standby for me - I have several serums in the drawer that I need to use up first, but after that, for sure ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (Pack of 25, RRP $7.99) 
Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Acne Wash (175ml, RRP $14.99)
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (112ml, RRP $10.89)
Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence (40ml, RRP $39.99)
Olay Regenerist Whip UV Cream SPF 30  (50g, RRP $48.99)
Skin Physics Dragon's Blood Facial Sculpting Gel (50ml, RRP $59.99)

Face Masks

Regulars

Skin Republic Retinol Hydrogel Under Eye Patch (3 pairs, RRP $9.99)


Fragrance
Regulars
Ecoya Cedarwood & Leather Mini Reed Diffuser (50ml, RRP $25.95)

Hair

Regulars

Salon Professional Supplies Creme Peroxide 40 vol (200ml, RRP $5.95)
Schwarzkopf OSIS+ Sparkler Shine Spray (300ml, RRP $27.95)
Wella Koleston Perfect Permanent Creme Colour - Special Mix Clear (60g, RRP $19.97)

Makeup

Australis Pressed Ready Set Go Finishing Powder (9g, RRP $16.95)

This is another product that I've been using faithfully for years, but somehow it's never made it to an Empties post because it lives in the makeup bag I take to work, plus I don't think I've ever hit pan - the hinge always breaks after about 6 months. Loose lids are one of my bugbears, so I toss it as soon as it snaps. Anyways it's what I use during the day if I need to counteract a little shine on my forehead, nose or chin, and despite the obvious packaging flaw, it's the best I've found ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Absolutely - recently stocked up when there was a special deal so I'm good for at least 18 months ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Australis HD Translucent Loose Setting Powder (RRP $16.95)

Maybelline Volume Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara (RRP $19.95)

Giveaway

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I though I'd make this month's giveaway a bit more like a pamper pack...

• Glasshouse Rio De Janeiro Passionfruit & Lime Mini Candle (60g)
• Koi Relaxing Bath Range - Lavender & Argan Oil Calming Bar Soap, Geranium & Petitgrain Soothing Body Wash & Soothing Bath Fizz
• Nivea Hyaluron Cellular Filler Bi-Phase Nourishing Oil Elixir
• Nutrimetics Blossom Bouquet Fragrance Diffuser
• Nutrimetics Safflower Fragranced Soap & Hand Creme
• Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under Eye Patches - 2 x 3 pairs
• Skin Republic Fast Fix Under Eye Masks - 2 x 2 pairs
• Skin Republic Retinol Hydrogel Under Eye Patches -2 x 3 pairs

All items were purchased by me and the approximate value is $150.  The giveaway is open to...

Australian Residents Only! 

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter (please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, you won't be included in the draw!) If you're unable to leave a comment for technical reasons, please email your answer to katshepsutt(at)gmail.com.
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

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This giveaway is now closed - check back later tonight to see who won!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Misfortune8 as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Misfortune8, please respond to the email I've sent you by

midnight 3rd February to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Misfortunate8 has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 5...

To be honest, I thought this series was pretty much done and dusted - well in my mind at least because in Parts 1-4, I discovered several aluminium-free deodorants that met my needs, and I was perfectly happy with their performance, presentation and fragrance. But just the other day I was excited to spot four in Coles I hadn't noticed before - Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Wild Lavender Deodorant, Only Good Natural Deodorant, Mitchum Natural Power Bamboo Powder Coconut & Brutal Truth Rustic & Woody Antiperspirant Roll-On (for men).  All of them were $10 or less and given their supermarket accessibility and price, plus two are the wind-up-stick kind (my personal favourite), I couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to put them under the kats microscope (and under my arms) to see how they compared to the more expensive and not-so-easily-available ones I'd settled on back in January last year...

Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant - Wild Lavender (64g, RRP $10)

I'd not heard of this brand before, but the label said "since 1970" so I figured they might have a clue as to how to go about creating an aluminium-free formula. It sure ticked my box being a wind-up gel kind, and the fragrance is really something special - fresh and crisp but not too sweet. You can see from the ingredients list below that it has barely any chemicals, so they're on the right track. But...it didn't work all that well for me. My earlier research was done last summer, which was a genuine Sydney summer - high humidity and very hot. Well, this deo stopped working for me once the temperature rose above 22 degrees Celsius - I reapplied several times, but still felt uncomfortable which means it's really not suitable for anything other than winter. A disappointing 4/10...

