Tryazon: The Ritual of Sakura Skincare Set by Rituals Review #Tryazon #RitualsUSA

As much as we enjoy a day at the spa, reality is that sometimes the spa needs to come to us. Having products that help renew your space not only helps in creating a relaxing environment, but takes the home space to another level.

In comes Rituals, which provides an array of products that can be used at home or even when you travel. Stress relievers on the go! It is no longer not having time to book an appointment but stress hits us at any hour. It can be midnight and a soak in a tub can be enough to make you finish the rest of the week strong just because you took some time to give yourself some very much needed TLC. I have yet to know a spa available at midnight and going out in my jammies at such an hour becomes a drag if the idea of getting out the car comes into play. Stay in your pajamas and use that travel time at a place that has no waiting room, your home!

Rituals has many sets to choose from and products are sold a la carte or if you wish for a more economical idea, you can get a gift set that allows you try out four products from the same line. These are not only great for self gifting but make great presents because one thing we all share, is needing a touch of less stress in our lives. I opted for the set called The Rituals of Sakura. You will find on the Rituals site that they even have gift sets available in size small, medium and large, again accommodating for every budget and each set comes with a gorgeous reusable box. Men are also not excluded (hear they get stress too 🙂 ), so you can also find products for that special guy in your life. Make it a dual spa day!

 

The Rituals of Sakura Renewing Set Includes:

• One Keepsake Luxury box with ribbon and a beautiful metal emblem
• One Celebrate Each Day Body Scrub
• One Zensational Foaming Shower Gel
• One Magic Touch Body Cream
• One Blossoming Hand Wash

All products assembled in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and disturbed out of Delaware (USA)

Retail Price: $45 and the site advertises free shipping with orders $40 or more. You can also add an item and receive a free gift when you spend $50 or more. A pop-up window will come up and offers you sign up for emails and again offers a percentage off of orders, making the deals only sweeter.  You can also access Ritual products at Macys’s, Jet, Ulta, and Lord & Taylor

 

Verdict:
The scent in the Sakura collection is light and pleasing. The site advertises the scent of Japanese Cherry Blossoms, which is delicate and Rituals did get the fragrance spot on. The scrub has a soft almond scent that is calming when paired with the floral notes. The shower gel goes further than expected, so a small amount is needed when using. I worry as some gels can be irritating but this gel still had a nice scent that remains but is not overwhelming. I also found it nourishing to my skin versus how some gels tend to strip away moisture and leave your skin feeling tight. Not exactly a relaxing experience, but Rituals got it right where this is a foaming gel that lends itself in being kinder and beneficial to your skin’s surface. I was concerned the body cream would be overpowering as some fragrance enriched products can be. I don’t want to walk by someone and make them feel like I beat them with a cherry blossom tree! Again, a sweet cherry scent that is soft to the nose but does not linger to become annoying. The cream is not heavy and my skin absorbed it, leaving a nice even texture with zero dry spots. I would use this lotion daily and it takes the bore out of my no scent oatmeal one I had been using prior. The hand wash was a nice surprise. I thought it was that extra item in the set that I was not too ecstatic about but after several uses, my hands improved so the not so exciting item became a favorite too. Nice scent and cleanses enough that after cooking, I had no lingering unwanted smells left from making dinner. Again, it is nice when a hand wash with perfumes actually washes versus just give me scented hands.

Final Verdict:
I have purchased products from skincare and bath stores with same scents, but nothing has captured the Cherry Blossom experience as well as Rituals. The ingredients like rice milk aid in softening your skin’s texture, so this a true spa quality product versus just scented goodies that have no benefits.  Finally, a gift set where each item can be used with no throwaways included! I liked that not only for myself but when I gift a set, I know it is not just filler made to look nice and pretty. The ingredients are top notch, non-irritating, and scent wise it became a desirable fragrance I looked forward to using. This is definitely a must buy and will easily make it to the #2018GiftGuide this year!

