LANEIGE: Lip Sleeping Mask, Water Sleeping Mask and SoltreeBundle Natural Hemp Paper Trio #Laneige #SoltreeBundle

 

Laneige, may be new to some of us in the U.S., however the brand has been providing skin care products in Asia since 1994.  In 2007, being a well recognized and respected brand, Laneige later expanded their line into beauty and cosmetic lines.  Still dominating the “Beauty of Asia” market.  In 2013, Laneige expanded further and began distributing skin care products in the U.S. market, and especially their moisturizing “water masks”.  You can find many of their products now at major retailers and I have even received Laneige products in beauty boxes, which is how I became familiar with the brand.

 

I am a fan!  Let’s start there and if a Laneige anything is even part of a well price beauty box, I grab it.  The water mask lines have never caused me any irritation and nothing plumps my skin like their masks.  No clogged pores and just positive benefits.  When I saw the bundle at Amazon being offered to bloggers, I jumped on it because who doesn’t like to share reviews of products they already use and have become favorites.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: This one was a new one for me because I had not tried this one yet.  The Lip Sleeping Mask is really a game changer from the lip balms, overnight concoctions, to sticks and glosses that state they will change your lips’s skin but seem to fail time and time again.  Resurfacing the skin on our lips is part one but many products provide ingredients that do this but the problem is their “all-in-one” solutions.  The formulas aggressively exfoliate to the point the dryness becomes excessive and/or repetitive.  Yes, many OTC products are combined with moisturizers but when you have ingredients that are suppose to accelerate skin cell rejuvenation, you sort of leave your lips confused.  What Laneige did was create a product specialized for the lips.  A mask!  Just like eye creams address the sensitive skin around our eyes that differs from that around our face, this Lip Sleeping Mask is formulated to deeply nourish and re-hydrate your skin….but on your lips.  Treating your lips overnight is something I love because who doesn’t want to solve problems while sleeping and wake up with better looking anything?  I sure do and I see it as multi-tasking.  The product even comes with an applicator brush, which is soft and the Laneige mask has no odd odor or taste.  It’s just one swipe to both your top and bottom lip, then set the alarm to wake-up the next morning with soft and supple lips.  Love it!

Ingredients (as listed on the website): Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Synthetic Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Methicone, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water, Potassium Alginate, Glycerin, Propanediol, Alcohol, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Sapindus Mukurossi Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Chiloensis (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beta-Glucan, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Fragrance+/-CI 15850, CI 15850:1, CI 45410:1, CI 45380:2, CI 45380, CI 45410, CI 17200, CI 12085, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 47005, CI 42090, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77499, CI 77491, Mica

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask: This is one I have used before.  My skin and especially when seasons are a little harsher like Winter and Summer tend to be, just loves it.  I don’t dry out and my skin quickly absorbs it.  I have used this mask even in the day when it has been extra hot or even windy, no problems with my foundation peeling up because my skin literally drinks it up.  Many products and serums dry fast, making us think they have been absorbed when really it’s just the alcohols in them evaporating away.  You then get that glossy/oily affect hours later and can’t understand why the oil production has been amp-ed up.  You kick your pores into over drive but because the residue remains, then any moisturizers/oils the product had to even parabens start rearing their ugly face and make a disaster of your skin.  With Laneige, I experience zero of that.  I was afraid a mask would equate to a heavy feeling, sort of like when you add an oil mask to your hair.  The word mask is more of play in words where it addresses your skin overnight and you wake up with a replenished surface.  Yes, it works that well.  I have even been able to use the mask over acne treated spots and no more peeling from the spot treatments.  My acne medication still works overnight but I don’t wake up with lizard like skin the following day.

Ingredients (as listed on the website): Water, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Beta-Glucan, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Alginate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearyl Behenate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, HYDROXYPROPYL BISPALMITAMIDE MEA, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Alcohol, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, CI 42090

This trio package also includes a SoltreeBundle 50 count pack of Hemp blotting papers.  It’s a nice little add-on because I had not used blotting papers derived from hemp before.  The less chemicals I can use the better because my last set of blotting papers had peppermint, which made the product smell nice and especially around the holidays.  What was not nice was finding out that peppermint oil irritated my skin and I was out shopping and running errands!  These hemp based papers are simple, safe and work.  No irritations or oils to fear.

Retail Price Point: On Amazon, the bundle above is $39.98 for the trio.  If you factor in that one of the items usually retails for $24 and the other for $25, you already are saving a fair amount. With the blotting papers added, it just makes the deal even sweeter!

Connect with Laneige at:

• Amazon Bundle

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from SoltreeBundle. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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American Golden Oak Barrel, Co.’s 2L Oak Aging Barrel

From time to time, you buy those little things that are just too cute to pass up, even if you don’t have a place for them yet, or it serves no practical purpose. This American Golden Oak Wood Barrel fits squarely into this category.

I’m a sucker for things like this, but I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that if you’re thinking of actually using it for spirits or beer, I would strongly advise against this. Primarily because it’s full of wood shavings and splinters, and the workmanship is so poor that the water we put in it to rinse it out leaked like a sieve. There’s also some issues with QC overall, because the stand had an exposed nail point that if not for Hubby’s rhino-skin, would have punctured mere mortals and left them bleeding. Now, to be fair, the amazon page claims that after “initial soaking and curing” there is a “NO LEAKS GUARANTEE” and should it leak they’ll replace it, but since I don’t plan on using it for liquor storage I’m not going to bother. It’s strictly decorational here. And it’s just adorable. Whether on a wine rack, in the kitchen, or in the dining room, it is a wonderful conversation piece, especially since the spigot and bung are both functional. There’s also a 356 day warranty and satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re looking to make this a party favor or use it for liquor, the worst that can happen is a little booze will be lost and you’ll still have a cute little knick-knack.

Like I said, my American Golden Oak Barrel (2L) did leak, and the craftsmanship was a little spotty, but since I don’t plan on using it for liquor, I was satisfied, but if your plan is to use it for it’s intended purpose, I’d be cautious and make sure you get one made a little better than mine, because I’d definitely be sending mine back if i were using it for more than decor.

Connect with  American Oak Barrel, Co.:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Amazon
• Buy your own Oak Barrel here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from American Golden Oak Barrels. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Valentia Beauty: Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum #Review #ValentiaBeauty

I have reviewed for Valentia before and this year, the company has extended their beauty line by adding new products, which cover a multitude of skin problems. Valentia uses a mix of both natural and organic ingredients to create their serums/creams, and most are multi-taskers, so you reap a lot of benefits from using just one of their products. I have said it before, the less time I can spend on my beauty regimen and still have it be effective, is the more time I can spend doing other things like getting my Spring gardening done!

Valentia’s new product is called the Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum. The new serum replaces several of your products by covering such areas as:

• An anti-aging serum, which combats fine lines. Both a prevention and a treatment when it comes to aging skin issues.

• Even though the product is a light serum formula, the user still benefits from deep hydration and moisturizing properties.

• This deep hydration helps replenish loss of moisture, which helps aid with the “plumping effect”. Your skin achieves a tighter appearance by addressing tone and texture issues you may be experiencing, to elasticity.

• You also get benefits from antioxidants rich ingredients and a combination of extracts that aid with achieving a youthful and more brighter appearance. Think of a healthy glow and this serum will help with evening out any pigmentation problems that come from acne scars, sun damage, and so forth.

Ingredients (as listed on the bottle):
Citrus Aurantium (Orange Hydrosol), Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), HamamelisVirginiana (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), GlobulariaCordifolia Callus Culture Extract (plant stem cells), Sodium Lactate, UndariaPinnatifida Cell Culture Extract, Organic SimmondsiaChinensis (Jojoba Oil), d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Organic GlycyrrhizaGlabra (Licorice), Wildcrafted Arnica Montana (Arnica), Organic ArganiaSpinosa (Argan Oil), Proprietary Silk Protein Amino AcidBlend, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, Citrus ClementiaHortext Tan (Clementine Essential Oil), Camellia Oil, Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), Organic CentellaAsiatica (Gotu Kola), Wildcrafted Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), WildcraftedTaraxacumOfficinale (Dandelion), Wildcrafted Geranium Maculatum (Wild Geranium), Alcohol, Lecithin, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Retail Price Point: The serum costs $35.00 for a 1.18 ounce bottle. You can find the product on Valentia’s website and on Amazon.  If you are an Amazon Prime member, shipping is also free.

