Huge Empties | Makeup, Skincare, Health, Pet Care!

My last empties was in November (linked here), so I've accumulated quite a bit of empties since then. I had so much, that I had to exclude some from this post as it was just too much!

There is still quite a bit so I will keep the info as brief as possible. I will include links to products where possible. Prices won't be included as they are forever changing.

This fab product escaped from my skincare photo

SKINCARE

Equate Aloe Vera Continuous Spray:
I am not happy with the fact that this product contains parabens but until I find a better option, this is very effective and convenient to use with my NuFace. I use The Body Shop's Vitamin E Essence for my face and I use this when I treat my neck. It has a super fine mist and it's easy to apply. It's the only Aloe I've found that doesn't sting my eyes and skin.

Repurchase ✔

Garnier Micellar Water for Dry and Sensitive Skin:
I adore this micellar water and have backups galore! I not only use it to remove makeup, but I also use it often as my AM cleanse. It doesn't affect the PH of my skin like water does, it's gentle and hydrating, and it is enough for a morning cleanse since there isn't much dirt to remove.

Repurchase ✔

Reviva Labs Rosewater Facial Spray:
Love this rosewater toner. It's hydrating and soothing with aloe, herbs, minerals, and hyaluronic acid. I transferred it to my George's Always Active Aloe Spray bottle because I like the fine mist that the bottle has.

Repurchase ✔

Holistic Vanity Rosacea Care:
I love most of the products that I've tried from Pure + Simple Skincare (Holistic Vanity is a line of theirs). This product was just okay for me. I didn't notice anything from using it, although I don't have rosacea so it may work for those who suffer from it. I will stick with other products from Pure + Simple like their oils and serums that I love.

Repurchase ✖

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream:
I know a lot of people love this skin cream. I did not. I much prefer my Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer or the Cetaphil moisturizer shown in this post as they keep the moisture in my dehydrated skin much better than this cream does. It turned out to be an expensive hand cream for me.

Repurchase ✖

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel:
I received this sample from Sephora. I used it for 3 days and I found it drying and a bit irritating for my skin, it also caused my skin to breakout. It does have great reviews and it's something I could probably use occasionally but there are cheaper options that do the same thing, IMO.

Repurchase ✖

Cetaphil Hydrating Night Cream:
Apparently, this cream wanted a feature of his own as he snuck out of my skincare photo. I LOVE this night cream! I found it so hydrating for my dehydrated skin! I have a full review on it (linked here). Excellent cream if you have dehydrated or dry skin. It's lightweight and contains hyaluronic acid. A really great skin cream and beats out a lot of high-end products for me. My only gripe is that it's so expensive in Canada compared to the price in the USA!

Repurchase ✔

MAKEUP

Paula's Choice Lip and Body Treatment Balm:
This product is great as a moisturizing barrier on your lips, although you can use it anywhere. I love that Paula's Choice doesn't use fragrances in their products. The little tub lasts forever if you are just using it on your lips.

Repurchase ✔

Essence I ❤ Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara:
Another winning mascara from Essence. It gives me long and full lashes. I do prefer their Lash Princess but this would be my second choice for an affordable and fabulous mascara.

Repurchase ✔

Almay One Coat Mega Volume Mascara:
I love a lot of Almay products, this isn't one of them. I gave it 3 chances and it was absolutely horrible! The brush design made it impossible to apply and I have never had worse looking lashes. When I used this mascara, I looked like I had 3 eyelashes per eye! Somehow this has all 5-star reviews on Amazon! (Below is a photo of the wand).

Repurchase ✖

HEALTH

Garden of Life My Kind Organics Women's Once Daily Multi-Vitamin:
This is one of my favourite Multi-Vitamins. It's not overstimulating (I have sleep issues). The ingredients are fantastic and it's vegan. One of the few multi's where I actually feel a difference.

Repurchase ✔

Nature's Answer Rhodiola 100mg:
This is my favourite Rhodiola and I've been using it for years. It's a fabulous adaptogen and helps us deal with stress. I am currently trying out Adrenasmart, which contains the same dose of Rhodiola so it won't have to repurchase, atm.

Repurchase ✔

A. Vogel Avenaforce:
This is a tincture containing extract of oats. I used to find it a big help with my sleep issues so I decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me this time. If you have sleep issues, it's worth giving this supplement a try. It should work for someone with average sleep issues.

Repurchase ✖

Eidon Ionic Minerals Silica:
Silica is an essential mineral involved in collagen formation and calcium management. This is a fab product but it's pricey. I am going to switch to Biosil and see how that goes. I mean if Christie Brinkley uses Biosil... 😄

Repurchase ✖

BHI Calming Homoeopathic Tablets:
LOVE this homoeopathic composition. I don't feel a difference when I take it but it does help a bit with my sleep issues. I also take it when I wake up. There are no contraindications with homoeopathics which is one reason I love them so much.

Repurchase ✔

Webber Naturals Super Sleep:
This product contains a small amount of melatonin, L-theanine, and 5 HTP. It's a very effective product. The first time I tried it I slept for about 12 hours straight! Now, I can only take it on and off as it will make my sleep more restless if I take it too many nights in a row (I have a very sensitive constitution). I like that you can break the tablets into halves or quarters, whatever you like, it's super helpful when I just need a tiny dose. This is usually available at Costco, too.

Repurchase ✔

Homeocan Homeopathic Medicine Insomnia:
Love this one! This worked wonders and I need to repurchase it asap!

Repurchase ✔

MISC.

Madre Labs CocoCeps Organic Dark Cocoa Beverage:
I drink this most mornings with protein powder as a smoothie. It tastes great and has certified organic cordyceps and reishi mushroom powders. So many health benefits!

Repurchase ✔

Jason Healthy Mouth Mouthwash:
I've been using this for years. It contains so many wonderful and natural ingredients for healthy teeth and gums. It lasts forever as you can dilute it with water 1:1, so the bottle basically doubles in size.

Repurchase ✔

Now Foods Xyli White Toothpaste:
Another product that I've been using for years. I've had better dental checkups since using it. It's fluoride-free, SLS-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, and it tastes great! Note: it's also available in mint flavours if cinnamon isn't your jam.

Repurchase ✔

PET CARE

Dr. Mercola Astaxanthin for Cats & Dogs:
Astaxanthin has so many health benefits for us as well as our pets. Unfortunately, my cat won't touch the stuff, I think he has some sensitivity to it. Although he wouldn't touch this, I recently gave him Krill oil by a different brand and we think he had a bad reaction to it. Krill also contains astaxanthin so we will stay away from it. If your pet can take astaxanthin, it's worth giving it to them. If you read about the benefits, you will be amazed. A shame that my boy can't take this. My cat does love and benefits from Dr. Mercola's Ubiquinol/ Q10 for pets.

Repurchase ✖

Sunforce True Colloidal Silver 10PPM:
Colloidal Silver is excellent to keep on hand for your pet's health. It can be used topically as well as internally. Excellent for many types of infections. The brand we used to buy at the pet store is no longer available so I purchase the same PPM (parts per million) at the health food store.

Repurchase ✔

HyaFlex Hyaluronic Acid For Joints (Cat Formula):
I notice a difference with my cat's sensitivity in his back and leg area, it is definitely reduced while he takes this. It's a clear and tasteless liquid that I put in his wet food and he has no problem taking it. Unfortunately, it is expensive but it's worth it. For now, I give him half the dose to make it more affordable.

Repurchase ✔

I hope you enjoyed hearing about what I loved or not so much. 

Always check with your doctor or health care practitioner before beginning any new supplements for yourself or your pets. 

Have a great week!

Not sponsored. Some links are referral links. Thank you for the support should you choose to use them.

Monthly Empties | Health, Beauty, Makeup Declutter!

I didn't finish up too many products this month. I'll have to work on that! I mostly finished up some health products (including my cat's), and I have a few makeup products to declutter (although, I probably have more that I should have purged).

As always, links will be provided to products whenever possible.

Beauty

Kirkland Daily Facial Towelettes
I love these wipes! They're very effective, non-irritating and a great value! I buy these at Costco or from Amazon.

Repurchase- Yes

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water 
Love this product too! When I'm just too tired, I use it after a makeup wipe to remove any traces of makeup or dirt that's left on my skin. I also use it after a regular cleanse for the same reason.

Repurchase- Already have

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Reconstructing Butter
I think I got sucked into the packaging and the whole "butter" thing and the fact that this product claims " 90% of hair's strength reconstructed from root to tip." This was average for me but I have bleached and very frizzy hair. It would probably be effective for people with less damaged and frizzy hair.