 

To Connect with Rituals, please visit:

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• #Tryazon  #RitualsUSA  #2018GiftGuide

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Rituals USA and Tryazon. 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.

Dynamic Innovation Labs: Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift #Review #DynamicSonic #EyeLift

When it comes to anti aging products, we have a lot to choose from. You can go the slow and patient route by using a product like retinol that takes time to see results. With retinol the results are permanent only if you continue to use the product with the idea as you age, you will need to up the percentage and most times end up using a prescription grade formula. Then comes the instant changers, like I like to refer to them. Products that do not work on a long term basis that provide the changes that stay, but more like formulas that give you that pep (think what energy drinks do) and give you that “lifted” look instantaneously. The last options revolve around appointments, doctors, fillers, to surgeries and that is just not a route I am ready to literally face with my face. My solution is combo driven. Meaning I use acids and retinols to work on my face for more permanent results but I also use the instant type for when my face is sending out an SOS. You just can’t fake a goodnight’s sleep without the instant products there to save you!

 

Dynamic Innovation Labs, is a company that provides OTC products that address both a instant and/or longer term solution towards aging skin. This is a company that is serious about skin care and no longer using the everyday formulas that just make fine lines and wrinkles giggle. Dynamic Innovation Labs is about annihilating any fine lines and wrinkles, including those we get from smiling and laughing too much. Yes, even being super happy comes at a cost! Hey, I prefer working on a overly happy face versus a moody one. Once you visit the site, the price points can be scary. Again, Dynamic Innovation Labs is not playing games and is producing formulas as a last resort before or even if you are considering any surgical enhancement procedures. Everything comes in these surgical looking vials that resemble a injector but minus the needle. They stand behind their products by even offering a free sample ($5.99 for shipping and handling) of their Instant Eye Lift . So, you can try before buying the full size tube.

 

 

Ingredients (as posted on the website): Purified Water (Aqua), Sodium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, CI 77489 (Iron Oxide), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

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Verdict:

Price of a product never equates quality and/or results. This runs so true in the beauty world of products that most times many products out there have just found a fancy way to sell us water or a cheap oil for more than it’s worth! This angers me but anger causes wrinkles, so I try not to think about it 🙂 . When Dynamic Innovation Labs offered to send me their Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift to try out…..I of course was excited. I want instant results and the Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift has a rating of lasting 6 to 8 hours. That’s a lot of lifting for a few drops of product and I was not convinced. I receive the vial and use is simple, you just apply a few drops and watch the effects. Make sure not to rub the product in and the idea is to get a thin film on while holding a face with no expression. Yeah, act like a statue! Okay, it made me laugh but I had to hold it in to not be left looking like I am cackling 6 to 8 hours. Once the product dries, you can then apply make-up as you would any day but keep in mind in not messing (rubbing in too much) in the areas treated. I did just that and the formula did not interfere with my make-up. I actually skipped on a concealer!  Now, the results. I was surprised on how you watch your face sort of lose that tired look within seconds as the Dynamic Sonic Instant Eye Lift starts…..well, lifting. It does not take a lot of time for the solution to dry and you do see results. I look like I sleep well and my life is perfect if you see me! I like that. I don’t want to look like I feel sometimes and especially on days where 4 hours of real sleep is all I obtained. No other product in the instant category has ever lifted and worked like this one from Dynamic Innovation Labs. This is why I rarely ever review any instant anything on my blog, due to the high failure rate. No fails here. Yes, the product costs $395.00 or $375.25 with subscribe and save, but it 100% works. I have overspent more on products combined that failed in the instant and even the long term effects categories. You know how it feels waiting 7 to 10 weeks to see results and sticking to a beauty regimen that long and then seeing zilch occur. You then add time wasted and money……well, don’t get me angry because remember…..it causes wrinkles. At least order the sample and see for yourself the younger you again!

