I picked this up at the end of March and fell in love with it on the first try. My hair has been less than put together the last while, and frankly, I feel frumpy. I got this and instantly have been able to style my hair better and make second or third day hair look like something other than bedhead.

I can give my hair a little flip on the ends, I can de-frizz the messy waves that developed overnight, and I can make air-dried hair look polished. 

I really enjoy how easy it is to use, and the fact that it was only $35 was a real selling point. I cannot believe I was looking at ones that were $200 when this one was available at such a good price point.

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

I picked some Embryolisse up last year as one of the products for my Vintage Vanity project (which I promise I will get back to), and left it untouched. At the end of March, my skin got very irritated and red. It was bad. As part of my repair routine, I started to use Embryolise. It felt great and smelled amazing. A month back, I got a mini tube in a Shoppers' charity bag, so that one lives in my purse now.

It is a very soothing cream, and I can see why it has been loved since the 1950s.

I got this a while back from Butterly to try out. L'occitane has never let me down, and this cream is no exception. It is rich and thick and essentially a 25% Shea Butter cream that is as thick as a Body Butter. It hydrates my skin when dry and cracked, it soothes when it is red and irritated, and it feels nice every time I use it. Best part is I need so little, and it now has a recyclable insert for clean swapping when it is used up. 

I like eco packaging ideas, but I know people won't actually rinse and sterilize their containers before refilling properly, and the swap-it-out method, I think, is a great idea. 

Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick 50+ SPF*

It wouldn't be spring without me using a lot of SPF.  While I have a big bin full of face ones I love to use, Shiseido's clear stick has won me over for on-the-go use.

I got this stick at the Shisheido warehouse sale last winter and again at the Lisa Cosmetics sale this spring. I keep it in my purse and use it for touchups daily. I really enjoy the formula, texture and the fact that it won't leak in my bag. It makes touching up my sunscreen so easy, and it feels nicer than any stick I have used before, and it is completely clear, so no mirror is required.

YSL Make Me Blush*-

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This one might not be a shock to anyone. I have not stopped talking about the YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balms or Loveshine Lip Oil Sticks all year long, particularly shade 44. Well, now that I have the blush, I am even more in love. Why can't all blushes blend this well and make me feel this great? Did I also mention I have shade 44 in the cream blush, and that it, too, is fantastic?

Ok, do I love the blush or do I just love shade 44 (Nude Lavalliere)? I think both. The blush looks fantastic on my skin, blends well and is just the right amount of pigment I want. If I want more, layer it with the cream blush. I also have the perfect match for my lips with the butter and oil, so it makes for a really easy wear. 

If you are looking for a new blush, I highly suggest you look at these, because they are really nice.         
So there you go, 5 things I really loved this past spring. Is there anything you've been loving?

Flexitol Foot Odour Powder Spray*

Flexitol Heel Magic

Flexitol Anti-Fungal Liquid & Medicated Anti-Fungal Cream*

Now, foot fungus isn't something I've had to deal with much (I'm fortunate), but my husband goes to the gym and plays hockey several times a week, as well as works on his feet. So he's pretty prone to athlete's foot. In the past, he's tried sprays, and he found them extremely messy and not super effective for spot treating areas. 

The liquid is perfect for treating a small area, under toenails, between toes and one toenail. The cream is great for all-over treatment and relief. 

The lotion contains Tolnaftate (1%), 15% urea, menthol, and aloe the soothing benefits of menthol and aloe. A combo that helps both kill fungus and keep feet soft.

The liquid contains 25% Undecylenic Acid (which is the maximum strength without a prescription), Urea, Aloe, Vitamin E, Tea Tree, and Eucalyptus Oils. It can kill fungus on the skin but also on the nail, so it can be applied on, under, and around the nail to help combat fungus growth. It's non-greasy, so it's really great for spot treating between the toes and on the nails. 

I plan on swimming in my condo's pool all summer long, so I am glad to have this on hand if things start to get a little itchy or look scaly.

2. Belif Aqua Bomb PHA Exfoliating Toner Pads 

3. Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick

I do not believe it is sold in Canada. I had to get it in the USA. The exact same stick is also sold under their Baby Care banner.

4. Hypochlorous Acid

I used this spray at my previous job whenever a pet had issues like scratching their ears, developing hot spots, or any other irritated skin problems. I even started using it on myself for scratches and bruises, and it worked wonders. When Tower 28 gained popularity for its product, I felt vindicated, knowing that others finally recognized its effectiveness.

5. Vitabath Original Spring Green Bath Gelee

Thinking of a number 5 was really hard. I spend a lot of time in the bath, so I went to have one and it came to me, Vitabath. I used up a small bottle in January and am now working on a bottle double the size. You need so little of it for a ton of bubbles and scent that will fill your whole floor. 

• Cheap, at 3 75 g bars for under $4.00 CAD
• Easy to find, can find it at dollar stores, grocery stores, and drug stores easily.
• Cleans well, and removes odour easily.
• Lathered well.

Ingredients: Aqua, Sorbitol, Sodium Palm Kernalate, Sodium Rosinate, Glycerin, Sodium Palmate, Sodium Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-4, Sodium Laurate, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Sulfate, Parfum, Gugenia Caryophyllus(Clove) Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Carum Carvi (Caraway) Fruit Oil, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Lauryl Alcohol, Tetrasodium EDTA, BHT, CI 17200, CL 47005

*This post features affiliate links. If you use it I may get a small commission. Thank you for your support.

I also was at a loss on how to even approach the project. I have tried to write one big post for each category, but there have been no reviews. Instead, for now, I am reviewing each item as I use them. Today that is Unscented Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar Original Formula aka Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar.

This soap has been around since 1954.  Manny Stoloroff, the founder of Neutrogena, went to Belgium and found a non-alkaline soap that was created by a chemist there. He bought the distribution rights and called it Neutrogena.  In the ‘50s, it became popular for those who did not want the harsher soaps of the day on their face, and people were willing to pay a huge price increase for it ($1 vs 10 ¢ for the competitors).

Today the key thing that continues to make it a special bar is that it is dermatologist-recommended.

Review Time:

Now I used this bar on my body for the most part, I only used it on my face a few times.

I have never really liked bar soap, it has always felt like a film is left all over my body when I am done using it. It doesn’t matter if I use a loofa, a poof or even a washcloth, I feel a film after rinsing. This soap never once did that for me. Every time I washed with it, it felt like I used a body wash. It rinsed clean away.

After every use, my skin felt great, never once dry or tight. That goes for my face too, which is surprising since I have very dry skin.

It is completely fragrance-free, which if you are going to use it on the face, is fantastic. It lathers easily with a loose lather. It did a great job of eliminating odour on my body, so I knew it was getting me clean.

Pros:

-              Oil-free

-              Ph of 8 (in the ideal bar soap range)

-              Dermatologist recommended

-              Fragrance-free

-              Easy rinsing

-              No residue

-              Safe for the face (actually recommended)

-              Inexpensive (a 3-pack costs $7.50 to $10.00 CAD)

Cons:

-              Each bar is wrapped in plastic, so it is not plastic-free.

Overall:

Overall I am shocked at how much I like this bar. Every time I use it my skin feels soft, clean and just overall nice. Which is how I want to feel. As someone who generally hates bar soap, I am surprised I did so well right out the gate with trying out this bar. If this was the only body wash or soap I had for the rest of my life, I would be ok with that.

Ingredients: 

Triethanolamine, TEA-Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Tallowate, Water (eau), Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Ricinoleate, Sodium Oleate, Cocamide MEA, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Stearate, BHT, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Trisodium HEDTA, Sodium Metabisulfite.