Repurchase- Nope

Health

Madre Labs CocCeps Instant Organic Dark Cocoa Beverage
I drink this product daily in my morning smoothie. It doesn't contain any sugar and it tastes delicious. I sweeten with Now Stevia. This product has immune boosting cordyceps and reishi mushroom powders! NO- you cannot taste them!

Repurchase- Already have

Webber Naturals Super Sleep
This is another fab product. The first time I tried it, I slept for 12 hours solid. Unfortunately, I no longer get that effect from it, but it does help me fall asleep. I have to be careful and not take it all the time as my sleep will become more restless if I use it every night and like most products with melatonin, they can cause me to wake up prematurely. I am extremely sensitive to most things. I think for the average person with normal sleep issues, this product would be fantastic. If you're like me, and sensitive, it's best to rotate this with other products for sleep. Note: This product contains melatonin, 5-HTP, and L-Theanine.

Repurchase- Already have

Jarrow Max DHA Fish Oil
This is my favourite fish oil and I've been taking it for years. I have tried many other fish oils but I keep coming back to this one. It has many health and beauty benefits!

Repurchase- Already have

Bach Remedies Rescue Night Homeopathic Spray
Another great product to help with sleep and it's super gentle. It doesn't interact with medications etc. This isn't something that's going to knock you out (to my knowledge and experience) but it takes the edge off and can help you fall asleep and go back to sleep if you wake up prematurely. If you don't like the spray featured here, they also come in lozenges although you get more for your money with this spray.

Repurchase- Already have

HyaFlex Hyaluronic Acid Joints for Pets
I've found that this product is really effective for cats with joint issues or as prevention. After giving it to my cat for the first time, he went absolutely crazy running around the house like a kitten 2 hours after the first dose. So, I've continued to give it to him and I notice his back area is less sensitive to the touch. I love that I can just put it into his wet food and it's tasteless so he gobbles it up. Because it's pricey, I'm going to try another product for joints and see how it goes. I may rotate this and the other product that I'm trying out. I'll have to see how it goes. If you are not concerned with the cost, I can't recommend this product enough. Tip: I gave my cat 1/2 the dose to make it last longer but it's also important to note that he was not diagnosed with any joint issues. I gave it to him more as prevention as he is aging, and I saw him benefit. 

Repurchase- Absolutely

Badger Sleep Balm
This product is so old now that it's lost the scent. Of all the badger balms that I've tried, this is my favourite one. I find it very relaxing. It contains lavender, bergamot, rosemary, ginger, and balsam fir. I personally don't detect the scents of the last two essential oils listed.

Repurchase- Yes

Primal Defense HSO Probiotic Formula
I just finished up this product the day that I'm posting this which is why it didn't make it into the above photo. I've been using this product for 20 years now! It controls my IBS symptoms. You can read more about my IBS and how this has helped in this blog post. 

Repurchase- Already have

Declutter

Here's a little declutter/purge!

Essence Sun Club All in One Bronzing Highlighter *discontinued
I LOVE so many Essence products. And, I loved this product for the last few summers. I used it on lazy days as it would serve as blush, bronzer, and highlight all in one (as the name implies). I guess I never did an outdoor lighting check until the other day. In the outdoor lighting, I saw that this product accentuated the pores on my cheeks big time! From now on, I need to check my face in outdoor lighting before I decide to keep a product! 😁

Repurchase- I'm pretty sure that this product is no longer available.

Essence Lipstick in Nude Love *discontinued
This used to be a favourite of mine but I no longer reach for it. I've had it since May 2015 and it seems to accentuate the lines on my lips so it's time to say bye!

Repurchase- No

Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up
I've also had this lipstick since May 2015. It's such a gorgeous colour in the tube but shows up very dark on my lips. It's too dark of a shade for me and I never reach for it... so bye to this one too!

Repurchase- No

I should probably go through my lipsticks more thoroughly as I'm sure there is more to declutter due to age, plus, I tend to reach for the same few shades, although I do like to have some options. 😍

How long do you guys keep your lip products for before you decide that they need to be tossed? I'd really love to hear! 

So that's everything for this month. Hopefully, I can do a little more emptying of beauty products next month!