Get 25% OFF with this exclusive coupon code D888D

Visit Dynamic Innovation Labs at:

• Online
• Product Link
• Sample Ordering Link
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• #dynamicsonic  #eyelift

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Dynamic Innovation Labs. 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.

 

HydroPeptide: On the Go Glow Anti-wrinkle Travel Set #Review #HydroPeptide

 

In the beauty world there is one thing that has really triumphed when it comes to brand awareness……sample sizes. Whether you call them deluxe size, trial size, travel or just plain samples, being able to try and not invest the full dollar amount towards a product has really yielded dividends both for the consumer and brand-names. I see beauty items like medications, in where you have one popular product that works with many but not all. I have used foundations that get out of the world ratings and then I use it and have a what are they talking about moment. This is why I love being able to try without getting the full sting and not feel bad if a product is not for me.

HydroPeptide believes in the same. A company that is brave enough and confident about what they make, that they decided why not make travel size products for consumers to try and see if they like them. If you become a fan, you can then later buy the full size and also the travel size for those weekend getaways.

I was sent the Anti-wrinkle travel set called, “On the Go Glow“. The set comes with:

1. Exfoliating Cleanser
2. Pre-Treatment Toner
3. Purfiying Mask
4. Eye Authority
5. Face Lift
6. Everything you need and even a beautiful and useful size pouch to carry the HydroPeptide products along with any mini shampoo and conditioners to complete your travel to-go bag.

 

 

Verdict:

The regimen is simple. I welcome that not only when travelling but when trying a brand. I always follow the directions to see if the products yield the claims made. This kit left nothing untreated and except for adding my spot acne cream when needed, I just used the HydroPeptide set exclusively. The solutions are light when applied and like the eye cream and face lift, my skin was left feeling fresh after about day 4 of use. By this I mean that I had a natural and healthy sheen without any ill effects of transitioning over to using HydroPeptide exclusively. The mask is out of this world when it comes to clarifying and not over drying. The mask really needs a light application that is thin and even and I am not kidding, your skin’s surface changes after removal. I mean serious positive changes that also helped any acne/blemishes I was suffering from pre to post breakout. The entire set played well with my skin and even though I am not a fan and believer of toners, I can say the refreshing and balanced pH was something that changed my mind about my opinion of toners. This toner is also a “pre-treatment”, so it’s a way to prep your skin for absorption of the coming products after you have exfoliated and washed your face. I get it! It makes sense with this system and I did not view it as an add-on that was wasted. The eye cream is thick but because you use the dab method and a 1/2 a pea size, just with the warmth of my skin, the product quickly was absorbed.  I was left with just a thin layer that I call “good left-overs” because it’s there to protect and continue nourishing my skin as needed. This system by HydroPeptide is an AM and PM kit. Many anti aging systems are geared towards only night use because of the ingredients maybe being to harsh for morning and day time use. Some acids tend to activate worse in sunlight but that is what sunscreen is for and I don’t ever skip on treatments of this kind because just one safeguard means you can get double the benefits, so don’t skip on SPF and you will be fine. I noticed the eye area was my biggest improvement and while I would love to boast that just get the eye cream and go, I have to realize I used everything as directed and that unison of products is very likely the cause for the positive effects. Using 1/2 a pea size on the eye cream and just a pea size for the face cream, I could see the deal with the kit.  Just look at the ingredients on the site and these are serious products when it comes to results and free from sulphates to artificial fragrances and anything that is added as fillers with most beauty brands designed towards anti aging formulas.  I never understood why companies add ingredients that cause aging and/or irritations and still advertise the items as anti wrinkle care.  It’s nice when a company like HydroPeptide comes along and removes the fillers and just works on what you want, your skin and getting the most of the results for the money you invested.  The “On the Go Glow” kit is just that and a great starter at just $78!  I have spent more on nail polishes in one visit and walked away less satisfied.