Mitchum Natural Power Bamboo Powder - Coconut (40g, RRP $7.50)

Mitchum is a highly respected deodorant manufacturer, specialising in clinical performance products, so I had high hopes for this one. It's vegan, dermatologically tested, cruelty-free, has no artificial preservatives, and the scent of the creamy wind-up stick is subtle and vaguely coconutty. Sadly it also didn't work all that well for me. Once the thermometer climbed up to 25, I was a sticky, stinky mess. Boo! I reapplied it a few times and managed to avoid the necessity for immediate showering.  Admittedly my benchmark is pretty fierce - I want my deo to last all day, and I'm sticking with that because I have found ones that do just that. But I will hang onto this one to see how it goes in the cooler weather.  Disappointing 4/10...

Only Good Natural Deodorant - Honeysuckle & Elderflower (50ml, RRP $10)

I wasn't able to smell the scent through my mask but I chose this one out of the three available because I thought it would be the most subtle (others are Rosehip/Marshmallow, Manuka Honey/Chamomile). Probably wasn't the best choice as it smells quite sour in the bottle, and that's not a good start for a deodorant. In its favour, you can see from the list of exclusions below that it's a pretty good attempt at being natural, but again, this one performed about the same as the other two above - as soon as the mercury rose, or I started any sort of activity outside my normal daily routine, it failed to keep me dry or odour-free. Because it doesn't smell very nice at all I didn't bother to reapply, 3/10...

Brutal Truth Rustic & Woody Antiperspirant Roll-On (75ml, RRP $10)

Another brand I'd not heard of, and only spotted this a few days ago in the men's section - I often look there as I'm frequently attracted to fella fragrances rather than the girlie ones, and this is a beauty. Rustic & woody describes it very well - it's earthy (Cedarwood, Cinnamon & Patchouli) but it's also fresh (orange, lavender & grapefruit). And joy of joys this one survived a 30-degree day without needing additional applications. Mind you I was a bit sticky, but definitely NOT stinky - woo hoo! Having said that it wasn't all that humid and I only jumped on the treadmill for half an hour, but this one worked well enough for me to consider it for a day at the office. That kind of confidence is my ultimate benchmark for a deo. Other bonuses are that it's free from alcohol, Aussie made and cruelty-free. I'm keen to try the other scent (Clean & Crisp) which is predominantly Mint & Sandalwood. Giving this an 8/10 ♥...

So that's how it turned out - one success out of four, but I'm so glad I tried all these, especially the last one which is an excellent find ♥...

Have you tried any of these deordorants?  What's your go-to aluminium-free protector?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Olay 5 in 1 Clean Vitamin C Scrubs

My commitment to a regular skincare routine didn't get off the ground until I was in my 50's, and while I wish I'd developed a passion for looking after my skin at a much earlier age, one thing I've always used regularly is a facial scrub. I started using them in my early 30's, but only once a week, and of course 30 years ago (gulp!) there wasn't the range there is today. These days I'm a scrubaholic, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't use one of a variety of scrubs in the shower every morning to encourage cell turnover, whisk away the dead bits, maintain a smooth complexion, and help keep my blackheads at bay. They range from what I would call "strong" (heavy-duty sloughing) all the way down to "gentle" (microfoliant) and I choose what I use each day depending on how my skin feels. Loving the Regenerist Anti-Aging Scrub as I do, I was excited to spot this new range of  Olay 5 in 1 Clean Vitamin C Scrubs at the supermarket, and even more excited when they were recently on special ♥...

All three are designed to brighten, deeply cleanse, gently exfoliate, remove excess oil and overall refresh the complexion, and I find they all work a treat for me. The ingredients are similar as is the exfoliation strength, but there are a few differences - it really just depends what particular flavour takes my fancy on the day...

