Empties Post Volume XV: October 2013 Edition

October was a very good month for finishing up a lot of full-sized products. Truthfully I'm not quite sure how I managed to finish up so many products this month. I was aware that I was getting close on many of the things featured here, but was caught off guard when I hit the last pump on the two My serums and the Dr. Brandt Glow Overnight Resurfacing Serum. Because those three are housed in air-free opaque pump containers I really never knew what was left in the bottles until they simply stopped dispensing product!

The HYD For Men Shave Cream (reviewed here) is a wonderful creamy and moisturizing shave cream that is just lovely to use. While it belonged to my husband, I did dip into it on more than one occasion because I liked it so much! 

The La Roche-Posay Solution Micellaire Physiologique (reviewed here) is a nice cleansing water, but I would prefer it to be completely fragrance free. I still prefer the Koh Gen Do Spa Cleansing Water-- I have yet to find anything that compares to this lovely product!

DermOrganic Daily Hydrating Conditioner with Argan Oil (reviewed here): This is a wonderfully moisturizing conditioner that works wonders on my naturally curly hair. I will definitely be purchasing a replacement bottle.

Michael O'Rourke Rock Your Hair Leave-In Conditioner Weightless Detangler (reviewed here): Don't let the whimsical packaging fool you- this is a highly effective Leave-In Conditioner. I will definitely be purchasing a replacement bottle!

Painted Earth Blueberry Cranberry Oxygen Scrub (reviewed here): This is a very very nice face scrub, and I liked it so much on my face that I tried it on my body (and what a treat that was!).

Dr. Hauschka SPF 30 Sunscreen Cream for Children and Sensitive Skin: This is a nice sunscreen, but it had become quite old (and no doubt had expired) so after one last spin I emptied the last little bit into the garbage and recycled the tube.

Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge Eau de Parfum sample: I am actually quite fond of this scent. It is far too sharp when I first apply it, but once it settles in it is quite lovely.

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel (reviewed here): This is a highly effective non-foaming cleanser that is gentle while being highly effective. It removes dead skin cells effortlessly and leaves skin so silky smooth. It is unquestionably one of my Holy Grail cleansers!

Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion (reviewed here): Another hit by Mario Badescu!! This is a gentle alcohol-free toner that has become my very favorite toner. On the rare occasions that I am too tired to wash my face- I saturate a cotton ball with this toner and it removes every trace of makeup (not made for eye makeup removal) and leaves my skin feeling wonderful!

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream (reviewed here): This is an excellent moisturizing eye cream that is light, quick absorbing, and highly effective! 

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 17: This is very moisturizing oil free moisturizer that is great for combination or oily skin types. 

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula (overview here): This two-step at home peel is amazing. I only have a few packets left, and find this system so effective that I plan to buy the biggest box that they make during Sephora's upcoming F&F or VIB sale!

The Organic Pharmacy Collagen Boost Mask (reviewed here): I think at this point that it has become fairly obvious that I am thoroughly obsessed with everything that I have tried from The Organic Pharmacy, and their Collagen Boost Mask is just as amazing as you might imagine! It tightens, lifts and brightens the skin- giving your face an instant radiance and glow. I love this mask, and often use it as a serum!

Radical Skincare Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads: Radical Skincare is utterly amazing (stay tuned- I will be reviewing many products from the line soon). Their Age-Defying Exfoliating pads are highly effective, and brilliantly conceived. One side of the round disk has a rougher texture (but not too rough) to encourage the exfoliation of dead skin cells, and the other side is smooth to whisk away those dead cells and even out the surface of the skin. This is an amazing product.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream: Nice, but I didn't find it particularly unique. 

Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer sample packet: I love this concealer and have a full-size tube. One of these days I will get around to reviewing it. It spreads easily and doesn't cake up or settle into fine lines. The texture is very nice and smooth.