 

 

Give HydroPeptide a Go at:

• Online
• Product Link
• Coupon code BBACK20A which includes 20% off your On-The-Go Glow travel set from the following link:
  http://shop.hydropeptide.com/on-the-go-glow/#.V8ieHvkrJhF
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• #HydroPeptide

 

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

 

 

 

Vivant Skin Care’s Maxilip Lip Plumper

I’m always up for trying new beauty products, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some and greatly let down by others. This one falls somewhere in between, at least for me and my experience.

I have used lip plumper glosses in the past, such as lipsticks that contain the ingredients that aid with such results.  What makes Vivant Skin Care’s Maxilip Lip Plumper different from the rest, this is not just made in balm form but also provides moisturizing ingredients.  Plumping agents from the past tended to dehydrate and stress the skin on your lips.  In other words, you paid a price for using them and especially on a regular basis.  Your lips would suffer and plumping lips that are chapped and peeling is not a good look, especially if they get red and inflamed.   I have had products even cause a negative reaction and not only do what I stated above, but caused cracks and bleeding.  That is one week of recovery at least with no lip anything but plain moisturizers.  Let’s say I got good at doing my eye make-up!  This balm from Vivant Skin Care allows me to suffer zero consequences and it minimally plumps my lips with no immediate adverse side effects.  I have even at times reached for the balm just to add moisture to my lips, so it’s more than just wanting fuller lips. The Maxilip Lip Plumper balm made my lips healthier plus gave them a little boost, sort of like a comfortable bra for lips with a little augmentation.  My only negative remarks is the petroleum by-products used are known carcinogens (petrolatum), I would love to see that replaced in the formula because Vivant Skin Care’s Maxilip Lip Plumper does have a good thing going here that needs in my opinion some tweaking.  There’s minimal tingling and discomfort, and no pain, but there may be a price to pay for ongoing and continued use. The price point I do feel is a bit high for how the product performs.  Yes, my lips were plumped but not what I feel $28 worth of plumping!  That was a little negative to see because it works but just not that well and the agent that causes the fuller lip look does not last as well as it does in other brands.  I see a $15.99 to $19.99 value, not a $28.00 (direct from the company).  Third party sellers on Amazon have lower price points, so that would be an avenue to consider if I was buying the product.

Connect with Vivant Skin Care:

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• On Google+
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Vivant Skin Care. 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.

 

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.

Influenster: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid™ VoxBox #Review #VividMatte

I have been a member of Influenster for several years and love the VoxBoxes they share. I was beginning to think I was stuck with Virtual Vox Boxes for life when my dashboard had 4 going and no real products. I then received that Influenster e-mail, which makes you smile. I was getting a Maybelline VoxBox featuring the Vivid Matte collection. Hooray! I have come back to the VoxBox arena.

Maybelline’s Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid has been spreading like wild fire and especially when some people shared it was a great copy cat to the Kylie Cosmetics’ line. Am I curious about the line? Yes. The price? No. Hey, I have other things I have my eye on and one thing I have plenty of is lip glosses, lip crayons, lip palettes, oh and the old fashion lip sticks (remember those 🙂 ). So, I keep buying because colors change, seasons change and it really is the one item that I don’t mind splurging a $10 here and there to see what the buzz is about. Copy cats can be colors and not always formulations and so far the two colors I received, #10 Nude Flush and #35 Rebel Red are vivid indeed. The collection features 10 colors in total and retails for $7.99 a piece. A pretty fair bargain!