Hydrating - Vitamin C + Caviar Lime

The Caviar Lime version smells particularly refreshing with its distinctively citrus tang - there's no lime actually listed in the ingredients, but there is grapefruit and bergamot extract. It's a smooth slightly tinted white cream/gel that's the perfect consistency for me - not too runny or too firm, and while the beads are quite fine, they sure do soften and smooth my face. Made of silica, they eventually dissolve as you massage them in. I've experienced zero irritation from this scrub - can't say I've noticed any hydration benefits, but it does a great job of prepping my skin for the remainder of my routine ♥...

Detoxifying - Vitamin C + Black Charcoal

This was the first one I bought - wasn't aware of the others in the range at the time, but being a charcoal nut, it was a done deal even if I had spotted the other two. Very similar consistency to the Caviar Lime one - the creamy liquid has a slightly greyish tinge, and I use this one when my skin feels a little more oily than usual, which is invariably when the weather is warmer. The fragrance is light and very pleasant, and I guess you could say it is reminiscent of charcoal. Also contains peppermint oil and menthol although my nose doesn't detect their presence ♥...

Pore Perfecting - Vitamin C + Dragon Fruit

As I often do, I've saved my fave for last. I have 15 other scrubs in my shower rack (see I told you I was a scrubaholic!), but this is the one I reach for most often. The exfoliating beads are finer than the other two in the set, and the fragrance is just so deliciously tropical, even though there are no fruit extracts listed in the ingredients, not even Dragon Fruit! Interestingly this is the only one of the three to contain SLS, but I've not had any adverse reaction - it's a fair way down in the list, so I imagine the quantity is minimal, but it might explain why this pinkish cream foams a little more than the others ♥...

Overall I'm loving these scrubs, and so does my face. The packaging is cheerful, the squeezy flip-top tubes make for easy dispensing with wet hands, and I'm always delighted when I can pick up skincare during my weekly grocery shop. While the RRP $18.99 price tag might seem a little hefty, like all Olay products, they seem to be on special regularly and I picked up two of these for $12.99, which is far more purse-friendly ♥...

Have you tried any of these scrubs yet - which is your favourite?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

REVIEW: Burberry BRIT Sheer EDT...

Happy New Year lovelies! I'm setting the blogging stage for the year ahead by posting on day-one of the new year (a first!) with a review of  Burberry BRIT Sheer EDT - a delightfully fresh and summery scent that was kindly gifted to me over the Christmas period. A crisp fruity floral that's light, cooling and airy, it's the perfect lifter-upper for a steamy hot day (remember those?) ♥...

This rectangular bottle is the palest shell pink with the classic Burberry pattern etched into the glass. The only labelling is around the base of the nozzle, which delivers a generous but controlled spray of this ever so pretty perfume. My only previous experience with a Burberry scent is their Rhythm variety, which I'm not so keen on for summer as it's quite strong on my skin, and way more suited for cooler temps. But this little pastel pink beauty is one I can spritz endlessly without feeling overwhelmed - in fact, I find it energising ♥...

It starts out with a burst of fruit (Yuzu, Mandarin, Lychee, Grape & Pineapple Leaf), closely followed by a cloud of Pink Peony, Nashi, Sweet Pea & Peach Blossom, but somehow it's never overly fruity or floral. In fact, to my nose, there's a (dare I say) sourness to it that kicks in after the initial spray, which I would describe as "green", although that adjective barely gets a mention in any of the descriptions I've read online. Anyways, it's the greenness that I love the most about this fragrance. A freshly mown lawn always makes me smile and I can't help but walk around taking deep breaths - while this doesn't actually smell like cut grass (lol), it reminds me of that unmistakeably crisp freshness that for me heralds the kick-off of the sunnier seasons ♥...

The base is White Musk and Amyris Wood, which mellows the sourness after the dry-down. Now if you're looking for something that's long-lasting or has surround-sound sillage, then you may be disappointed - there's only a wee bit of scent on my skin three hours later. But for me that's a bonus on a hot day - gives me another excuse to spritz more of this uplifting and deliciously feminine elixir ♥...

Burberry fragrances normally come with a reasonably hefty price tag, but this 50ml bottle is currently available for $29.99 from Chemist Warehouse, which is way less than half price. I'm seriously tempted to invest in the 100ml flacon, which at $39.99 is an even bigger bargain ♥...

Are you a Burberry fragrance fan? Which one do you love?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx