April 2020 Empties & Giveaway!...

What a revealing month for Empties April was! With the rather sudden reduction in the volume of what I went through, it's pretty obvious that I use quite a lot of products for presenting myself to the outside world, and working from home combined with only venturing to the shops one day per week sure made a significant difference. I also decided to give my hair a break from any major colouring attempts and bought half a dozen newsboy caps instead lol. Still, there's a couple of interesting skincare items in this lot, so on with the reviews ♥...

Body

Black Chicken Remedies Axilla Deodorant Paste (15g, RRP $7.95)

Rated this #3 in my Top 6 Aluminium-free Deodorants (review HERE), and the only reason it won 3rd prize is because I have to use my fingers to apply it. Other than that little fussy-folly of mine, this stuff is legendary ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

If they made it in a stick form, you betcha ♥♥♥...

KOi Relaxing Body Wash - Jasmine & Sandalwood (500ml, RRP $8)

Beautifully fragranced, natural ingredients, great price, SLS & cruelty-free - a truly lovely body wash available from supermarkets, but just not quite enough hydrating power to meet my new baseline requirements ♥♥...

Repurchase?

Maybe next Summer ♥♥...

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

Schmidt's deodorants are my current #1 in the aluminium-free range, and I'm crazy about the Charcoal & Magnesium, Cedarwood & Juniper & Lavender & Sage varieties, but not this one. It works brilliantly and has a lovely zesty fragrance, but the little lumps in it (I think it's baking soda) are way too hard and scratchy - so much so I found this quite painful to apply. I bought it on special at Priceline so it may have been old stock and dried out, but I won't get it again just in case that's the way it is - it's just too harsh for my pits...

Repurchase?

No...

Regulars

Reach Dentotape (20m, RRP $2.99)

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub (170g, RRP $10)

Thankyou Botanical Lemon Myrtle & Goat's Milk Body Wash - (500ml, $7.99)

White Glo Charcoal Total Mouth Detox Whitening Mouthwash (500ml, RRP $6.99)

Face

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (50ml, RRP $205)

One of the ritzy-ditzy products in the 2019 lookfantastic Advent Calendar, and one I was super excited to try, especially given the rave reviews and hefty price tag. Well now, I'm a little puzzled as I really didn't find it fabulous at all. Mind you I only used it at night. On the plus side, it's a lovely textured cream, very light, and the tiniest amount spreads so easily and absorbs well, but I didn't find it the least bit special - there were no obvious improvements in my fine lines, moisture levels or elasticity. The fragrance was disappointingly bleah - like an old-fashioned el-cheapo cold-cream, but not even as pleasant as that. Marketed as "a revolutionary anti-aging product", sorry folks it didn't work for me...

Repurchase?

No way...

Indeed Labs Snoxin Facial Line & Wrinkle Fighting Serum (30ml, RRP ?)

This has been in my stockpile drawer for longer than I can remember (like maybe 2 years), and I probably shouldn't review it at all as it's no longer for sale (there is a new version Snoxin II). But the seal was intact so I decided not to toss it. Actually, a lovely and amazingly slippery serum which left my skin feeling so silky smooth, but there were no obvious improvements. The box said "4 x better than $500+ serums" - maybe mine was old and had lost its potency, but I can't discount how fabulous it made my skin feel, and would definitely try the new version ♥♥...

Repurchase?

Snoxin II, yes ♥♥...

Liar Wrinkle Cheater Eye Roller Serum (12ml, RRP $39.95)

This came in the July 2019 Bellabox, and because it has a metal roller ball, I put it away till the warmer weather as it felt so cold on my face. Silly me - it's SO good! The best roller-ball eye serum I've ever tried - I don't know how or why, but unlike every other eye cream with this kind of dispenser, the Liar ball never EVER drags on my delicate skin. On first application, there is an immediate tightening sensation, and my eyes look refreshed and feel perfectly hydrated. No improvement to my eye bags, but my crow's feet are less deep and the under-eye area especially has lost that crepey withered look - 100% natural ingredients too ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Ooh yes ♥♥♥...

