Monthly Empties | Health, Beauty, Hair, Makeup

This empties post is long overdue! My empties bin has been overflowing for months and I had to recycle some just so this post wasn't too long and/or redundant.

Here, I'll share what I used up or what I'm discarding for one reason or another with mini reviews, and whether I would repurchase them or not.

Links to products will be provided in the headings if I can find one.

Hair

It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Conditioner 10 oz/ $30

This is the large sized bottle and it took me forever to use it up. I quite liked it but I recently tried FoxyBae's Leave-in Hair Mask (featured here) and I am preferring it to the It's a 10, at the moment.

Repurchase- I would like to try the version with keratin

Biologe HydraSource Conditioning Balm 500ml/ $32

I've always loved Biolage. This conditioning balm is great for dry and dehydrated hair. It definitely helps leave my dry hair feeling softer.

Repurchase- Yes

Skincare

Garnier Micellar Water for Dry/Sensitive Skin 400ml/ $15

This is a fabulous Micellar water. I use it as my AM cleanse and in the evening as my toner. It removes makeup, dirt, and oil and is gentle and doesn't dry out my skin.

Repurchase - Yes

The Ordinary Buffet Peptide Serum 60ml/ $15

I had really high hopes for this serum and I suppose it was okay but it didn't wow me. I did not notice any anti aging benefits like I did with the Sympli Peptide Serum listed below, now that one wowed me!!

Repurchase- Probably not but I'm not against trying it again because of the reasonable price

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil 30ml/ $24

This is a great alternative to Prescription Retin A! I used it in place of my Retin A when I had run out and it made my skin look and feel great and it only takes a few drops. It's like a dry oil, and it is hydrating and non irritating. I found that I could use it in places where I can't apply my Retin A like the mouth and nose areas etc.

Repurchase- Yes, if I'm out of my prescription Retin A

Sympli Beautiful Firming Triple Peptide Serum 30ml/$17 USD

This peptide serum blew me away! I read the reviews on iHerb when I saw it in the sale section of the website and I couldn't believe the reviews on it, so I had to try it for myself. Within 2 uses, my skin was so smoothed out and appeared much tighter aka less sagging. Read my full review on it here. There are no incentives to leave a positive review on iHerb, so I should have known but they just made it sound too good to be true. Luckily, it IS that good! You can use discount code AGU725 to get a discount on iHerb. 

Repurchase- I NEVER want to be without it! I have purchased 4 more so far!

Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream - sample 

I enjoyed using this moisturizer as it is nice and soothing and hydrating. I don't notice any special anti aging benefits aside from moisturization, so I probably wouldn't purchase it because of its price tag. I find that I can get other moisturizers that perform just as well for less money. eg. Cetaphil Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid.

Repurchase- If at a great price

Whish Firming Sleeping Mask 60ml/ $54

Unfortunately, I was only able to use this on my neck as it made me breakout when I used it on my face. I did enjoy using it on my neck overtop of my serums and moisturizers to seal them in.

Repurchase- Possible for my neck only. Trying other neck creams for now

Makeup

Marc Jacobs Shameless Ýouthful Look Longwear Foundation 32ml/ $27

I loved this "foundation." I would consider it more of a BB cream or tinted moisturizer. It was very hydrating and had light-medium coverage that was very natural, just the way I like it. I found a cheap dupe though- Elf's BB Cream performs exactly the same for me at a fraction of the price! Read more about it here. 

Repurchase- If I find it at a great price again at Winner's or Marshall's!

It Cosmetics Lash Blow Out- sample

Loved this mascara! It gave me the big and long lashes that I love! It retails for about $24. I don't mind forking out that much money for a mascara for a special occasion, but for everyday use, I prefer to use something more affordable that gives me similar results like Essence Lash Princess Mascara for $5. 

L'oreal Collection Privee By JLo- Jennifer's Nude 370 / $10

Jennifer's Nude has been my favourite nude lipstick since it launched years ago! It's a pink/ nude and I think it would suit a lot of people. I still love it but don't wear lipstick very often since we are still wearing masks. Instead, I opt for tinted lip balms like Burt's Bees.