Happy Weekend! 

XO

*Always consult with your health professional before beginning any health supplements. I share my experiences in hopes to help others, but in no way is it to substitute advice from your health care provider or Doctor.

*Not sponsored. All opinions are mine.

Monthly Empties | Haircare, Skincare, Beauty, Health + Makeup Declutter!

I'm trying to keep up with my monthly empties post so I don't end up with an overwhelming amount of products in the post. Here's what I've finished up in July with mini reviews! Links to products provided where possible.

 Beauty

Goldwell Topchic Hair Colour in 10P (Pastel Pearl Blonde)
This is the product that my hair stylist uses to tone my highlights and also slightly lighten my base colour so the difference in my natural colour is not so harsh against my highlights. I also use this product at home 2 months after I get my highlights done to slightly lighten my roots between highlights. Full DIY on how I do this is linked here.

Repurchase- YES!

Miracle 10 Cleanser 1
I didn't find anything special about this cleanser. I much prefer my Live Clean cleansers to this one.

Repurchase- No

Soft & Dry Aluminum Free Deodorant
I purchased this only because I ran out of my aluminium free go-to deodorant by Coty/Adidas, and the store didn't have my Coty/Adidas one in stock. This was the only aluminium free one I could find, so I grabbed it. This lasted so long I couldn't believe it! It seemed like it was never going to end. Not really a bad thing, but since l prefer my Coty/Adidas deodorant I was dying to go back to it.

Repurchase- Only if in a pinch

Retin-A Micro Gel 0.04%
I need a prescription to get this here in Canada. With this formula, I have never experienced any irritation like I did with the formulas that I used in my 20's. I'm thinking of bumping up to a higher percentage to see if I can get more results.

Repurchase- Yep!

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream SPF 30
I love Olay! I used to use Olay exclusively when I was in my 20's and everyone always asked what skincare I used. I have very acne prone skin and Olay products never cause me to breakout or have any irritation. I just wish they were a cruelty-free brand!

Repurchase- Possibly, but I will choose cruelty-free brands over this

Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark -Circle Roller
I only purchased this because I ran out of my favourite eye cream and this was on sale at the drugstore for such a low price. I like this product, it's like an eye cream and highlight/concealer in one. It brightens my under eyes and provides light coverage. I used this daily and thought it would never end, it must have been going for 1.5-2 years, just crazy!

Repurchase- No (I bought 2 more because the sale was so cheap and I had no idea these would last so long!)

Health

Madre Labs Cococeps Instant Dark Cocoa Beverage
Many of you have probably seen this appear on my site before. It's my favourite cocoa powder to use in my protein shakes. It doesn't contain sweeteners, it's organic, and contains immune boosting cordyceps and reishi mushroom powders. This is the only way I can get the health benefits of mushrooms into my diet since I cannot eat them. No- you cannot taste the mushrooms!

Repurchase- Always

Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg
Another staple in my health care regimen. I've been taking this ever since I was diagnosed with heart issues. I recently had an ultrasound to check on my heart conditions and to my delight, one of my heart conditions has improved. My MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse) to be specific, has somehow repaired itself. The Doctors couldn't tell me what caused my heart to repair itself.  All I know is that I've been taking this CoQ10 and Fish oil capsules since I was diagnosed with my heart issues.

Repurchase- Always!

Declutter

If you follow me on my Instagram, you may have seen these already. I've been trying to get rid of products that don't work for me or just sit there and never get used for one reason or another. These have all been passed on to homes where I hope they will get the love that they deserve (minus the mascara since that wouldn't be sanitary!). 😊

Prestige Baked Mineral Blush in Natural
This didn't show up on my skin. To get it to show up, I had to pile it on. This made my pores and skin look horrible. I think this would work well on skin-tones that are lighter or darker than mine. It would work well as a highlight for darker skin-tones for sure!

Essence Mosaic Blush in All You Need Is Pink
Essence makes some of my favourite blushes of all times! Their old Silky Touch blushes and their more recent Satin Touch blushes are all 5-star products! The colour of this one was so gorgeous that I had to have it, but sadly it was so powdery and went on very patchy!

Revlon's new Mega Multiplier Mascara
This is a brand new mascara to the market. I've seen so many rave reviews for it but it just didn't work for me. I like big lashes and this gave me very wimpy lashes. If you like more natural looking lashes you may love this product.

Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette
This is a great palette. It has almost every colour you could ever want. I never thought that I'd get rid of it. But, the truth is that I've had it for years and I NEVER reach for it. I had to store this palette in the back of a drawer because it's so large. From now on I will stick to smaller palettes that I can keep within reach so they get used. I do recommend this palette if you don't mind the size and you'll use it!

Nyx Eyeshadow and Blush Palette (not sure of the name)
The quality of these shadows is really amazing! It has a pull-out tray with blush and lip colours as well. I never thought that I'd get rid of it. It was that one palette that I said I'd keep because it not only had neutrals but if I ever had the urge or the need, it also had bright colours. But, because it's quite bulky and also got stored away in the back of my drawer, it never got used. This has gone to another home to get the love that it deserves.

I am slowly learning the hard way what to buy and what not to buy, so my products get used up. I am much more particular about what I add to my collection now and it's working well for me so far.

I haven't missed one of these items since I passed them on either.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I used up this month. Let me know in the comments what you've been loving, not loving or decluttering this month. 💓

Instagram Challenge: Finish #7bySpring

In January I decided to join some other beauty junkies on Instagram who were participating in a challenge called #7BySpring. The objective was to finish up 7 beauty products by spring aka today!

Finishing beauty products can be quite the challenge. Products like mascara are easy since we replace them on the regular. I ended up adding a mascara to this challenge as I didn't have anything else that I could come close to finishing up.

These challenges can get tedious as we end up using the same products everyday, which kind of takes the fun out of playing with makeup. But, it's also rewarding to finish products up so we can move on to something new and say goodbye to the old.

For challenges like this, I recommend selecting products that are older and may expire if you don't use them up.

Here is a screenshot of my initial Instagram post, showcasing the items I chose for this challenge. 

And, here we are today on the first day of Spring and the last day of this challenge

I don't remember the last time I finished up a lipstick!

Products I finished:

-Marcelle Sheer Tint Fluid Moisturizer- I have used for years and would repurchase

-Elf Lash and Brow Clear Mascara- I use this all the time and will definitely repurchase

-Jordana Best Lash Extreme- Another product I've used for years and will repurchase

-Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush- I recommend this formula for aging lips as it's very hydrating and doesn't accentuate lines. It's a more sheer formula and I do like it, but I became a little sick of it after using it everyday. I started to mix it with a lipstick I have that is too brown for me and then I wound up with the perfect pinky-brown/ mauve shade! (I liked it so much I did a blog post on it HERE).

Products I did not finish:

-Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Face Powder- I was sooo close to finishing this! I would not repurchase this as I found I became oily quickly with this powder and it was a little heavy and accentuated pores. I would buy other powders by PF like their Youthful Wear powders.

-Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller- This thing just keeps on ticking! It's made it through 2 "empty" challenges and it's still going. I got this on sale for such a good price that I have backups! I just hope they don't expire!

-Essence Eye Shadow Base- This is just like the Garnier Roller above, it doesn't end. It has also survived 2 Instagram "empty" challenges and doesn't seem to be close to being empty. I would buy it again but I have another eye primer that I bought last summer that is still waiting on standby!

I guess 4 out of 7 isn't bad. 

I'm definitely looking forward to using my other products now that this challenge is over! And, I'm also looking forward to some new challenges!  

If you know of any fun challenges, please leave them in the comments or click on my Instagram link at the top of this page and leave me a comment there..

Thanks for stopping by!

Amy

xoxo

Product Empties #2: Makeup, Beauty, Skincare, Health with #reviews

My last empties post was back in April so I've collected quite a few more empties to post and review since then. Many products were close to being finished so I focused on using them up so I could move on to other products. Some are my holy grail products that I always repurchase and others were new to me. Many of my products that didn't make it to an empties post wound up in my Makeup Graveyard post.

Sometimes I feel like a beauty products hoarder, but the truth is that companies are coming out with new products with claims of the latest and greatest technologies at a pace that's impossible to keep up with. And, let's face it, if you love health and beauty products like I do, we're always looking for the latest and greatest in hopes of finding our new holy grail products!