L'Oreal Pure Clay Exfoliating Scrub (150ml, RRP $14.99)

Absolutely LOVE the smell of this scrub and how it leaves my skin so soft and de-flaked without being harsh, although I wouldn't use it on my old skin more than once a week. It's messy (like the charcoal one) so best used in the shower, but it's a great product and a great price. No less than three clays plus red algae ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Yes ma'am ♥♥♥...

Nivea Q10 Power Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Day Cream for 60+ Skin (50ml, RRP $23.99)

Trialled this for beautyheaven throughout the summer, I gave it 5 stars - my review is 4th from the bottom of the page HERE. Needs a light hand with the quantity or else there's a high probability of T-zone shine, but overall I loved it. So often the creams made for us oldies are way too rich for my skin and I end up with clogged pores, but not with this darling. The fragrance is fresh and delightful, and the price is surprisingly low, just wish it was 30+ SPF ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Sure will ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make-up Remover (112ml, RRP $10.89) 

Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Youth Pre-Essence (40ml, RRP $39.99) 

Face Masks

Kmart Raspberry Leaf Botanical Eye Mask (2 pairs, RRP $3)

My latest passion in the eye patch arena. These are as cheaps as chips, supremely comfortable, and surprisingly effective - they're the jelly type, almost invisible on the skin, and they slide down if you're standing up, but I wear them to bed. And at $1.50 a pop, I can afford them every night! These ones are for firming, and they also come in Red Ginseng for brightening, and Evening Primrose for hydrating ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Silly question lol ♥♥♥...

Regulars

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

Fragrance

Sarah Jessica Parker  Lovely EDP (30ml, RRP $9.99)

One of my faves, and the 30ml bottle is the perfect handbag size as well as being totally affordable - lovingly reviewed HERE ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Already have ♥♥♥...

Paco Rabanne Lady Million EDP (30ml, RRP $81)

The cutest little sample size, I forget how this came into my hands, but I'm glad it did as I sampled it years ago (when I was a different person ha ha) and didn't think much of it. Have definitely changed my mind about it, but maybe not quite enough to spend $80. Woodsy white flowers with a touch of orange and a base of patchouli. Quite the seductress, but I have caught a drift of it on quite a few gals, and that always puts me off a bit. Still, I might relent ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Maybe ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Ecoya Apricot & Tonka Bean Reed Diffuser LE (200ml, RRP $37.46)

Hair

Kérastase Paris Densifique Densimorphose Treatment Mousse (150ml, RRP $48)

My stylist recommended this for my new spikey haircut, which needs some lift and has a tendency to reveal my scalp in places (and consequently my white roots if I've been slack), so I needed something to create a bit more fullness, and this is it. It doesn't make my hair all goopy and really fluffs it out without adding to the frizz. It's my first ever Kérastase product, and I'm already on my second can ♥♥♥...

Repurchase?

Affirmative ♥♥♥...

Regulars

Salon Professional Supplies Creme Peroxide 5 vol (200ml, RRP $5.95)

Salon Professional Supplies Pro-Colour - Violet Toner (100ml, RRP $14.95)

Schwarzkopf Live Colour Pastels - Cool Grey (RRP $5.49)

Makeup

Regulars

Australis HD Translucent Loose Setting Powder (RRP $16.95)

Eye of Horus Charcoal Obsidian Goddess Pencil (1.2g, RRP $30)

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

Giveaway

Ok, so this month we have up for grabs...

• Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely EDP 30ml
• Nourished Life Antibacterial Hand Sanitiser 125ml
• Shea Moisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Body Scrub
• Lacura Cherish Luxury Hand Cream with Peony Flower & Mandarin Oil Extract
• Peppermint Grove Patchouli & Bergamot Soy Candle 60g
• Colette Teardrop Diamante Stud Earring & Ring Set (Medium)

All items were purchased by me and the approximate value is $65.  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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This giveaway is now closed  - check back later tonight to find out who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Congratulations gorgeous! 

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

Wednesday 27th May to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Ange has claimed her prize ♥

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Aluminium-free Deodorants, Part 4...

Delighted to be back with you for Part 4 of my Aluminium-free Deodorant series. Having already covered those available from Supermarkets, the success rate has sky-rocketed, with four out of the six below scoring 9/10 or better, which means that performance-wise, they're up to the task of replacing my regular Dove deodorant that does contain aluminium. Except that it's no longer my regular deodorant - instead, I now have a selection of way more natural (and healthy) ones to choose from that I trust 100%, so read on ♥...

