Solvaderm: Eyevage an Age Defying Eye Rejuvenation Treatment #Review #Solvaderm #Eyevage

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The second product I was sent from Solvaderm targets the sensitive skin around the eyes. Eyevage, is intended for use on “mature skin” and also for people that are experiencing problems in this area.

Eye skin can be tricky and some of us may have drooping of the eyelids, while most tend to want to target the area underneath the eye. This area is where people tend to experience issues from under-bags, puffiness, dryness, fine lines to the ever disliked crow’s feet. In other words, the skin there tends to show the most stress because of it being more sensitive than skin in other areas of your face. This also means a product needs to be strong enough to address the above issues but kind enough to not cause irritations.

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Eyevage by Solvaderm, combats the aging we experience around the eye area and also helps keep the less stressed areas from rapidly showing the signs of aging. You end up with a fresher look that is associated with younger skin.

Ingredients (as listed on the website): Purified Water (Aqua), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytonadione, Arnica Montana Extract, Oxido Reductases, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Laureth-7, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eriobotrya Japonica Extract.

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In the list of ingredients, the first few are identifiable so for the sake of not breaking down the obvious, I will address the ones that are usually not listed in eye creams and why Eyevage stands out from other products that are of like kind. Squalane, is usually derived from olive oil and in the list you find it comes after a few other oils/emollients listed. After that you find Phytonadione listed. Phytonadione, is Vitamin K and this vitamin is associated to be beneficial to the blood and circulation. Dark circles is a result of how veins and capillaries appear under the skin. Think of when a sheet of thin fabric is draped over a dark wooden table. The dark wood and it’s pattern is not distinctive through the sheer material but you still get a dark shadow that shows through and more in the areas where the grain is darker and deeper in the wood. This is what the thin skin under our eyes reflects towards the outside. The Phytonadione combined with other powerful ingredients like the antioxidants found in Apricot oil, and this can help diminish that dark appearance.

Retail Price Point: $74.99 for a 0.5 ounce bottle of Eyevage, which comes with a pump action top that allows the product to remain free from exposure to air, bacteria and even light.

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Verdict:

I used Eyevage for a period of 3 weeks to see how well it would perform with the problems I experience. My skin issues in this area are puffiness due to allergies and even though I’m fair when it comes to skin color, my veins in this area do not reflect through to give my eyes a dark circle appearance. It’s the one of the things I have been lucky in and even though my allergies are bad, I never rub my eyes because that can cause the capillaries to become damaged and even break. I just was addressing moisture retention and attempting to avoid fine lines and lessen the one I have under my left eye (yeah, I don’t even wrinkle evenly). The formula is light from Eyevage and again applies easily. My skin absorbed it quickly and eagerly. Week one passes and I am happy with the moisture effect and how it keeps my skin plump and supple in this area. Week two arrives, and I still remain content with the results and I notice improvement towards the end of the second week on texture. My skin looks smoother. I get to week three and I remain satisfied with how Eyevage is performing because the product has kept the skin around my eyes nourished and problem free. The only short coming I can find is the lack of a retinol. I know the eyes are sensitive but in my case I can tolerate a small percentage in this area but I do know others can not no matter how much they attempt to “desensitize” that area. Some people can even apply every other day and experience more negative effects than any positive ones from the retinol because their skin just can’t tolerate it. Mine can, so I will be adding a very low amount of retinol here just to increase the benefit of reducing small fine lines and making sure (an insurance policy) I don’t develop any new ones. This is just a personal choice in my part, I am however happy the Eyevage treatment is a good enough of base product that I find it worthy enough to deliver that little bit of retinol to this area because it’s not something I waste just on any product. The base product has to be good enough on it’s own and Eyevage is!

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Connect with Solvaderm and their skincare solutions at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Solvaderm.  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.

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

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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.

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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

 

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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.

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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:

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.

 

 

Majestic Pure Oils: Essential Therapeutic Grade Peppermint Oil #Review #PeppermintOil

 

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In the world of essential oils and the like, many companies like to make things fuzzy by using terms as, Pharmaceutical Grade and/or Therapeutic Grade. Who grades or certifies these oils? No one! You have trust the supplier, unless you get into food grades where the FDA grades and then you hear terms as Virgin, Extra Virgin and the like. When it comes to real certifications, where you pay an agency for them to come in, inspect and grade your materials, you then see such certifications like the “Non-GMO” and Organic labels. It comes down to sources and knowing them, so I am a bit critical when it comes to oils and I always think about what will I be using them for and price point attached.

 

Majestic Oils, is a company that carries an array of products and especially oils. They have “Carrier” oils, which get used in addition to essential oils. Think of a candle and the wax is the carrier, where the fragrance would be the essential oil. I was sent a bottle of their, Peppermint Oil to try.

Benefits/Evidence of Peppermint Oil in Essential form:
Beyond it’s soothing scent and being able to clear our nasal passages, Peppermint oil can provide you with many benefits. As I researched, I found many use the oil for stomach problems like nausea and vomiting, however I did see it could worsen heartburn. While many find the oil to sooth the skin, adverse reaction is a possibility if you are sensitive to the plant. You will need to do your research and I went by scientific findings versus just anecdotal evidence. I like balancing out what people report and measure it against what can be proven. I found mostly the essential oil was safer if used as a way to relieve nasal congestion but keeping in mind that for some, it can cause headaches.

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I kept the aforementioned in mind and used the product in oil essential form to re-freshen the home, since we keep doors and windows shut close doing colder weather. Being that I suffer from allergies and always congested, I did find mixing the essential Peppermint oil with the Fractionated Coconut oil from Majestic Pure, was the perfect match! The oil filled the home with what I forgot was the true scent of peppermint. I got so use to faux smells that I forgot how calming a scent with cooler notes can be. It did freshen up the home, which I found pleasurable and that alone made me feel good. Think of what lavender can do and peppermint shares the same aromatherapy properties. I actually enjoyed it and threw anything away that claimed to be peppermint scented and was not. The essential oil by Majestic Pure also goes far! I just needed to use a few drops with the other oil, to achieve that perfect balance.