Hair

- Giovanni 2chic Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Shampoo for Dry Damaged Hair-  I always look for sulfate free shampoos because I colour my hair. This one is sulfate free and still lathered really well. It has a soft, slightly perfume-y scent that I didn't mind. It worked well but I have my sights set on some other products from this line and also have many others to finish before I even consider repurchasing this one.

-Giovanni 2chic Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Conditioner for Dry Damaged Hair- I liked this conditioner, it did the job. I did seem to have less breakage and I like that it's more natural but it seemed fairly basic and I would like to be wowed by my next conditioner! Plus, I would like to try some newer products within this line. I have pretty difficult to deal with hair. 

- Garnier Fructis Style Curl Calm Down Anti-Frizz Cream- I have fine, frizzy and naturally curly hair. This cream did a fairly good job at taming the frizz but I have moved on to more natural oils for my hair that I feel are better for the health of my hair.

Cosmetics

-Elf Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara- This is a repurchase and I will continue to repurchase. I only use this to tame my brows and keep them in place and it does just that. I use both sides of the tube for my brows only. It's so inexpensive at $1.99!

-Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer in Passion Plum- I swear I wore this on my toes for about 10 years it seems! I can't believe I finally finished it. It was such a deep plum it looked black. I will find a new replacement. These colours are easy to dupe these days.

-Jordana Eye Primer- I didn't get to finish this before it dried up but I did use it for a year or two and hit pan. It was a great eye base for only $2! I would repurchase if I ever get through some others I am working on now.

-Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia- This was OK, the lasting time was just mediocre. I would not repurchase as I would prefer lip products that I don't have to stick my finger in.

-Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm in Light/Medium- This had decent coverage and I liked that it had SPF 30. It says it hydrates all day and I would not agree with this, I definitely needed a good moisturizer underneath and I have combo/oily skin.  I would not repurchase as I am constantly trying out new BB creams and have found others I like better (currently, Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB cream).

Face and Body

-Retin-A Micro (Tretinoin gel) 0.04%- Retin-A is a prescription here in Canada and luckily it's covered under our medical plan. I have been using this for well over a year (maybe 2) and it's a very gentle formula. I've never had any irritation with it but I'm not noticing any more improvements in my skin so I might need to go up in strength.

-Reviva Labs Elastin & Collagen Skin Toner- This is a total holy grail for me! I use other toners as well but this is the one I go to at night. It is the most gentle toner I've ever used! It's very soothing and doesn't cause breakouts or any irritation. It says for dry skin but I have combo/oily and I love it! I do decant it into a glass bottle with a pump from an old toner that I had. Definite repurchase.

-Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil, For Hair, Face and Body- I only used this product on my body so I can't say how well it works as a face or hair oil. I sprayed it on my body after a bath or shower when still damp, this way the product is absorbed better. Miracle Oil? Not so much. There was nothing miraculous about it! In fact, it left my legs dry and scaly and I've never had a problem with that before. I will not repurchase, however, I will re-purpose this bottle and fill it with my Organic Sesame oil that doesn't have any other ingredients and hydrates well.

Health

- Now Foods, Xyli White Cinnafresh Toothpaste- I've been using this toothpaste for years and my dental checkups have really improved for the better since then. I will definitely continue to repurchase this product. I am currently trying out their Neem/ Xyliwhite toothpaste from the same line. Note: it comes in mint flavours for those who don't like cinnamon.

-Jarrow Curcumin Phytosome with Meriva- I've been taking curcumin for quite some time. It's a wonderful antioxidant with an army of purported health benefits. I was mainly taking it as a preventative measure but after I ran out of it and decided not to repurchase, I suddenly gained 5 pounds in a month without changing anything else. I was trying to think of what I had done differently since gaining the weight and the only thing I could think of was that I had stopped the curcumin. I didn't think that would be the cause of the weight gain because I didn't recall reading about curcumin as an aid in maintaining or losing weight. So, I decided to google curcumin and weight and numerous articles came up about how it helps with maintaining blood sugar and weight (especially the excess weight around the abdomen area.) I quickly re-ordered my curcumin and I'm happily fitting into my jeans again! I wont be without this.

So that's it for my empties for a while I think. I'm currently working on my ridiculous amount of samples that I've collected while I was working on my full-size products. I intend to have some fun testing out all the samples and posting about them with some quick reviews.

Have you found any new holy grail products lately? I'd love any suggestions. Still on that hunt!

 Amy