Kiss My Face Cucumber Green Tea Deodorant: Gentle, lovely, effective, and not filled with potentially harmful chemicals. I have replaced this several times, and will continue to buy it!

TATCHA Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (reviewed here): Absolutely divine! This is an amazing cleansing oil. It is so effective at removing every trace of makeup, and it so thoroughly cleanses the skin  that you really don't need to double cleanse. I love TATCHA products!

My Dynamic Lifting Serum (reviewed here): This is a lovely gel-based lifting serum that absorbs quickly and has a definite lifting and firming effect on the skin. A lovely product from an amazing line!

My Skin Recovery Formula (reviewed here): This is an amazing lightweight skin-brightening serum that targets damaged skin to even out skin-tone, restore radiance, promote firmness, and diminishes the appearance of acne scarring, age or sunspots, and wrinkles. This is a wonderfully hardworking serum filled with all sorts of healthy ingredients! A+

Dr. Brandt Glow Overnight Resurfacing Serum with 2% Active Retinol (reviewed here): This is a very nice nighttime retinol based serum, and despite the high percentage of retinol it never caused my skin to peel. I really like this product, but the next retinol-based product that I plan to try is prescription Retin-A because I want to experience the difference between the over-the-counter and prescription versions.

What did you finish, toss, give away, or return in October? Anything that you will repurchase?

Copyright © 2013 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Empties Post Volume X: May 2013

I was rather pleased that I was able to get through a few full size products this month despite the fact that I was testing out new products. I did use up a few testers, and most surprisingly finished up every last drop of a full size foundation. I also used up a good pile of perfume samples- most of which were taken on my many out of town trips this month. I am generally quite pleased that I managed to finish as much as I did, but I will say that traveling makes it pretty easy to use up samples. They are such great space savers, and they generally provide enough product for a few days of use.

Shave with Benefits Shaving Foam in Pomegranate + Mango (reviewed here): Still a favorite! This is such an amazing product, and it leaves your skin so silky smooth and moisturized!

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water (reviewed here): I love this cleansing water, and it is by far my favorite. I will definitely be repurchasing it. It does a phenomenal job removing every trace of makeup and leaves your skin soft.

Rock Your Hair: Big Hair Rocks Shampoo and Big Hair Rocks Conditioner (reviewed here): These are fantastic products, and the bottles are so cute that I am keeping them as travel refills!

Mary Kay Mini Eye Makeup Remover: I somehow ended up with a small size sample of this makeup remover, and the first time that I tried it it made my eyes sting, but I have pretty sensitive eyes. I ended up using it to remove makeup from arm swatches, and it did a great job.

Reviva Labs Peel Light Skin Peel (reviewed here): This is one of my very favorite face peels- it is so gentle, effective, and fun to use. I will definitely get another one!

REN Multi-Tasking After Shave Balm: My husband used and loved this sample, but left enough in the bottle when he tossed it in the recycle bin that I was able to try a bit while cleaning out the tube. It is very nice stuff.

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (reviewed here): LOVE LOVE LOVE. I continue to use and love this highly effective mask. It dissolves dead skin with amazing efficacy, and leaves your skin clean, clear, and gorgeous!

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers SPF 30 (reviewed here): I love this stuff, and can't believe that I actually finished it. It imparts nice natural coverage with enough radiance to give skin a beautiful healthy glow. I have a huge stash of foundations, BB Creams, and Tinted Moisturizers that I need to use, but once I get through some of these products I will likely repurchase this.

Ole Henriksen Truth Crème Advanced Hydration: I can't really say how well this works because I didn't use it long enough to be able to evaluate it.

Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Stretch Eye Sheet: I have used a few of these and really like them, but I haven't really used them long enough to really review them. They do make my eyes look rested and moisturized, and that is always a good thing.

Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder: This is a truly amazing product. I have never had a cleaning/exfoliating product do such a great job cleaning and removing dead skin while leaving my skin baby-bottom soft. You simply add a touch of water to the powder to turn it into a paste and then use it as you would any cleanser. However, the results are anything but run-of-the-mill!

