little white truths

I promised myself that I would do three empties posts in March because my empties box has been overflowing for months now and I really need to get through what's in there, so here we are.

While normally I expect to finish around twenty products per month (many of them not being full-sizes), for some reason I've been getting through a lot more than this since the beginning of 2017 - perhaps because some of the longer-standing products I've been using are starting to finish themselves off.

Anyhoo! Let's have a look.

Full review here. You may remember that this product made my 2016 favourites list in the bath & body category because it was one of the nicest things I discovered last year. That being the case, I was sure to make an order from Maslow & Co during its Christmas sales - in large part because I knew I'd be receiving a few of these as a GWP.

While I did still enjoy this second bar, I have to say that I didn't love it as much as my first one - not because my feelings have changed, but because this one was different from the first. It didn't smell much at all and it was also harder in texture, so I think these products need to be used within a certain timeframe after they're made - then I suspect they start to dry out so they don't smell and feel as luxurious. Hopefully I'm wrong and this was just a 'bad' one because I do still have two more to use, but that being said, I still liked this product so I'm not too concerned. Purchase? Already have.

Eir NYC Active Body Wash

This also came from Maslow & Co and I've seen a few youtubers say that they didn't like it at all, but I didn't mind it. I've reviewed it here.

While I wasn't a fan of the strong herbal scent (because I cook with herbs and don't like washing myself in them), what I did like was that it was quite an astringent product - and since I don't own any other 'heavy duty' body washes (I generally opt for nourishing ones since they work better for my dry skin), this was great for those extra dirty days that often happen in summer, when you need something really cleansing because nothing else feels like it'll do the job properly. Still, I didn't like it enough to rave about it and it also wasn't good for cleaning my makeup brushes because it left the hairs all harsh, stiff and scratchy, so I wouldn't use it for that again. Purchase? No.

Rituals Hammam Body Mud

Full review here. I posted on this recently and it even made my March 2017 favourites (see here) because it was one of those products that I really enjoyed while I had it, but I wouldn't necessarily go out and buy because it's not a staple.

It's a mud product that you can apply as a mask and leave for five minutes, then add water to massage it in before washing it off. Since it also contains scrubby matter, it's a great dual-purpose product and I can't remember the last time I used a mask for my body. It smelled refreshing and it left my skin feeling beautifully soft and smooth. Repurchase? Maybe.

Rituals Miracle Hand Scrub

This was another 'non-essential' product that I bought for myself as a treat, and I did really enjoy it while I had it but I don't need another tube clogging up the shelves in the shower. I've reviewed it here.

It was a creamy product that exfoliated my hands and feet, leaving them feeling nourished and soft - plus it smelled great to boot. Still, I don't need a dedicated hand scrub so I probably wouldn't buy it again - not because I didn't like it (I did), but because I have enough stuff as it is. Repurchase? No.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

Full review here. I received this travel-sized bottle as a GWP (along with the matching cleanser) and while I really like the cleanser, this toner is just ok and it's not one I would purchase separately - although I have used it before and it's fine, it's just not amazing.

While it does remove gunk reasonably well and have a toning effect, it doesn't do much else and I don't think the glycolic acid content is high enough to do anything for my skin. The good news though is that it's not super expensive, so you could certainly do a lot worse. Repurchase? No.

Natural Instinct Rejuvenating Rosehip Oil

This was sent to me for review and I was pleased to discover that I really liked it - an especially good thing since it's readily available at the chemist/supermarket and it's inexpensive as well. I've reviewed it here.

What I liked about it was that it was super hydrating on my dry skin but not so much that it felt heavy or pore-clogging - indeed, it was quite lightweight - so it might be a good oil for those who are too scared to put oil on their oily skin. Purchase? Yes.

Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acne Wash 2%

Full review here. I posted on this product recently (it was another GWP) and while I didn't mind it and was happy to try it, I don't think it's the most effective cleanser of its kind that I've used.

While it may have helped prevent new blemishes (hard to say), it definitely didn't help clear the post-partum ones I've been getting and instead I had to whip out other, more effective products for dealing with those. Also, this is comparable to Mario Badescu's Glycolic Acid Cleanser (reviewed here) and I feel that the Badescu product does more for me. Purchase? No.