Dr.Organic Hemp Oil Deodorant with Vetiver & Patchouli Oil (50ml, Health food stores & some pharmacies, RRP $12.95)

Another one recommended by one of you lovelies ♥ I found this in my local health food store. There were a few different scents available, but the Hemp Oil one was the most appealing on the day, with an almost herbal freshness to it. LOVE that it's a roll-on, and because it was so highly recommended, I did the unthinkable and wore it to work without testing it beforehand. Gaaaaahhhhhh! Well, after cleaning my new workspace, setting up two computers, three monitors and organising my desk drawers, I was quite damp under the arms, and it was only 10am. So, armed with a backup deo in my makeup bag, I headed to the loo for a quick stink check, and there was...nothing. I did regular checks throughout the day because my pits stayed quite wet, but there continued to be no odour whatsoever. I mean. I couldn't even detect the scent of the deo. WTF? Prior to this, underarm wetness for me automatically meant underarm stench, so I've always sought a formula with anti-perspirant properties. I have to admit that I'm not all that comfortable with drippy pits, but I'm TOTALLY at ease with the deodorising effectiveness of this baby. The final test was to not shower before bed, and then see what developed overnight. I swear, even the next morning, my pits were pong-free. Holey guacemoley, the Doctor sure knows what he's doing...

The formula is vegan, the ingredients list goes on for days (mostly natural oils - I counted 13), and it's free from aluminium, parabens, SLS and mineral oils. Rating-wise I'm giving it a 9/10 - it probably deserves higher because it is 100% effective in preventing odour, but the underarm wetness will take me quite a bit of getting used to, so for now, the Fresca is still my fave ♥♥♥...

A'kin Geranium & Cedarwood Natural Deodorant (65ml,  Priceline/Chemist Warehouse etc., RRP $10.99)

With a label declaring "24hr Clinical Protection Absorbs Wetness", 100% vegan, not tested on animals, Australian made & owned, this was another one I had high hopes for. Absolutely adore the fragrance - it's definitely woody, but the geranium adds a sweetness and softness to it, making it a tad more girl-friendly. Worked well for six hours, and then the wheels fell off. I tried reapplying, but in the end, I had to go with something else or spend the next 12 hours alone in my room. Mind you it was a very hot and humid day, so I will keep this one aside for the cooler weather. 5/10 ♥...

Schmidt's Cedarwood + Juniper Natural Deodorant (92g, Priceline, RRP $13.99)

Was ecstatic to find this at Priceline a few weeks back, and way cheaper than Nourished Life ($19.95). Because of this research series, I now have quite a few deos in the stash, but I was curious to find out whether this would work as well as their Charcoal & Magnesium formula that I fell in love with in Part 1 - the answer is a resounding YES!. This one is super smooth and less messy, but it's also heaps more masculine in the scent department. Wood, wood and more wood. Like if you got down on your hands and knees and sniffed your deck ha ha. I don't have a deck but the fragrance reminds me of timber outdoor furniture that's just been painted with the stuff that protects it from the weather. Not unpleasant, but quite strong, and it's always there in the background all day. Definitely a great one for the fellas, and I'm also giving it a 9/10 because it works brilliantly and absorbs 90% of wetness - very comfortable ♥♥♥...

P.S. Thanks to Fawn for letting me know that this range is currently on special at Priceline (in-store only) for $9.79!

Noosa Basics Organic Deodorant - Sandalwood (60g, Nourished Life, RRP $16.95)

I chose this based on the user reviews at Nourished Life - they were a bit mixed but predominantly positive, which is what I've found for just about all these natural deodorants. Some folks swear by them and others say don't even bother, so I can't stress enough that it's a matter of finding what works for you. Having said that I'm pretty fussy with my personal hygiene - I don't do heavy-duty workouts at the gym, but I do get a glow-up just being me (lol!), so if something doesn't work on my bod, I wonder how far more active people cope. This one is a slightly grainy paste with a quite delicate sandalwood scent (there are more fragrances to choose from), but as with several others I've tested in this series, once I hit the 6-hour mark, I needed more support. I had planned on trying out their Charcoal activated flavour, but considering the results I've had from some of my earlier research, plus the next two stunners below, I'll give it a miss. Ok for Winter, 5.5/10 ♥... 

