Project Ten Pan Summer 2015 1st Update

          The first month of my Project Pan is close to an end. If you have not read the first post click here to get caught up. I will wait. 

         At times it was rather boring using only these products but once a week I substituted other items in to give myself a break and stop myself from getting frustrated and giving up. Let's start with the products I used up completely. 

Marc Anthony Repairing Macadamia Oil Shampoo

          I'm so glad I've used up one of the million bottles in my shower, I didn't have a hard time using this up and did like it while I had it. 

True Blue Spa Nourishing Yogurt Smoothie in Pineapple Papaya

          This smelled amazing but I was not in love with it. It was so thick and creamy that while it did moisturize well it didn't really exfoliate even though it had little bits in it. I have another scent that I will likely use in my next Project Pan but for now I'm glad to move on to something else. 

Julep Bare Faced Cleansing Oil

            This is a product that I really loved then lost interest in and now that I've used it all up I miss it. In fact I bought another cleansing oil because I find it is just the easiest, most gentle way to remove makeup before cleansing my face. I think next time I decide to get a Maven box I will check to see if this is one of the available add-ons.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More anti-aging Mattifying Lotion

          This was an alright lotion, it didn't do much for me in the Mattifying department but it helped slightly. I wouldn't but this but I would use it if I got it in another subscription box. There was not a lot left so I used it up,pretty quickly. The sample did last a fair amount of time for its size since a little goes a long way. 

Julep Blank Canvas Primer 

          I did not mind using this everyday and would recommend it to someone if they were a Maven and weren't on a strict budget as Julep products can be on the pricey side. However I feel like there are better primers out there for my oily skin so I will not repurchase. 

Bio Idoine Night Cream

          i also used up this little tub of night cream but lost the container. I t was alright but nothing amazing.

  

        There were also a couple products I just gave up on. 

Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer 

          When I first picked this I thought there was barely anything left but I was so wrong. I used it a couple times but then it started to smell a little off so I decided to toss it. I have had it for a while and would rather not put something on my lips that may have gone bad. 

Macbeth Collection body Cream in Peony Pomegranate Blush 

          I used this all of once. I hate it, it leaves a sticky residue and is just too runny. It was not expensive so I am just going to toss it unless someone I know wants it. 

          And here are the rest of the products and a few I substituted in.

Clean and Clear Blackhead Eraser Cleansing Mask

          I have not made a lot of progress on this but I have used it quite a few times. I am still confident I can finish this before my final update. 

Julep Rock Star Hand Cream 

          I could be doing better on this one, it's a lovely cream but it is just too heavily scented to use at work or around anyone who is sensitive to such things. I can use the rest of this up in a weekend if I focus on it. 

Phytorelax Laboratories Argan Oil Treatment

           I have very little of this left so I'm not concerned about using it up. I had really bad razor burn consistently for a couple weeks so I used this before shaving and it really helped both use it up and avoid razor burn. 

ECRU New York Protein BB Cream 

           This is just as a matter of putting it somewhere I see it before I do my hair, I'm sure I will use this up. 

NYX Love in Rio Eyeshadow Trio

         My only goal for this trio was to hit pan on the beige and pink shadows and I hit pan on all three. I will keep using it until the project is over but it have hit my goal. I will likely toss this when the project is done as it will be nearly done and I have so many other palettes with these colours. I do like these shadows for a soft everyday look but I want to go though all my single shadows and trios since I have so many.

Julep Lip Gloss in Glowing

           I have been using this like it is my only job and I really thought I had made more progress. Also pretty much immediately after I took this photo I lost the lip gloss. I have looked in every purse, coat and pair of pants I've worn and it's just gone. If I find it I will start using it again. I am not impressed because this was the one item I was determined to use up. 

Lord and Berry Kohl Liner in Black

          I was not fond of this eyeliner when I started, now I can't stand it. I am sharpening it more often than I would normally for any other pencil so I am sure I will finish it. Even if I do not I am tossing it. It goes on beautifully but just does not set and smudges all day. 

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation

          I am using this three times a week or so, I could have used it up by now if I was using it everyday but I am not worried about using it up. 

          I added three more items since I just gave up on two of the original ones. 

Marc Anthony Bye Bye Frizz Conditioner

          This is a decent conditioner, it's a little heavy for my hair but is great if I use a clarifying shampoo. 

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer 

           I don't really like this and I can not thing of one single reason why. I thought since I am so bad at moisturizing this would be ideal. Nope. I just don't use it, it's a fine lotion but it does not make me moisturize any more frequently. I have no idea how much is left and I am certain I won't be using it all up, even with attacking Beast with it. I just want to get some use out of it before I go on a decluttering spree and get rid of it. 