 

Verdict:

First, I was a bit puzzled by the formula. I blamed the plastic tube for the semi-gloss like finish the colors seemed to cast. I then open the first tube, the Rebel Red and the pigments are vibrant and just saturated with color, but not like any matte finish I have ever seen. I’m into paints from artistic to just plain old house paints and deciding on finishes is where I get stuck sometimes, because some rooms shed a different amount of light from our windows. The Vivid Matte collection would cancel all that, it would not matter what light or amount of it, from real to just coming from a bulb…..these beauties are not Matte. I don’t stop there because so what it’s not a real matte? I did feel they were still pretty. I open the tube and you do get a fragrance from the formula. It’s not faint and noticeable where the Nude hue is more like a sweet floral scent and the Red hue closer to a perfume/cosmetic scent. So far, okay. I apply the Rebel Red. Everything I have been rebelling against just went out the door. The consistency of the product is thick and opaque with a gloss finish. Not a translucent gloss by any stretch and a little goes a long way with at least this color. It’s a night color for me or at the very least a color I can mix with another if I feel daring in the AM hours. The product has a nice moist finish and not goopy like I was afraid it would feel like.

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Next, comes the Nude that has more of a purple note to it versus a pink or pale beige. There are no yellows or oranges in this nude color, it seriously owns purple! The less I apply, the more I feel it appears light enough to be called a nude like product but I mean this is me getting the wand out and using the tip to apply 2 dots at the top portion of my lip, and two on the bottom. There is no wand application going on here. Again, moist and the scent is more welcoming off this product than the former color. I prefer the Nude Flush over Rebel Red because maybe my full head on rebel days are over or I just need a slighter tan to not look so pale in this red. It’s starting to look more like Corvette Red on me. I do like the formulas though and found that application via a lip brush allows the product to flow better against the lip and you get an even finish. Again, these are opaque and not matte in finish, with the red having a more semi-gloss to it but the colors are vivid all the way!

Connect with Maybelline and view their Collections at:

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• #Maybelline #VividMatte #Influenster

 

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Influenster and Maybelline. 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.

BDB: The Billion Dollar Brow, Universal Brow Pencil is NOW Available at Kohl’s! #bdbrows #billiondollarbrows #BDBatKohls

 

 

I have reviewed before for BDB, Billion Dollar Brows and can proudly share I still use their brow products on a daily basis. Having access to products is a must for me. Yes, I will hunt and order online products that are worthy of a shipping cost, but there is nothing like finding your favorite in store, so you can easily pick it up and go. Finally, the BDB product line has arrived at Kohl’s!

• You can order on-line here
• Or just visit your nearest store, which also offers “in-store” pick-ups if the items are not currently in-stock.  Just order on-line and wait for the e-mail when the item is ready for pick-up.
• My previous reviews are here and here if you need to become familiar with the BDB line

 

 

So, this is a win-win for us brow obsessing girls. I have not found a product yet that allows me to accentuate my brows by having them look tame and still natural. The brow obsession is a good thing because it’s amazing how much eyes can change by just making your brows pop BUT it can be taken too far. There is such a thing of too much of a good thing. Many products pile on the brow liner and/or powder. It’s like you can’t apply softly even if you wanted to and you end up with my Husband calls “scary brows”. With Billion Dollar Brows, I can’t error. That is a big thing when you are beginner to a pro applying make-up in a hurry because you hit the snooze button one time too many! I don’t want to work at making a product look right, it has to work from application and beyond. This means with BDB products you can easily blend, there is no fighting or having to worry about dark and thick strokes. The Universal Brow brow pencil allows you to apply in two ways. You can mimic hairs by following your own pattern to making your arch stand-out, by applying a line that then you can blend or leave as applied. This is where other products fall short. I have had eyebrow pencils play the “on or off” game, meaning it goes on and if I touch it, it just vanishes. There is no middle ground. I have had the “brow crumbles”, sort of like when bad mascara fails you, well eye brow products can do the same kind of shedding. With Billion Dollar Brows, I can get to the last part of the pencil and the product performs just as well as when I first popped it open. No drying out, no playing just nice when you have a fresh pencil, their products just do not fail and this why I use BDB products exclusively. I can’t say that about other brands! I change mascaras so often that I dread being asked what brand I use. It’s like asking me a trick question because I use one for length, one to build but that builds too heavy so I use another brand to separate and set. I also use one with a mini short brush for the end of my lashes that was really made for bottom lashed (told you not ask!).  No tricks with BDB and when I have 15 minutes to be out the door because I binged on NetFlix on Sunday night…..I need my brows to not show it 🙂