Milani Keep it Full Nourishing Lip Plumper in Soft Rose 3.7ml / $10

This was a gift from an online buddy and it became my favourite lip gloss. The colour is just what I like, a bit of a nude/ pink, my lips but better shade. It's super hydrating and really does make my lips look much fuller! There isn't any tingle or burn or anything, but it does work to make lips look more plump!

Health

VitaFusion Vitamin D3 1000IU 150 gummies $15

I'm not that picky about my Vitamin D3 supplements, I just happen to enjoy taking them in a gummy form as it makes them convenient to take, and they're yummy so it's easy to remember to take them. I also prefer the 1000IU so I can customize my dose and take more or less, depending on whether I'm getting a lot of sunshine or not. My blood levels of vitamin D are good, so I will continue to take it.

Repurchase- Yes

Garden of Life Vitamin Code 50 & Wiser Women Multi Vitamin

Vitamin Code is my current favourite multi vitamin. I am rotating between this version for Women 50+ and the one below geared towards Women in general. I love that these are whole food vitamins that our bodies recognize and I feel better when I take them. I feel like they regulate my body as I sleep better and feel better overall. Garden of Life has several versions including ones for men, over 40 etc. Have a look at the ingredients and see which one has what your looking for. You really cannot go wrong with this brand, IMO.  Note: I sometimes take half of the recommended dose, depending on how I'm feeling, just to make my dollar go further.

Repurchase- Absolutely!

Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women Multi Vitamin

My thoughts on this multi are the same as for the one above by the same brand, just a different version. 

Repurchase- Already have!

Webber Naturals Super Sleep Tablets

I literally cannot live without this product! I have severe and chronic insomnia and this works wonders for me considering how bad my insomnia is. I take half of the recommended dose as that works best for me and also makes the product last twice as long. I take one tablet nightly and once my sleep starts to become more restless, I then take a break from this supplement (or any melatonin containing supplement), after a short break, I can return to it and it works great. Sometimes I take one if I wake prematurely and it usually helps me go back to sleep. I've also found it at Costco.

Repurchase- Yes!

Provita Astragalus Tablets

Astragalus is an adaptogenic herb with amino acids, trace minerals, and polyphenols. It's a great tonic and immune booster. It works as an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory, and anti aging properties. I took it for adrenal fatigue and felt it worked well for that. I have also taken it in the past when my immune system plummeted after I was struck by a streetcar, and I found that it did indeed boost my immune system as I stopped getting sick all the time. Note: I took the Now Foods brand of Astragalus and will continue to take that brand. 

Repurchase- Yes, I would purchase Astragalus by Now Foods in the future

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I used up and maybe found some of the information helpful. Remember to always consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning any new supplements. 

See you next week!

Post contains affiliate links.

iHerb Haul | Best Multivitamin, Skincare, Health Over 50

I'm back with a second iHerb Haul this month! I don't usually have 2 hauls in 1 month but I had to go back for an item, so here we are. Last haul linked here.

If you're not familiar with iHerb, they are my favourite place to shop all things health and beauty. If you are looking for something, they probably have it, and probably for much cheaper than anywhere else. Even with the exchange rate here in Canada and shipping, it's still usually much cheaper. 

Let's peep my latest shopping trip..

Garden of Life's Vitamin Code For Women 50+ - 120 Veg caps/ $32

Vitamin Code is my favourite multivitamin of all times. I usually purchase a different version but decided to try this one geared towards Woman over 50 to see if I like it any better than my current favourite. Plus, I'm saving a TON of money by purchasing these from iHerb! The cost is more than double to purchase this product from retailers here in Canada.

Vitamin Code is a whole food vitamin and the quality is stellar. With these multivitamins, I actually notice a difference in how I feel, have less hair fall out, feel more balanced, and improved sleep. They have formulas for men and women as well as one-a-day formulas, over 40, over 50, and prenatal, so there is something for everyone.

• Raw Whole Food Supplement
• Live Probiotics & Enzymes
• 23 Organically Grown Fruits & Veggies
• No Binders or Fillers
• Kosher
• Non GMO Project Verified
• Gluten Free
• RAW
• Vegetarian

Boiron Staphysagria Homeopathic Remedy 30CH - 80 pellets/ $7

This homeopathic remedy has many uses. I'll be trying it for my ongoing sleep issues as I haven't tried this remedy yet and it matches my sleep issues quite well. Its main use is for the healing of surgical wounds. but like most homeopathic remedies, they can have many other uses. I'm crossing my fingers and toes for this to work!