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Retail Price Point: $18.50 for a large 4 fluid ounce bottle

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My small and only Con- The dropper is included and while it’s glass and I love it…..it’s just sort of thrown in with bubble wrap into a box where the bottle fits well but not with the dropper. The dropper comes apart easily, as that is how it arrived. Being that the oil could be used on the skin and such, it just did not seem like the most sanitary way to include this. Maybe just adding it to the bottle and including the smaller (non-dropper) top would have been wiser. I cleared the dropper with alcohol because it just seemed as the smart thing to do 🙂  This con would not keep me from buying though!

 

Connect with Majestic Oils and their selection of oils and soon to be Beauty Products at:

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Majestic Pure.  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.

 

Smiley: Advil Allergy & Congestion Relief

 

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As much as I love Nature, it really does not love me back. I am a hay fever nightmare and Ms. Sneezy should be my middle name. I was always known for caring an entire tissue box around with me in high school because you might as well go with it when you suffer as badly as I do. I already use antihistamine eye drops, a nasal spray and 3 different brands of allergy pills and yes, I still sneeze and suffer. I sometimes think what is the point of taking anything if I still feel the effects and then stop taking stuff to then realize the allergy nightmare could always be darker.

In comes Advil, a box that Smiley sent free of charge, as part of their Advil campaign. One of the pills I take is an OTC and one of the other allergy pills I take is a decongestant. I like that Advil combined both and I’m always celebrating the day I need to take one less pill.

But does it work?

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Advil’s Allergy & Congestion relief has several active ingredients that create an effective solution for many allergy suffers. Just the symptoms it provides temporary relief on, is impressive:

  • Temporary relief of symptoms associated with Hay Fever or other upper respiratory allergies and the common cold
  • Runny Nose
  • Itchy/Watery Eyes
  • Itching of the Nose or Throat
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Sinus Pressure
  • Headache
  • Minor Body Aches/Pains
  • Fever
  • Reduces Swelling of the Nasal Passages
  • Temporary Restores freer breathing through the Nose

The package should just have a picture of me on the back at this point when it comes to symptoms. I experience all and I love when they get cute and hit me at once.

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Combining Chlorpheniramine Maleate, an ingredient used in prevention of the symptoms of allergic conditions (i.e. rhinitis) with Ibuprofen makes a powerful duo. You get the antihistamine with finally a mild pain reliever because having allergies is not just a bothersome condition that alters how you look (bug eyes anyone?), it hurts and just moving and accomplishing simple tasks is difficult. I get headaches just from the pressure alone. Advil also added Phenylephrine HCL, a nasal decongestant so not only do you combat the allergic reaction but it aids with what allergies cause, plugging up your nose, ears, even eyes!

One tablet lasts 4 to 6 hours and I like being able to not medicate when my allergies have subsided. Advil states to not take more than 6 pills in a 24 hour period, unless physician approved.

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For more information visit and also get a $1.00 off coupon: http://respiratory.advil.com/advil-allergy-congestion-relief

Want to save more, like $2.00 off….visit Facebook: Thx Pfizer and #AdvilAllergyRelief for my free sample. Receive a $2 off coupon http://on.fb.me/YI91JV or https://www.facebook.com/advilcongestionrelief/app_137656902971961?ref=ts%2F#AACR

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I received the above product free of charge from Smiley. I am not obligated in providing a positive/favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product, which may differ from yours.

BzzAgent Campaign: Claritin D Review

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Let me preface this by saying that I was a Zyrtec girl. If there’s an allergy out there, I’ll suffer from it. Flowers? Check. Pollen? Check. Dander? Double check. Dust? Check, check, all day check. You get the picture. I was famous in high school for always having a Kleenex box in hand. And lately, a little of the shine has come off the Zyrtec apple. How fortuitous was it then that BzzAgents offered me a Claritin-D campaign? Did the stars align for me or what?

What did I like:

Can you say sniffles-be-gone? Because now I can! How cool is that? I’d forgotten the relief I’m supposed to feel with an allergy pill! That’s not to completely dump on Zyrtec. It served me very well for many, many years, but the human body is an amazing machine, and it adapts and builds tolerances to a lot of things, medication included. I was long overdue for a change, and Claritin-D is just what the doctor ordered.

Literally.

My doctor recommended it, and BzzAgents offered a campaign. I got the message, universe. Thanks.

It was also nice that both my allergy relief and my nasal congestion is addressed in just one pill. Before, I was taking separate pills, but Claritin-D had the presence of mind to combine both of my pills. One less pill is always a good thing. And before everyone points it out, yes, I know Zyrtec makes a “D” version as well.

What didn’t I Like?

This might be nit picking, but the BzzAgents coupon for this campaign didn’t cover the cost of the full quantity mentioned on the coupon (10 or more). Bad form, BzzAgents. Bad form.

Also, what’s up with the funky quantities, Claritin? Let’s all look and see how many days in a month. 30. Split that in half for you lucky seasonal-allergies types. What’s that? 15? Someone at Claritin, get on the ball and let’s make a box cover a whole month, please? Thank you very much.

The Verdict:

Thanks for the memories, Zyrtec, but don’t let the door hit you on the tush on the way out. This is now a Claritin-D house.

I received the above product from BzzAgent and my only commitment is to provide an honest review. I have no obligation of sharing a favorable (or unfavorable) opinion. The above statement are my own opinion based on my experiences with the product. Your opinion may differ from mine.

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