Malin+Goetz Jojoba Face Scrub: This is a very nice gentle and effective physical exfoliant. I really love Malin+Goetz- they make solid products that do exactly what they claim to do.

Kai Perfume Oil (reviewed here): I am still madly in love with Kai. Sadly, I think that I have used the last of my sample vials- these are just fantastic for traveling. I will need to replace my full size bottle of the Kai Perfume Oil pretty soon because I wear it so often!

Assorted Perfume Samples: Nothing stands out or warrants a purchase.

What did you use up, toss, or give away this month?

Michael O'Rourke Rock Your Hair Products Rock!! Review

Press Samples

According to Rock Your Hair,

South African born and Los Angeles based, celebrity stylist Michael O'Rourke is one of the only true remaining iconic hairdressers in the professional beauty industry. Michael has been inspiring hairdressers for years in salons, on platform and at his world famous INSTITUTE OF COURAGE.

Michael was recently awarded the NAHA (North American Hairdressing Awards) lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the professional beauty industry over the last 50 years. Michael is known best for his ROCKSTAR style, world famous cutting system, and his BIG heart. 

Having previously created and then sold Big Sexy Hair, Michael waited out his non-compete and is now back on the scene with the latest creation in professional styling products: ROCK YOUR HAIR. 

Michael’s vision behind Rock Your Hair is to do more than inspire women to wear Rockin’ BIG BOLD HAIR, he wants to give back. A portion of all Rock Your Hair sales go towards supporting shelters for abused and battered women and helping them to start their lives again.

Big Hair Rocks Shampoo ($17.00 for 10.5 oz.)

It all starts here...volumizing shampoo for fine, limp hair by Rock Your Hair! Rock Your Hair Shampoo gives volume and life to limp hair without drying it out. Sulfate and paraben free. Color-safe formula nourishes and protects chemically dependent hair. 

I have to say that I really love this shampoo a great deal. It is very moisturizing and gentle on my curly hair. It gives some added volume, and makes my hair look and feel wonderful. It has a sort of floral fruity scent that is quite pleasant, but it is neither distracting- nor does it linger throughout the day. I have nearly finished my travel size bottle, and will likely buy the full size bottle once I have used up a few of my other shampoos. This shampoo does not strip my hair no matter how many times a week that I use it, and it feels very moisturizing.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, *Arctium Majus Root Extract, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, *Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Cocamide MEA, Disodium EDTA , Silicone Quaternium-3, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Trideceth-7. Trideceth-12, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Red 33 (CI 17200), Fragrance (Parfum), *Benzyl Salicylate, *Hexyl Cinnamal, *Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Limonene, *Linalool *Fragrance Allergen*Equisetum Arvense Extract, Glycol Distearate, Guar, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hexapeptide-11, Hexylene Glycol, *Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Methoxy PEG/PPG-7/3 Aminopropyl Dimethicone Panthenol, PEG-150 Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract.

Big Hair Rocks Conditioner ($20.00 for 10.5 oz.)

Lets the moisture in without added weight with Big Hair Rocks Conditioner by Rock Your Hair. Sulfate and Paraben free.

Like the shampoo, this conditioner is gentle and moisturizing. My hair is left soft, manageable and supremely moisturized. It also has a fruity floral scent, but it does seem to fade- therefore it does not interfere with other fragrances that you might be wearing. 

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Betaine, Butyloctanol, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), C11-15 Pareth-7, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Guar, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hexapeptide-11, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-9, PEG-45M, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 60, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Silicone Quaternium-16, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trideceth-12, Undeceth-11, Undeceth-5, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone,, Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Fragrance (Parfum), *Benzyl Salicylate *Hexyl Cinnamal, *Butylphenyl Methylpropional, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Fragrance Allergen

Size Matters Big Volume Root Lift ($20.00 for 13 oz.)