Verdict:

I tried the new Clear Lift Revitalizing serum from Valentia for 3 weeks. The serum is very light when applied and just a thin coat is needed upon application. The first thing I noticed, was the serum is quickly absorbed. I lightly rubbed after to see if any residue would peel up like with other serums, but no residue was detected. This means I can use the serum before applying my foundation primer and not expect little rolled up balls of serum after. My make-up also did not separate hours later after application, so that is a plus when you can add a new product that does not effect the ones you already use. My skin remained hydrated and plump, which was the first change I noticed. My fine lines did not increase but because the serum gives my skin a nice glow and smoothing effect, it made that area of my skin appear smoother. I never experienced any break-out or blemishes, such as clogged pores either. By week two, the healthy glow remained after washing my face and the smoothing effect was both felt and seen. I had softer skin. I have light colored freckles on the top of my cheeks, which did not lighten but I am only within 3 weeks of treatment. I have not noticed any color changes on the one acne scar I have but not even retinol works this quick either, at least with the OTC products. I usually see color changes with 4 to 5 weeks, unless the product is heavy on “cell turnover accelerators”, which can sometimes cause redness, so I prefer the slow and sure thing when it comes to this process, which Valentia’s new Clear Lift Revitalizing serum seems to provide. My biggest positive change has been being able to drop two products, like my Vitamin C serum and the Lactic Acic in the serum helps renew my skin quickly. Simple to use and affordable when you start adding up the products that equate what this one serum can provide. I save money and time by using this multi-tasker!

 

Connect with Valentia at:

• On-line
• Product link
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Instagram
• #ValentiaBeauty

 

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Valentia Beauty. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Smiley360: Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Cream, Eye cream, and Night Serum #Review

I have been a Philosophy brand fan for some time now. I have sensitive skin sometimes when it comes to fragrances but for some reason the scents used in their body products play nice with me. I had seen the New Multi-Rejuvenating line but had never tried it, so when Smiley360 offered, you bet I said yes!

So, you look at the line and see SPF and think this is just another sunscreen laced product with some moisturizers. Hey, I thought the same until the products arrived and again, let’s not judge a jar by it’s cover. The Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker is an entire new way to see sun defense. Philosophy, has been able to capture protection from UVA, UVB, Infrared and visible light. It’s like a ninja in a bottle that protects you from one of the number causes of aging, sun exposure! It’s better than wearing the actual ninja outfit outdoors because that may just draw more attention than we would desire. Philosophy, then went another step further by adding bi-retinol and active plant cells, plus you will notice ingredients like coffee arabica (caffeine) for skin tightening and pongamia pinnata seed extract, another anti-inflammatory agent. You will not only be addressing the issues caused by aging and with continuous use, you will see better results (i.e. improvment), but the tighteners start working the moment you apply them.  Think of the tighteners as a booster for the moment while the rest of your skin starts catching up and looking it’s best. Okay, so Philosophy has again changed the anti-aging game plan and I like this new plan of attack because you bet I am attacking my wrinkles with everything I got and it was time to change the way I battle!

My Philosophy arsenal kit included:

• Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating “Day” Cream with Broad Spectrum SPF 30
• Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Eye Cream with Broad Spectrum SPF 15
• Ultimate Miracle Worker Nighttime Multi-Rejuvenating Serum-in-Cream

• Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Cream Broad Spectrum of SPF 30 retails for $28.00 on-line for a 0.5 ounce jar. You can get a a 2.0 ounce jar for $75.00

Ingredients (as listed on the website): avobenzone (2.7%), octinoxate (6.99%), octocrylene (2%) Inactive ingredients- water, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oleosomes, glycerin, cyclopentasiloxane, butylene glycol, methyl gluceth-20, gluconolactone, polyacrylamide, hydrogenated lecithin, cyclohexasiloxane, cetyl alcohol, bifida ferment lysate, phenoxyethanol, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, c13-14 isoparaffin, polysorbate 80, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, sodium benzoate, sodium hydroxide, laureth-7, glycine soja (soybean) oil, fragrance, iris pallida root extract, ruby powder, disodium edta, gluconic acid, alcohol, mica, lecithin, adenosine, cellulose gum, retinol, peg-8, polysorbate 20, bht, chitosan, ethylhexylglycerin, glycolic acid, sorbitan oleate, calcium gluconate, tocopherol, behentrimonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, ascorbyl palmitate, beta-glucan, potassium phosphate, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, pongamia pinnata seed extract, isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid, angelica archangelica root extract, benzoic acid, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) peel extract, maltodextrin, citric acid, magnesium aluminum silicate, xanthan gum, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, sclerotium gum, bha, sorbic acid, titanium dioxide (ci 77891).