Source Naturals Evening Primrose Oil - 120 softgels/ $13.99

I'm currently taking another brand of Evening Primrose Oil that I picked up at my local grocery store when it was on sale. When I looked at repurchasing it, the prices here were SO much higher than on iHerb. This one was such a great deal, that I had to pick it up!

Evening Primrose has so many health and beauty benefits, that it is a staple in my supplements routine. It's an excellent supplement for women, and is supposed to be great for women pre and post menopause. I only take 1 per day.

"GLA (gamma-Linolenic acid), and linolenic acid are essential, polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are used by most cells in the body to produce soothing prostaglandins (intracellular hormone-like messengers), which help maintain the balance of many functions in the body."

As with any supplement, check with your Doctor before taking.

Sympli Beautiful Firming Triple Peptide Serum - 30ml/ $17

This serum was on sale for only $11 and the reviews on it were SO good that I had to try it! Most of the reviews raved about this serums ability to firm skin. Firming the skin is a pretty tough feat and also the kind of thing I look for most in my skincare, so it was basically a no-brainer.

• Chamomile & Bergamot Age-Defying Serum
• Peptide Complex plus Hyaluronic Acid
• Beautifully Cruelty Free
• Free of Sulfates, Parabens & Silicone

"Sympli™  Beautiful­­ Firming Triple Peptide Serum utilizes multiple peptides to help stimulate the skin, encouraging it to look more plump and firm while relaxing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. This beautiful chamomile and bergamot infused serum delivers remarkable visual improvements."

Wisdom Natural, SweetLeaf Stevia Sweet Drops in English Toffee - 60ml/ $8.29

I normally purchase Now Foods English Toffee Stevia, but they were out of stock, so I took a chance on this brand. It has great reviews, so I don't think I have much to lose. I use English Toffee Stevia drops to make my iced coffees. It adds that extra flavour that makes my iced coffees rival luxury coffee houses. I also use it in baking, smoothies etc. It only takes a few drops so these little bottles last for years!

• No Sugars
• No Artificial Ingredients
• Flavored Stevia Sweetener
• Non GMO Project Verified

BHI Calming Homeopathic Tablets - 100 tablets/ $9.99

These homeopathic tablets are basically the reason for this whole order. It's something that I always have to have on hand. I take it for sleep and it's not magic but it often helps. It is very subtle but often just what I need to go back to sleep when I wake up prematurely. 

I've yet to find it here in Canada and if I do find it online somewhere other than iHerb, it's more than double the price. If you use a discount code, which I always do, it ends up being even less expensive. 

• Nervous Tension
• Irritability
• Sleeplessness

Uses: For the temporary relief of minor occasional simple nervous tension and irritability to help occasional sleeplessness

iHerb is really a place for one-stop-shopping. They have everything you could want from groceries, to health, and beauty products. It's a great place to shop and they have amazing customer service, too.

Use code AGU725 or this link to save money on your next order! Good for new and existing customers.

As with any supplement, please check with your healthcare practitioner before beginning any new supplements. 

This post contains affiliate links

Supplements + Other Tips I've implemented To Boost My Immune System During Coronavirus (COVID-19)

With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak spreading globally, I wanted to share what I'm doing to give my immune system a much-needed boost.

Besides the basics that we should all be doing to help protect ourselves from the Coronavirus like hand washing, keeping social distances from others, limiting travel to only when necessary, and disinfecting common or frequently touched areas, we can also incorporate other measures to help keep ourselves and our loved ones protected.

There are so many vitamins, herbs, and supplements that can help boost our immune systems and we certainly can't take them all. Starting with the basics, we need to have deep, restful, and reparative sleep which can be difficult during stressful times, so we also want to look at ways to support our sleep and stress level. We should also focus on a healthy diet filled with antioxidant-rich foods, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs.

MULTIVITAMIN

Many vitamins including B6, C, and E are all known to help boost the immune system and can be found in a healthy diet. Although I try to eat a healthy diet, it's not always possible, so I like to start with a good multivitamin to fill in any possible nutritional gaps. My current favourite multi is My Kind Multivitamin by Garden of Life. There is one for men and one for women and non-age-related ones. I actually feel a difference when I take this multi and it's chocked full of amazingly healthy and organic ingredients! I can even take them on an empty stomach as they are made with whole foods.