 

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

Mediderm Laboratories: MD-12 Advanced Anti-Aging Cream #Review #MD12AntiAging #MEDIDERM

Mediderm Laboratories is one of those brands I have heard of but never tried. The company carries an extensive line of skin care regimens, treatments, serums….pretty much anything that addresses skin and the problems that may come about from aging, acne, to just wanting to look your best. I was really amazed at the company’s portfolio and Mediderm’s motto comes down to using the latest and most innovative ingredients, so clients can see and feel results. This is why the company kept growing the line as we all experience different issues and even want to address our skin concern’s differently.

The company shared three different products with me from their line and this is the first one I will be reviewing, with the following the next week and so forth. I was interested in the MD-12 Advanced Anti-Aging Cream from the get go because it seems to cover many basis. By this I mean that the cream addresses:

• Skin aging caused from time to even that, which was accelerated from sun damage and the environment.
• MD-12 works on lifting your skin by decreasing sagging. Firms and tightens your skin’s texture.
• The slowing down of collagen production comes with age but MD-12 helps in stimulating and increasing the production.
• Works as also an anti-aging treatment, so think prevention versus just addressing the current problems you may be experiencing.
• Works on firm lines to wrinkles by creating a moisture barrier that is nutrient rich.
• Strengthens the lipid barrier and creates protection that comes from within, along with increasing protein production.

Okay, that is a lot from one jar of cream, so I started to see what was in it. There are some proprietary blends, like “MAXTRIXYL 3000 & DERMAXYL PEPTIDES“. This is common in the beauty industry, so I tend not to frown upon it as long as the product performs as described. You have other good properties, like ALPHA LIPOIC ACID and HYALURONIC ACID, plus CERAMIDES. Vitamin C is also listed and more.  Alright, the rest are recognizable and useful, so far so good.

Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 (and) Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (Matrixyl 3000), Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 (Dermaxyl), Ceramide 2, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vitamin E, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Thioctic Acid (Q10), Saccharomyces Copper Fennel – Paraben free.

Retail Price Point: $19.95 via Mediderm Laboratories’ site and also via Amazon.

Verdict:
I open up the jar and begin treating my face and neck area. The neck and decollete area tends to get overlooked. We focus so much on the lines around our eyes and lips, we forget that stress from the environment to the sun also affects the rest of our body, and especially if you wear any tops that exposes this area. The cream is not sticky or oily. That is always my biggest fear when using a new product. Yes, you can use less of a heavy cream but it will always feel like a thick film no matter how light you apply. Mediderm’s MD-12 Advanced Anti-Aging Cream did not feel like I was covering up my pores and suffocating them. My skin felt protected but it also absorbed most of the product. I then applied make-up. Zero issues when applying as long as I let 10 minutes pass. The cream dries to a semi-matte finish, so you get a moisturized look on the neck and chest, but again not oily. I began treatment with Mediderm’s MD-12 Advanced Anti-Aging Cream and by day 4, I noticed my skin remained soft and I did not miss my night cream that tends to be a little more heavier than this one. I used the product as instructed, twice a day, so once in the morning and again before going to bed. By week two, I found that the product does at the very least cover 3 of the products I was using before. I was using a Hyaluronic acid that came in a light serum consistency. Did not miss it. There was enough of the acid in the MD-12 cream that performed better and gave my face a brighter and more healthy appearance. My fine lines did not get deeper and remained plumped up through out the day. No adverse effects and because Mediderm’s MD-12 Advanced Anti-Aging Cream is performing so well and is not causing any breakouts or clogged pores, I do see myself continuing to use it.  It’s a simple cream to use but filled with benefits and the price is unbeatable.