Verdict:

I am not adverse to using creams because I can control the barrier I want to create. This means lighter application for a thinner film and because this Day cream applies smoothly, application was a cinch. My skin absorbed the product and for an SPF 30 rating, the product feels lighter than my SPF 30 sunscreen alone. I used the product for 2 weeks but noticed a moisturizing difference by day 3. First, when I washed my face it remained moisturized and extra smooth. I exfoliate every 3 days and by day 3, when I need to again, my skin’s texture has changed a little. That glide I get when I apply foundations is not as smooth but with the Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Cream, my skin felt as soft as day 1 after exfoliation. That I really liked. I stopped any retinol use from my daily regimen and depended solely on Philosophy to keep it up. It did! Now, we have been getting 100 degrees weather in Southern California and that means it is really testing out every beauty product out there. With weather this hot, cosmetics stay on or melt……there is no in-between here. I can say because my primer contained SPF and I stopped using it, this Multi-tasker again played “foundation primer” almost like it was meant to be one. No creasing or sliding off and my make-up remained in place, plus my pores were only being suffocated by the weather, not the product. Okay, I get why you call this a Miracle Worker and for once the name fits how the product performs. My fine lines did not get deeper and because my skin remained smoother longer, it tended to give me a nice healthy even look to the surface of my skin, which means I look better and that thing I aiming for…..a little not my age!

• Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 retails for $70.00 on-line for a 0.5 ounce jar.

Ingredients (as listed on the website): avobenzone (2.7%), homosalate (2%), octinoxate (5%), octocrylene (2.16%) Inactive ingredients- water, glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, isononyl isononanoate, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, tribehenin peg-20 esters, cetyl alcohol, isostearyl isostearate, trisiloxane, glyceryl stearate, peg-100 stearate, cetyl stearate, stearic acid, bifida ferment lysate, potassium cetyl phosphate, phenoxyethanol, dimethicone crosspolymer, caffeine, chlorphenesin, propylene glycol, carbomer, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, glycine soja (soybean) oil, sodium hydroxide, squalane, hippophae rhamnoides oil, iris pallida root extract, ruby powder, disodium edta, alcohol, algae extract, mica, lecithin, ascorbyl glucoside, adenosine, cellulose gum, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, retinol, peg-8, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, calcium sodium phosphosilicate, bht, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, chitosan, ethylhexylglycerin, glycolic acid, sorbitan oleate, tocopherol, aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) seed extract, glucose, lactic acid, behentrimonium chloride, glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root extract, sodium benzoate, ascorbyl palmitate, potassium phosphate, potassium sorbate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, pongamia pinnata seed extract, isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid, angelica archangelica root extract, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) peel extract, maltodextrin, citric acid, magnesium aluminum silicate, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) rhizome/root extract, glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract, caprylyl glycol, sclerotium gum, bha, sorbic acid, titanium dioxide (ci 77891).

I looked at all my eye creams, so that means this beauty hoarder….I mean fan started checking all her eye creams and not one had SPF in it. How odd when the skin there is so delicate and I already add SPF to that area but you would think most would have had some. Nope! Things you notice when a company starts doing what others don’t.

Verdict:

I saw the price point and thought this better work. It started working and I fell in love with this eye cream, that I tried convincing myself it’s not that great. Yes, I tried lying to myself because it worked so well. I then added all the eye creams I have that have disappointed both my checking account and my face, and 3 bottles in…….I had already exceeded the retail price. I have to honest and I dislike the price point but this eye cream delivered in every way anything from a jar will ever be able to. I suffer from severe seasonal allergies and that means as long as mother nature has seasons, I shall sneeze, have watery eyes, puffy eyes, look sad when I am not and so forth. This eye cream changed that! I look healthy and alive. Like I sleep like I should and most importantly, happy. The first thing I noticed in the 2 weeks of trying this product was the firmness. My skin’s texture is now smooth under the eye and firm. Not a sag from allergies and zero puff. I also noticed I would get a little tint of yellow when the skin around my eyes was being kept constantly wet by my eyes watering, but this eye cream created a moisture barrier that kept my skin protected, plus improved it. I was aiming for just simple protection and being able achieve that and looking better. Well, I will have a pout when I check out to purchase the eye cream but I just can’t see skipping on it.

• Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Nighttime Serum-in-Cream retails for $80.00 for a 2.0 ounce jar.

Ingredients (as listed on the website): aqua/water/eau, sodium citrate, isononyl isononanoate, glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, alcohol denat., steareth-21, polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, polyglyceryl-2 diisostearate, cyclopentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, cetearyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, bifida ferment lysate, glyceryl stearate, peg-100 stearate, steareth-2, citric acid, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, iris pallida root extract, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, xanthan gum, glycine soja (soybean) oil, alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, lecithin, parfum/fragrance, adenosine, cellulose gum, retinol, peg-8, polysorbate 20, bht, chitosan, ethylhexylglycerin, glycolic acid, sorbitan oleate, tocopherol, behentrimonium chloride, limonene, ascorbyl palmitate, potassium phosphate, camellia sinensis leaf extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, pongamia pinnata seed extract, sodium benzoate, isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid, angelica archangelica root extract, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) peel extract, maltodextrin, magnesium aluminum silicate, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, caprylyl glycol, sclerotium gum, bha, sorbic acid.
The Pearls – aqua/water/eau, glycerin, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, propanediol, pentylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, alumina, iris pallida root extract, hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid, silica, xanthan gum, algin, synthetic fluorphlogopite, bht, sodium hydroxide, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, tocopherol, beta-sitosterol, squalene, titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxide (ci 77491).

First, it felt like I was making a magic potion when I opened this jar. You pour the pink colored pearls that contain the serum and incorporate it with the cream. Wait 5 minutes until it “bakes” (no oven needed), mix again and your beauty potion is complete. The pearls do not remain visible in the cream and dissolve to become one mighty anti-aging concoction.

Verdict:

I am always up for a concoction and this is why I still make my own face masks at home, so this was a welcoming site when I got to play mad scientist for 5 minutes. The jar is large and the serum-in-cream once mixed applies well. My skin felt breathable and I experienced zero problems when it came to clogged pores, blemishes or break-outs. Any small and light scars I have from a recent acne breakout are gone! Yes, that is how quick the turnover process worked for me. I first noticed lightening in week one and I attribute this to the combo work from the kit. The night cream remains on and moisturizes so well, that the next day I would wake up and a thin layer of skin on my marks would peel to reveal a less marked new layer. The darkness went away and I can only see shadows now of the break-out I got last month. My skin on my face is good at healing but it has never pressed on the gas pedal this hard to hurry up the process. I also have a nice glow after I wash my face in the morning to apply make-up. It remains on the days I don’t apply cosmetics, and corrected my T-zone from getting too oily. The pores around my nose are less visible and only depending on Philosophy to control my fine lines, well they came through and again turned back the clock a bit to make them look less visible.

Final Verdict- Very few kits work in conjunction like this one does. I depended on 3 products solely for 2 weeks and only changed because I am reviewing another brand but will be returning back to Philosophy when I am not testing other manufactures. I don’t say this much because let’s be frank, not everything works as promised. Philosophy exceeded my expectations and I was already positive about the brand! My must buys are the eye and night cream but you have better pick-up an SPF for the day time!

***Coupon Alert***
Use Promo Code: Welcome15 to receive a philosophy welcome gift (includes 1oz purity made simple facial cleanser, 1oz amazing grace shower gel, and 0.4oz hope in a jar moisturizer) with any $25 purchase

Connect with Philosophy and try their New Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating line at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Pinterest

• #UltimateMiracleWorker #Smiley360 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Philosophy and Smiley360.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Boots: No7 Beautiful Skin Normal/Oily Night Cream #Review #No7BeautifulSkin

When it comes to beauty creams, sometimes you want just a simple moisturizer and I tend to add one after using serums and lighter textured formulas. My skin is temperamental and can’t make up it’s mind, so some days my T-zone will be oily and other days normal. I tend to always purchase products that will satisfy both because I am not buying a cream just for my T-zone that may or may not be used ever day.

Ingredients (as listed on the website)-

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Xanthan Gum, Ethylparaben, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Magnesium PCA, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Dipropylene Glycol, Manganese PCA, Simethicone, Potassium Sorbate.