VITAMIN C

I've also been taking extra Vitamin C. I love this spray version and take a couple of sprays AM and PM. Vitamin C is water-soluble so we just pee out what our body doesn't use. I keep chewable ones on hand also. If you want to know how important Vitamin C is to our immune systems, you can check out this article on 20 Ways Vitamin C Strengthens the Immune System.

 As always, check with your doctor for professional advice before starting a new supplement.

QUERCETIN WITH BROMELAIN

The 3rd supplement that I've incorporated as a result of this outbreak is something that I had heard of but never taken before, Quercetin. It's actually what prompted me to write this article. I had known of this supplement as one that helps with allergies, but it also has anti-inflammatory actions as well as a whole host of other benefits that I wasn't aware of until recently. It has anti-viral properties and specifically supports the respiratory system which is where the Coronavirus attacks. This one that I'm taking has Bromelain which also has a number of health benefits. Bromelain can slow blood clotting so you may want to choose a Quercetin supplement without Bromelain if that is a concern to you.

From NCBI: 
In vitro and some animal models have shown that quercetin, a polyphenol derived from plants, has a wide range of biological actions including anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities... Read more HERE.

I don't know if it's helping but I feel better taking it, plus it has so many other benefits! You can read more online or check out webmd. 

VITAMIN D

I also take some extra Vitamin D for my immune system and actually take it all winter long. Vitamin D also plays an important role in immunity and has so many other health benefits that I will most likely always take extra Vitamin D (on top of what's in my multi). I had had my Vitamin D tested this winter and it's in the normal range thanks to my intake of this supplement.

Read more about the role Vitamin D plays on the immune system at Science Daily.

Some other herbs that I like for the immune system are echinacea, astragalus, and zinc or zinc lozenges. There are many others to choose from, these are just some of the ones I like to take as prevention to illness or when I feel rundown. Again, speak to your healthcare practitioner to decide what's right for you.

Other simple things I've been doing is eating more onions and garlic, making sure I drink a lot of fluids to stay hydrated, mostly water and herbal teas that are calming or green tea is a good choice thanks to its antioxidants. I already have trouble sleeping and it's significantly worse since the Coronavirus outbreak, so I try to not watch the News before bed and I practice deep breathing or listen to meditation apps or soothing sounds on my phone before bedtime. I also like to have calming herbal teas at night to help with my sleep, just not right before bed or I'll be waking up to use the restroom.

I hope you find some of these tips helpful! I'd love to hear your tips in the comments about what you are doing to stay healthy and happy during these difficult times so we can all learn something from each other.

Hoping you and your families stay safe and healthy! 

*Note: Always check with your doctor or health care provider before beginning any new supplements

Some links are referral links and we may receive a small commission if you use them. We only use links that we trust and use ourselves.

Top 9 Instagram Posts For 2018! #TopNine2018

At the end of every year, I post my top 9 Instagram posts on my Instagram page and figured I'd share them here, too.

I use the app topnine . You can also get your top 9 posts from their website without downloading the app. They will just email you your top nine once it's ready.

It looks like my giveaways are the majority of my popular posts (6 of 9). Some of my other top posts were @loreal @topbox @topboxcirlce @gardenoflife @robinmcgrawrevelation @farleycobeauty @farleyco @zoella and #jasonnaturals

Stay tuned for more giveaways coming up! Although most of my giveaways are hosted here on my site, some are on Instagram only. Follow me there so you don't miss any! Here's a link to my Instagram.

If I don't see you before the new year, I wish you all health and happiness for 2019! 🍾

Happy Friday, everyone! 💋

#loreal #topbox #topboxcircle #giveaways #instagram #gardenoflife #supplements #robinmcgrawrevelation #farleyco #farleycobeauty #zoella #jasonnaturals 

How I Overcame IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and Became Symptom free!

It seems like I was plagued with stomach problems my whole life. When I was 2 years old, I was hospitalized with Gastroenteritis and ever since then I had stomach issues. I was chronically constipated which I knew nothing about as a child, so it just became the norm for me to end up with stomach pain and eventually unpleasant and very painful trips to the bathroom. It would always come on by complete surprise, it didn't matter if I was at home, school or on a road trip with my family.

