Monthly Empties | Makeup, Skincare, Beauty, and Health

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Hello, September!

This summer went by super fast! I'm excited about all the great things about the fall time, but not sure I'm ready to say bye to summer yet.. not that I have a choice. 😜

The end of a month means it's time for my August Empties where I'll share my thoughts on each product and if I'd repurchase them or not. Links to products can be found in the product headings wherever possible. 

Skincare

La Roche-Posay Micellar Water for Reactive Skin
I received this product for testing purposes and I really loved it. It was very gentle and soothing and did a great job at removing makeup, dirt, and debris. It lasted a very long time! The full review linked here.

Repurchase- Yes

NeoStrata Wrinkle Repair Moisturizing CC Cream SPF 30
I did a full review on this product (linked here). I love the ingredients but the coverage was just too sheer for me.

Repurchase- No

Nip & Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Cleansing Pads
I received several products from the Nip + Fab line for review and their products changed my skin for the better so quickly (full review linked here). I want to try even more from this brand!

Repurchase- I would but want to try more from this brand

Miracle 10 Light Serum
I didn't notice any benefits while using this serum. It may have even been causing a few breakouts, so I used it on and off. I haven't had any luck with Miracle 10 products so far. As you can see, I didn't even finish it and I'm calling it a day with this serum.

Repurchase- No

Miracle 10 Night Cream
Again, I didn't notice any benefits from the Miracle 10 products that I've used so far and that includes this night cream. I did finish this night cream but I was surprised and disappointed that I didn't notice anything special from using it.

Repurchase- No



Health

Garden Of Life Primal Defense HSO Probiotic Formula
This is my holy grail probiotic. I have tried others but nothing compares for me. This product keeps all of my IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms under control. The full review linked here.

Repurchase- YES!

Country Life Olive Leaf Extract
This is my first time trying this product. I couldn't believe all of the reported health benefits of this herb, from heart health to fighting infections, the list is extensive. I have to say while taking this I did feel an overall feeling of wellness.

Repurchase- Yes

Modern Era Naturals Lipo-Capsulated Glutathione GSH
I received this product for trial purposes. I still have to do a full review on the products that I've tried. These products are really high quality and not like your typical supplements. They are formulated in a way that they are immediately absorbed into the body and they don't get broken down by stomach acids like typical supplements. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant and plays an important role in immune function and detoxification. This line is more expensive than your typical supplements but I can 100% say that it's worth it! Vegan, Non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Repurchase- Yes

Modern Era Naturals Lipo-Capsulated Vitamin B12
Again, I received this product for trial purposes. I found that I slept better and had more energy while taking this B12 supplement. This in combination with their Vitamin C helped me get over some severe and prolonged vertigo that I was going through. The liposomal technology used in these products makes them unique and much better absorbed by our bodies. Vegan, Non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Repurchase- Yes


Beauty

Live Clean Pink Fire Shampoo
This is one of my favorites to take care of my color-treated and bleached hair. It's gentle, moisturizing, and helps me maintain my color.

Repurchase- YES!

Plus White 5 Minute Teeth Whitening System
Sadly, I let this sit in the back of my cabinet too long and when I went to use it again, it had turned to pure liquid instead of a gel. I did use it a few times when I first purchased it but not enough to notice a difference. I will purchase this again and hopefully not forget about it and let it expire! Ps. It's very budget-friendly!

Repurchase- Yes

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
My favourite mascara of all time! The full review linked here. It gives me huge lashes, doesn't flake or smudge, and is easy to remove! And, who can beat the price tag at $4.99 CAD!?

Repurchase- Heck yeah!

What products are you loving lately?

Have a great Septemeber, everyone! 🍁🍂

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