Retail Price Point- $14,24 for a 1.69 ounce jar via Target

Verdict:

I am a fan of Boots products and No 7 is part of that family brand. I received a sample of the No 7 Beautiful Skin care line, which offers night creams for all types of skin (i.e. oily, dry, normal, ect.) and is also hypoallergenic. This is a simple cream that is lightweight in texture but provides enough moisture for the (hopefully) 8 hours you will be sleeping. The moisturizer helps rebalance oil production while you rest, so you don’t wake up an oily mess and at the same time nourishes. Oily skin is not fought by depleting it because then your pores will kick in on over drive, and produce more of the stuff you don’t desire (oil!). Skin is funny that way. The Boots No 7 skin night cream I found to be the perfect simple moisturizer that does not have anti-aging properties but addresses my everyday needs like a too shiny chin!

Connect with Boots No7 and find the products that fit your Skin’s needs at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• #No7BeautifulSkin #Influenster #FiestaVoxBox

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Boots No 7 via Influenster. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

SqueakyCleanCo’s Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer

Some days, cleanliness is next to impossible. Some days, my hands are toast from constant washing and drying. And like some people nowadays, I’m hopelessly addicted to hand sanitizer. Like, I have a bottle in every bathroom, in my purse, in the car, in the bedroom, in the garage. When Squeaky Clean offered me a bottle of their antibacterial had sanitizer to try out, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

Good sanitizers, at their most basic levels, are pretty much the same: Copious amounts of ethyl alcohol in a glycerin suspension. There’s usually some other things to stabilize it, some fragrance, and maybe a moisturizer to keep our hands from becoming dry, cracked like an old catcher’s mitt. And because alcohol is ridiculously cheap, hand sanitizer is  affordable. I usually pick up Target’s Up & Up brand for about $5 for a 32 ounce bottle. It’s not too fancy, it’s got some weird green color to it, but it also does the job. So here’s where brands like Squeaky Clean start diverging from Purell, Up & Up, and almost every other brand I’ve tried: It’s expensive. A 16 ounce bottle is over $14 on Amazon.com. Yikes! Multiplied out, I’d be spending nearly $30 to get the same amount as what I normally pay $5 for at Target. That makes no sense.

In Squeaky Clean’s defense, their product smells divine, and the aloe and vitamin e left my hands smooth, soft and not at all dried out, plus there’s no added dyes to make it that funky green color as my usual brand. It has 62% ethyl alcohol instead of my usual 70%, so it’s more on par with Purell there too. The box it came in looked very chic and high-end, and the pump reaches to the bottom so you’re not shaking the bottle at end to use the last little bit of it. It’s delightful fragrance stays with you for some time, too. But I don’t know that those pluses are worth more than 3 times the price of leading brands. In fact, I’m sure they’re not. I like the product, it does what it says it’ll do and is what it says it is, but it’s far, far too expensive for me to recommend.

Connect with SqueakyCleanCo:

• Online
• On Amazon
• Buy your bottle here

I received the above product(s) free of charge from SqueakyCleanCo.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Poppy Austin: Green Tea & Vitamin C Bright Eye Moisturizer #Review

Poppy Austin, is a beauty company, which carries products derived from natural and organic sources. The sources may not be your everyday common lingo, like Barbary Fig seed oil, but that does not mean it’s not something that should be overlooked. The old ways are becoming the new ways, so look at it like you would your skin, new ways to find rejuvenation.

I was sent an eye cream from Poppy Austin to test-drive. The eye cream has green tea, vitamin C and 72% of the ingredients are organic. The base of the solution is mostly an herbal infusion and Aloe Vera, so the product feels light when applied. The skin quickly absorbs the product and the eye moisturizer targets these major issues:

• Puffiness
• Dark Circles
• Increases Elasticity
• Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• Protects against signs of Aging
• and also Moisturizes

 

 

Directions: Being that this is an eye cream, a little goes a long way and I use a dabbing technique to disperse the product and then gently applied it to create an even layer. I waited for the eye cream to fully absorb, which ranged between 1 to 2 minutes time lapse, before applying any make-up. I did not experience issues during application of cosmetics to the area or hours later, when some eye creams can cause a “bubbling up” film that tends to make your foundation look like you forgot to blend. This eye cream gave me none of that, so I continued use for 3 weeks.

 

Retail Price Point: $22.49 via Amazon for a 30 ml fluid ounce bottle, which has a top with a pump dispenser.

