Empties - Vol. 4 {Skin + Hair Reviews}

It's only been a month since my last Empties post (check out the last one here), but I've been going through products like crazy over here.  I've really been trying to be more systematic about using my products so that I can get a better idea about what works and what doesn't.  Then, when I incorporate something new, I ease into using it and only introduce one new product at a time so that I can get a sense as to how my skin reacts to it.  When you're constantly changing products and routines it's nearly impossible to figure out what's best for your skin.  So, enough of my rambling, let's get into what I've been using lately.

1. Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum.  I actually finished this a while ago but I forgot to include it in my last post.  This is a really great and inexpensive hydrating serum.  It's nice when you need an extra boost of moisture but don't want to use anything too heavy.  Gilt is currently having a sale on Mario Badescu, and this is marked down 20%, so be sure to check it out here!

2. Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector.  Unfortunately, I often get scarring after having breakouts, so I purchased this spot treatment to lighten dark spots.  It works.  I used this twice a day and exfoliated my skin about three times a week and saw noticeable results by the time I finished this bottle.  I will definitely repurchase this and will look into other products in this range because I was very satisfied with the results.

3. Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes.  These did not work.  I had such high hopes for these because I thought it would be so convenient to have these on hand.  We all know that chipped nails can appear at the worst times, but sadly, this product was not the solution.  It took at least one pad for each hand, and that took furious rubbing and several minutes.  Definitely not worth the effort, though I will say they smelled nice.

4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream.  This is probably one of my all-time favorite moisturizers.  I use the version for extra-dry skin, but they also make one for normal skin, so you can probably find a formula that works for you.  It's very hydrating, but soaks into skin quickly.  Yes, this is a basic moisturizer, but sometimes it's nice to have a simple product in the mix, especially since I tend to go all out with toners and serums and scrubs.  I highly recommend this if you need an effective moisturizer, plus the price is great.

5. Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash.  I like this cleanser.  It cleans my face and does not leave any residue.  As with most very sudsy/foaming cleansers, it is a bit drying, so I didn't repurchase this after I finished it.  I'm currently using a cleanser from First Aid Beauty that's a bit less drying, but this Kate Somerville cleanser gets the job done.

6. Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner.  I love this product.  It's very light, but moisturizing, plus it smells really nice.  One of the best things about this leave-in is that it works whether you're wearing your hair curly or straight.  This means when you spray it on your straightened hair, it will not cause any frizz or reversion!  I highly recommend this product!

7. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum.  This is another moisturizing serum that I finished a while ago.  I wasn't particularly impressed with this one.  It added moisturizer but the Mario Badescu one mentioned above was more effective.  If I were a regular customer of The Body Shop, I might re-purchase it again since they always have deals and specials going, but since I'm not, I doubt I'd by this again.

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