Connect with Mediderm here:

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• #MD12AntiAging   #MEDIDERM

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Mediderm Laboratories. 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: New Skin Detoxifying Clay Mask #Review #ValentiaBeauty

Valentia skin care is a brand I have shared before and one of the aspects that I appreciate about the brand, is they innovate. The skin care line has zero opportunity of growing stale, boring, or not offer the user the latest and newest. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want good skin care formulas changed if they work, but I also want a company like Valentia to keep searching and offering us ingredients that perform better. This keeps my skin looking better and better every year!

Valentia, has introduced a new clay based mask. I love clay and mud based masks but some tend to dehydrate my skin a little too much. This mask differs from the usual 15 minute packets you pick up at the drug store. You have properties that detoxify congested pores but do not over dry them, which tends to make the pores then over produce sebum….the yuck stuff you started to want to get rid of in the first place. Valentia then took it another step further by adding ant-aging ingredients like CoQ10 and even Spirulina (that green stuff I eat), which helps not only with hydration but with regeneration. Talk about feeding your face (but in a good way)!

Ingredients:
Deionized Aqua (Water), Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera), Kaolin clay, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), GlobulariaCordifolia Callus Culture Extract (plant stem cells), PalmitoylOligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetapeptide-7, UndariaPinnatifida Cell Culture Extract, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Hibiscus Fibers, Cranberry Fibers, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cellulose Gum, Purified Smectite Clay, Cranberry Fragrance, HaematococcusPluvialis extract (Astaxanthin), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), WildcraftedPanax Ginseng, Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), ArctostaphylosUvaUrsi (Bearberry), Organic VacciniumMacrocarpon (Cranberry extract), Organic Viola Tricolor (Violet), WildcraftedPrunusVirginiana (Wild Cherry), PunicaGranatum (Pomegranate), VacciniumAngustifolium (Blueberry), Citrus Limon (Lemon Essential Oil), Organic Rheum Palmatum (Rhubarb), Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Spirulina Maxima (Spirulina), MacrocystisPyrifera (Kelp), VitisVinifera (Grape Seed Oil), Organic CentellaAsiatica (Gotu Kola), Wildcrafted Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), WildcraftedTaraxacumOfficinale (Dandelion), Wildcrafted Geranium Maculatum (Wild Geranium), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Sucrose Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Lecithin, Tocopherol.

Retail Price Point: $25.00 via Amazon or on Valentia’s site.  On Valentia’s site, the product would be 35% cheaper if you use the promo code provided below.

Verdict:
I expected another clay mask that just would help keep my skin clear and bright. I used the mask twice a week and found it not only gentler to my face than like kind masks on the market, I explored further and started treating other areas, like my chest and back. Not only is Summer here even though it’s been cloudy in Southern California. I see this as an opportunity to get “beach ready” (well, more like pool ready) skin a little sooner than needed. My chest tends get over dry from the chlorine water and the sunscreen does not hydrate my skin, more like suffocates it. There is a huge difference with something smothering your skin with oils and protection needed to not burn, but this does not equate moisture. I need something to get me back to square one…..sort of a reboot for my skin. I have doing outside projects and two places have been getting the brunt of the sun, my back and my waist, you know that area where your shirt lifts a little and I get my yearly tanned colored stripe that tends to be darker than the rest of me! My back began to have little clogged pores by day two of applying sunscreen and doing “the good girl” thing of reapplying every 2 hours. My back had it, so when I put the Valentia detoxifying clay mask on my face, I went ahead and put what was left on my hands, on my shoulders. Waited 20 minutes and rinsed. The first thing I noticed, no itch. My skin gets itchy when I take clay masks off, heck it gets itchy some times before and I the only way of fighting that annoyance, is by rinsing early. It’s a reaction to over dryness. Yes, I then quickly try to nourish my face but the next day my t-zone, which is on the oilier side tends to look dryer and even peel at times. I experienced none of those side effects with Valentia. My skin and especially the problem areas, matched the rest of the “normal skin”. The red bumps on my shoulders also never bloomed to fully clogged pores from the sunscreen. The mask does what it says, it detoxifies and replenishes! Also, Valentia was kind enough to provide a tub of the mask versus fighting with those 1 to 2 time use packets from the drug store that no matter how small I cut the opening, I always get a crazy squiggle I can never catch in time and lands straight into the sink! No waste, it works, and no funny packages. Thank you Valentia!