This went on until I became old enough to understand a bit about health matters and understand that it's not "normal" to not be "regular" and have stomach pain all the time. So, I became conscious of it and started taking fibre drinks to try and alleviate the problems. That was the first step for me, realizing what is normal in terms of being regular.  However, I still had stomach issues and over the years I saw many Doctor's and had many tests, Barium X-rays etc. Every Doctor I saw diagnosed me with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I had all the symptoms; alternating constipation and diarrhoea, stomach pains etc. and any stress seemed to aggravate my symptoms. All other causes of my issues had been ruled out with all the tests I had gone through. (This is the diagnosis often made when everything else is ruled out and they cannot find a cause for all of your symptoms.)

It wasn't until about 17 years ago when my stomach issues became chronic for a period of time and I finally came across a Doctor who tested me for H-Pylori (Helicobacter pylori) which is a type of bacteria and was discovered to be the cause of ulcers. According to WebMD "about two-thirds of the world's population has it in their bodies" but many are asymptomatic. I tested positive and by that time I had become very weak, lost a lot of weight and was having a hard time functioning or even eating.

I was referred to a friend of a friend who was somewhat of a health expert. The first thing he did was build up my system by introducing a special type of probiotic / Primal Defense (good bacteria) to my body and also started me on some whole food vitamins as well as Colostrum. He explained how we all have good and bad bacteria in our bodies and how the probiotics fill our system with the good bacteria. He also pointed out how antibiotics cannot tell the difference between good and bad bacteria so they just kill off everything and taking probiotics puts the good bacteria back into our bodies (there is too much info to go into regarding probiotics so I will leave a link all about them down below). I became stronger and felt better, but I wanted to make sure I got rid of the H-Pylori, so I treated it medically and continued with the vitamins and probiotics. This made it so I was strong enough to handle the medications for the eradication of the H-Pylori.  After the treatment, I decided to continue with the probiotics because they had made such a significant difference in how I felt overall; they made me very regular for the first time in my life, helped clear up my skin (I suffered from acne), cleared up all of my IBS symptoms, and I noticed a boost in my immunity!

I have been taking these probiotics ever since, about 17 years and counting now. And, I will never, can never, go without these. I am completely free of my IBS symptoms as long as I take them and I am regular for the first time in my life! It's become a natural part of my daily routine, kind of like reaching for your smartphone first thing in the morning when you wake up. (Note: unlike other probiotics, this one should not be refrigerated so you can keep it by your bedside table,)

All probiotics are not created equal. This is a different type of probiotic, I have posted links and a bit of info on this below. I admit to "cheating" on my Primal Defense and trying other probiotics, they didn't work for me and I quickly started to become constipated and develop IBS symptoms again. Obviously, I haven't been able to try all of the probiotics out there, but as they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Primal Defense is what works for me, it's like the Rolls Royce of probiotics to me.

-In brief, About Garden of Life's Primal Defense HSO Probiotic Formula from their website : "Primal Defense is the only probiotic formula that contains a unique whole food blend with Homeostatic^® Soil Organisms (HSOs)

-Info on Primal Defense from Iherb's Website: "Primal Defense is a natural blend of 12 species of probiotics and Homeostatic Soil Organisms (HSOs), utilizing the Poten-Zyme process and delivered within a whole food matrix. The HSO probiotic blend in Primal Defense helps support a normal gastrointestinal balance of good and potentially harmful bacteria to help maintain a balanced, healthy internal environment, and maximizes the benefits of a healthy diet by supporting normal absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the gut."

I am just sharing my story in hopes of helping someone else who is suffering. I am not a health professional and I always suggest asking your Doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you take medications or have any medical conditions.

Note: this product is available in many sizes and also comes in a powder form, I take the tablet form
And, all products have been purchased by me.

Where to buy- Garden of Life's Primal Defense (This is where I find the best deal and you can get                            5% off your first order with coupon code AGU725)


WebMD info on IBS: http://www.webmd.com/ibs/

WebMD info on H-Pylori- http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/h-pylori-helicobacter-pylori


I hope some of you find this helpful. If you have any questions or comments please post below. And, share with your friends!

Xo Amy