 

Ingredients (as listed on the bottle): Herbal Infusion, Jojoba Esters, Glycolic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Grapeseed oil, Green Tea, Licorice, Methylsulfonylmethane, Evening Primrose oil, Sodium Ascorbyl.Phosphate (Vitamin C), Wildcrafted Euphrasia Officinails, Tamanu oil, Oregon Grape, Helichrysum essential oil, Jojoba oil, Rosehip seed oil, Palm oil, Hydrogenated Castor oil, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Coenzyme Q10, Phytic Acid, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl, Lecithin, Apple, Lemon, Sugar Cane, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lemongrass, Vitamin C Palmate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, and Alcohol.

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Verdict: On the first week of use, I noticed that the skin surrounding my eyes was moisturized and because I suffer from allergies, I continued use to see if I could get rid of some of the puffiness. I do not suffer from dark circles thankfully, so I could not test the cream against that. My skin remained the same but nourished with continued use. On week two, I still use my eye drops to get rid of my red eyes but also the puffiness and swelling I wake up with. I am happy with the way the product disappears after being absorbed. Zero residue and it does not haunt me later in the day by creating an oily film. The manufacture desires two applications per day for maximum results and I continue use into week 3. As I’m in California, the Winter we have has been mild but I did notice that when the nights are cold, my skin looks firm and feels like so, however not as moisturized. I have been needing to add a small droplet of oil (argan) on those evenings. I attribute it to my own needs due to my seasonal allergies that tend to be serious as we get closer to Spring. I will say for firming and protecting the skin around your eyes, this cream does the job as long as you keep in mind that puffiness will only go so much down without the use of eye drops but compared to the over-the-counter eye creams I have tried, this one fought the battle of the “Puffy Eyes” with great valor!

Connect with Poppy Austin and check-out their line of products at:

• On-line
• Product’s link
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• #PoppyAustin

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Poppy Austin.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

 

Klout Perk: VitaFrute Cocktails by VeeV #abetterwaytodrink Acai Spirit #Review #Klout

Another great perk from Klout and this one was one I have never heard of, Acai based spirits. The company VeeV has this great line of drinks that they call VitaFrute. The superfruit cocktails come in:

• Margarita
• Lemonade
• Cosmopolitan
• and with Coconut Colada joining the trio soon

The cocktails are organic and made with the finest ingredients. One serving is just 125 calories and these all natural drinks are considered to be made by the World’s first Acai Spirit Company, VeeV.

What is Acai?

I have been drinking Acai based juices and blends for some time now but not with an alcohol base. The Acai berry or fruit is derived from the Acai Palm tree. These dark colored berries are full of juice, which is considered part of the super foods and super fruits we are encouraged to be consuming. The fruit is usually cultivated from the Amazon and located where lots of water is available (i.e. swamps). The fruit is filled with antioxidants and many consume it for the claims attached to them. I do because I enjoy how it tastes and was rally curious about alcohol derived from it.

I purchased the 2 bottles using the coupon from Klout and because they were on sale at my local Von’s, I was able to score them for free! I looked and hunted for the Coconut Colada variety since it would have been my first choice but I could not locate it but I did find the Lemonade and Cosmopolitan varieties.

• Lemonade– The flavor is perfect on a hot Summer day (or night) and I enjoyed the nice counter balance of alcohol and lemon. The combo was perfect and no mixing required. On my second glass, I added a little tart Cherry Juice and it was like a Pink Lemonade that was icy cool and delicious.

• Cosmopolitan– I have not enjoyed one of these in years and it’s almost the forgotten cocktail for me. I know I like them but never get around to ordering. I pour the Cosmo over ice and you can instantly pick-up the citrus and fruity notes. Delivers the same as it smells to your palette and definitely was my favorite of the two.

VitFrute by VeeV contains 15% ALC/VOL (30 proof) and the bottle must be refrigerated once it’s opened. The taste is nice and clean, plus Agave is the only sweetener you will find in this drink. Fillers it has not! I enjoyed it so much that I will be making a Lemon Tart with the Lemonade version!  I shall get my hands on the Coconut Colada one day and when I do, I will post.  I have plans for that one!  The site has great recipe ideas to even a store locator so can enjoy a glass of cold VitaFrute too.

 

Connect with VitaFrute by VeeV on:

• On-line– http://veevlife.com/vitafrute/
• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/VEEV
• Twitter– https://twitter.com/VeeV
• Instagram– http://instagram.com/veev
• #abetterwaytodrink
• #kloutperk

 

I received the above product free of charge from VeeV and Klout.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.