 

Promo Alert:
From May 16th until June 1st, visit Valentia’s site (valentia.com) you can save 35% off on their products by using Reader’s Coupon Code: REFRESH35.  Code not valid on Amazon.

Connect with Valentia at:

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• #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.

BDB: Billion Dollar Brows, Brows on Point Micro-Pencils in all 4 shades #Review #BillionDollarBrows #BDB

 

Billion Dollar Brows has been a guest on this site before and even though it’s my go-to brow product, which I found to be already a huge hit (only brow product I use now), they found a new way to make it better. The original formula requires a brush application that only takes a minute to apply. For those days you want to skip the brush and get this…..have waterproof results, BDB came out with the Brows on Point Micropencils. You have 4 shades to choose from too:

Brows on Point Micropencils by BDB

• Blonde
• Light Brown
• Taupe
• Raven

 

The Micrpencils by BDB feature a super fine point, so you can control application. You can apply the product by creating simple strokes and adding simulated hairs with just one easy swatch. The micropencil may be slim but not wimpy. No crumbling or breakage upon application, just smooth coverage that can be customized by using several of the colors BDB features. You can add highlights and get a more natural look that again I remind you, is Summer proof ready. You won’t lose your brows if you go swimming or in the sweltering heat.

Retail Price Point: Each micropencil in any color, costs just $16 via the website.

Verdict:
I love waterproof products but some come with more cons than pros. Many tend to dehydrate or stress the skin and especially if they are long wearing. I was a little concerned about the formulation and if I made an error upon applying. My worries really went away when the pencils arrived. I just did a swatch test (on my hand) to see how they worked and felt. Upon applying to the skin, I quickly noticed the formula is lightweight and does not feel waxy. You have a smooth feeling when the pencil meets your skin but remains hydrated and still full of color/tint. I just did not feel it when it was just applied to my hand! I then decided to just go for the brows, since I was already make-up free when the pencils arrived that evening. The last thing I wanted was losing hairs because the pencil is a little rough or just plain mean to my brows. These products are suppose to define and augment our brows, not stress them upon application and wear, to when it comes to removal. I did one brow in just under a minute being a new user of the product. I played and applied the color Raven towards the center of the arch, with Taupe and Light Brown through out both ends of the brow. Amazing! Just amazing how kind these new micropencils from BDB are. I did not lose any hairs, the formula is just smooth like a good eye liner would be and no pulling of the skin when applying. Smooth like butter and blend-able. I then thought if these pencils are so great on the brows, could they work as a eye liner that would be waterproof and smudge proof for the eye? I went for it! I applied the Light Brown to my eyes and then went to make dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening. Play time was over 😦 I wear the BDB for the rest of the night and even forget I had applied any. Yes, that is how natural and lightweight the BDB formulas feel! I go to wash my face in the shower with soap after being there about 15 minutes showering, and only then that I recall and see in my hands the product coming off. I then remembered I had been walking around with done-up brows and eyes. No residue or did I have to apply more face wash to remove the product. Your brows won’t budge and I will be using these pencils as eye liners too! Why not because they worked and I love products that can work as a double duty/multi-tasker. Thank you BDB for making another product that I love and will now be using these this Summer and not just on pool days, but when I just want gorgeous brows with zero worry about them smudging or melting!

Connect with bdb and start 2016 with gorgeous brows at:

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• #bdbrows #billiondollarbrows #bdb

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