Size Matters Big Volume Root Lift is aerosol spray mousse that creates big volume hair from the root up. Use directly on roots prior to blow drying damp hair for voluptuous volume! Humidity resistant.

This is a really nice aerosol spray mousse that creates a nice lift at the roots. It makes styling effortless, and the results lasted me all day long. While I have lots of body with my naturally curly hair- I often end up with a flat top when I don't work to add volume to the roots- this adds just enough lift to my hair without going overboard.  It has a fresh pleasant scent that isn't overpowering.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, VP/VA Copolymer Dimethyl Ether, PVP, Butane, Cocamidopropyl Betain, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Diazolidinyl Urea, PEG-12 Dimethicone, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Fragrance/Parfum, Linalool, Limonene, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Benzoate, Panthenol, Benzophenone-4, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.

Spray It Hard Big Volume Hairspray ($22.00 for 10 oz.)

Spray It Hard Big Volume Hairspray by Rock Your Hair is a fast drying "volume" essential finishing spray. Spray it Hard Big Volume Hairspray fun rocking everyday spray. Firm, flexible hold. Instant shine. Long lasting memory.

I don't usually use hairspray, and I when I think of hairspray most often stiff unmoving unnatural locks come to mind. However, while this spray offers firm hold my hair remained flexible. It tamed my frizzies, offered a lovely shine, and made my hair look as good in the evening as it did in the morning.

Ingredients: Alcohol Denat. Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/ Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Fragrance/ Parfum Linalool, Limonene, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Triethyl Citrate, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/ Tetracaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.

Miracle Leave-In Conditioner Weightless Detangler ($20.00 for 7.5 oz.)

Miracle Leave In Detangling Spray that replenishes moisture and shine to dry, brittle and chemically dependent hair. Weightless Tangle Tamer, a detangling spray that restores moisture and softness to your hair. Soy, wheat and oat proteins penetrate into the cuticle to reinforce hair from the shaft to create flexibility and stop brittleness. Heat styled hair will particularly benefit from this amazing formula.

I love this leave-in conditioner! I am a big fan of leave-in spray conditioners because they offer added moisture to dry hair. I tend to use such products as a finishing spray because they allow me to scrunch and lift my curls. This is also wonderful for detangling hair making it easy to brush or comb out, and it does an amazing job reducing the chances of getting frizzy hair. It really is a weightless spray, and it isn't sticky- and it does not flake once it dries. I will definitely be buying a bottle once I finish this up!

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Amodimethicone, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B-5), Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Rice Amino Acids, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Yuzu Ginger B, CE-120348, Harris Fragrances .3%), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butylparaben,Ethylparaben, Propylparaben.

Bombshell Big Hair Powder ($17.00 for 0.9 oz.)

Bombshell Big Hair Powder by Rock Your Hair is a back comb in a bottle! Volumizer. Simply apply this product  on dry hair at the roots do give hair volume and lift. You can also lightly dust it all over for added texture and shine. 

Wow, what an amazingly effective product. It really really works!! You just lightly dust the powder on your dry hair at the roots and it offers lift and fullness. It is very concentrated- so apply it sparingly. It is the perfect antidote to limp flat hair that needs volume and body. As noted above, you can lightly dust the powder all over for added texture and shine- and the results are amazing. 

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Silica Silylate, Euterpe Oleracea Pulp Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Hydrated Silica, PEG-8, Propylene Glycol, Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Fragrance (Parfum), *Citronellol, *Butylphenyl Methyl Propional (Lilial), *Linalool, *Alpha Methyl Ionone (Gamma Methyl Ionone).

Overall assessment: Rock Your Hair products are well worth trying! The packaging is whimsical and fun, but it's really what is inside the packages that will win your loyalty!

Available at Ulta and from Rock Your Hair (Unaffiliated links provided for your convenience).
Press Samples. All views expressed are categorically my own.