No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant (35g, RRP $8.95)

One word - awesome! Smooth creamy paste with a fabulous (predominantly lemongrass) fragrance, I was not expecting this to work as well as it did, but there you go - you just never know till you try. I like that it's in a tin instead of plastic, but that's also my one and only beef. All my life I've failed tin-opening, even the old shoe polish kind with the little metal lever on the side. If this had a screw cap, I'd be fine - I just don't seem to manage ones where I have to use a fingernail to prise the top off. That annoyance aside, this is another one that seems to last all day and all night. Mind you yesterday wasn't quite as hot as some others during this process, but it sure was sticky-as, so I'm confident my results are accurate. The ingredients are coconut oil, baking soda, corn starch, beeswax and a blend of the following oils for the scent - orange, vanilla, lemongrass, cedarwood, bergamot, lime, frankincense, ylang-ylang & geranium. No wonder it smells so good! The instructions say "apply a pea sized amount to each armpit" - I used a little more, but not much. 9/10 - would have been more but getting the lid off is a total pain ♥♥♥... 

Black Chicken Remedies Axilla Deodorant Paste (15g mini, RRP $7.95, 75g, RRP $18.50)

The Black Chicken Axilla paste is the only one that I'd actually heard about (rave reviews actually), which is why I left it to last. I knew that if I started with this gem, I probably wouldn't have explored all the other possibilities that are out there. For those of you who already use this product, yep it's a legend. If you've not heard of it before you're probably wondering why it has such a weird name. Well, it turns out that axilla is the anatomical name for the armpit, and the company founder (Chey Birch) began her journey back in 2000 (in Bondi) mixing natural ingredients in a small bowl that was decorated with a black chicken ♥ So this is Aussie owned and made, vegan, and comes in a plastic recyclable container with a screw-top lid (score!). The paste is smooth but has teeny little granules (possibly bi-carb soda, tapioca or kaolin clay?) that dissolve into the skin. The delicate fragrance comes from a blend of essential oils - lime, clove, lavender, cedarwood, cajeput (melaleuca), mandarin, peppermint and rose geranium. It's a lovely organic mix which to my nose smells mostly of peppermint and clove. You rub in a pea-sized amount until it's absorbed and then forget about BO & wetness for the next 24 hours - dinks!...

There are 675 customer reviews on their website, 632 of which give it 5 stars, and 39 awarded 4 stars. If you do the math, that leaves only 4 reviews which aren't so positive. But those stats pretty much sum up this product (they're not paying me to write this by the way). I'm giving it a 9.4, but only 'cos I have to use my fingers ♥♥♥...

Part 5?

Having found six relatively "natural" deodorants that work either brilliantly or well enough for me to trust them on a busy workday, I've decided to put this series on hold until next Summer - if I buy any more now, I'll never get through them, and with most being organic, I don't want them to go off or lose their effectiveness. But there are still a lot more to try - Body Shop, Lavera, Lush, Ethique, Woohoo!, LaVanila. It goes on and on and on, so I'll resume probably around October ♥...

So to summarise, here's my Top Six Aluminium-free Deodorants, in order of my preference based on how well they work for me and the convenience of the presentation. Cost is a factor of course, but when it comes to body odour, price is way low on my list of purchase criteria ♥♥♥...

1. Fresca Natural Deodorant - Wooden Spice with Sandalwood & Carrot Seed (Part 2)

2. Schmidt's Charcoal + Magnesium Mineral Enriched Natural Deodorant (Part 1)

3. Black Chicken Remedies Axilla Deodorant Paste (Part 4)
4. No Pong All Natural Anti Odourant  (Part 4)

5. Dr.Organic Hemp Oil Deodorant with Vetiver & Patchouli Oil (Part 4)

6. Earth Purities Natural Deodorant - Nero For Him (Part 3)

Hope this series has been helpful to you - it's sure sorted out my underarms!

Take care of you,
kats xxx