Épicé Therapeutic Moisturizer

           I get so many moisturizer samples so I want to try using them up. I do like trying new face products but I just don't use one up before I get another. This one is a nice light moisturizer, great for summer. 

Thanks for reading!

A.

My first Project Ten Pan post

Little Life Box - January 2015

     Little Life Box is a Canadian subscription box focused on healthy alternatives to products you use daily. I saw this for the first time in a video by Ashley Elizabeth and I decided to try it for two reasons: I wanted to try a Canadian subscription box and I wanted to get back into a healthier mindset. The box is $19.99, free shipping. I got an email notifying me that my box shipped on Monday and it was delivered Thursday! So that is super impressive. 

          The packaging is adorable and I guess each box comes with a little post card which is a nice touch. 

           When I pulled back the packaging it looks like a pretty full box. I just started pulling things out and I was very pleased with this box. Here we go: 

Shapes Crisps - Lightly Salted by Harvest Snaps  21g 

          Anyone who is reading this and actually knows me get ready to be shocked. These are delicious. They didn't last until I was finished unpacking the box. These we a crispy, salty snack that I didn't have to feel bad about eating! I would eat these instead of chips while watching a movie, so good. 

Organic and Natural Feminine Hygine Products by Natracare

          These look a little sketchy, I will throw them under my bathroom sink in case of emergency but I doubt I will be using them. 

         Botanical Energy Formula by Volta 65ml

         This was a product I was interested in trying. It tasted like berries, much better than most of these type of products. I drank it before a shift at work and I did feel like it gave me more energy without making me feel jittery but I don't think it lasted 8 hours. 

Cleansing Make-up Removal Wipe by Natracare 

          Another product from Natracare. I used this after work and it worked well, took off my waterproof mascara and my skin felt clean and refreshed after. I would certainly suggest this for someone with sensitive skin. 

Night Facial Creams by Idoine Bio 7g

         This is an interesting product, I love moisturizers and face creams. Only used this once so I can't speak to how effective it is for the long term but when I woke up the next morning my face felt well moisturized without feeling like it was greasy or the cream was sitting on it. It smelled very natural but the smell wasn't overwhelming. The description mentions that Idoine means "suits you perfectly" and that the product is made with natural, organic ingredients including oil from the Moringa tree. It is supposed to promote production of natural collagen, regulate facial pH, reduce the loss of vitamins, stimulate cell renewal, restore dry and irritated skin, improve elasticity, provide a natural facial glow, as well as stimulate anti-wrinkle and anti-aging functions. So wow to all of that. I will try to remember to put this on before bed, if nothing else it is simply a nice overnight moisturizer. 

Lip Balm in French Vanilla by Woods Body Goods. 

        When I first saw this I thought "ok cool a lip balm, decent" This may look like a cheap lip balm but it is really quite moisturizing and has a great smell/flavour. I didn't get to use it much when I first got it as Beast took it to work with him. Since I got it back I've been using it everyday. It just soaks right in while leaving a thin layer that moisturizes for hours. 

Hemp Hearts by Manitoba Harvest 15g

         I've bought these before so I will eat these for sure. They make a great topping for salads, yogurt, or just by themselves. Hemp hearts contain omegas, digestible proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's an easy way to add some things you may be missing from your diet. I am going to stash these in my desk at work and add them to rice or a salad. 

Pink Andean Cooking Salt by GoGo Quinoa 250g

          Ok. First: it's pink so I love it. This is a pretty big sample size and I'm looking forward to using this in my cooking. This salt is harvested at 3000 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains. It's delishous, the pink color comes from minerals found in the ancient sea salt deposits. Pretty neat. 

Organic Roasted Coconut Loose Tea by Naked Teas

          This is probably my favourite item out of the box, I've had three cups and I have enough left for at least one more of not two. It's just so yummy! A lot of flavoured teas taste a little bit off but this just tastes like coconut and almonds. I will be looking into ordering some more as soon as I can afford it. I 100% recommend this. 

Quinoa and Vegetable Soup by GoGo Quinoa 65g

          This turned out pretty good, I did add chicken which makes it slightly less vegetarian I suppose. I will look for this when I get groceries but use it as a base and add carrots, potatoes and chicken. It is a simple, quick soup that really tastes like homemade. 

Hazelnut Milk Chocolate by Camino 100g

       It's chocolate. What's not to love? It was yummy. 

          At the bottom there were various cards, coupons, information and a code for 25% off your first box if you subscribe. I am seriously considering subscribing for the year, I was really impressed with the variety of products, most of which I have used.  

Overall I am really impressed and it only helps that it is a Canadian subscription box that included many Canadian products. 

Thanks for reading!

A.