Sugar Creek Candles Company: Monkey Nuts Natural Soy Wax Candle #SoyCandles

I have been a fan of soy based candles because they tend to burn cleaner and the amount of scent or how strong they are, is not affected by the soy base. Lately, I have been using a warmer and another one with a fan feature. We burn candles or melt wax on a daily basis. It keeps the house that cooks and bakes on a daily basis from smelling like food. Foods smells are great when they come from a baked treat like a cake, but a lobster tail that was grilled and then finished in the oven……well, not so great the next morning!

In comes Sugar Creek Candles with a decent array of scents to satisfy every taste out there. I opted for the Monkey Nuts variety, which has a tropical scent that is more like a coconut and pineapple blend, versus banana like the name may suggest.  I pretty much enjoy every scent out there from Clean Linens to the Spring floral blends because change is welcoming when you burn candles like we do.

Retail Price Point: $14.99 for one candle and free shipping if you are an Amazon Prime member.

Verdict:
I receive the glass jar, which also has a glass lid for when not in use. The candle is white in color and the scent was faint when I opened the jar to get an idea how it smelled. I figured some candles are soft when it comes to the fragrance notes they release and especially lighter scents, but they can still do their job of covering odors or just adding a nice smell to the air. This was not the case for Sugar Creek Candles. I burned the candle after dinner and I made Asian that evening. The candle burned for 4 hours straight and you could only smell it a few feet away. We have a high cathedral style ceiling in the family room, so I just moved it to the kitchen itself, which has a shorter ceiling. No difference and this was one weak candle. I blamed the food I made. Maybe the oils, chilies and everything combined was too big of a job for a jarred candle. The next day there was no residue left of the scent, so I again burn the candle for 2 hours. I stopped when I realized that as long as you are over the candle, you could smell it. Like so on top that you better not burn your nose (kind of close). I go outside to make sure I have not acclimated to the aroma and when I return inside, I realize this candle is just sadly a fail for size and price. It’s weak…..way too weak in scent and unless you want to burn a candle for ambient light, that is the only positive I could find. The jar is nothing special and the wax is white in color, so it’s not even a beautiful hue to look at but if it smelled like it should, I would have enjoyed and especially with the days warming up and now that we are in May, the tropical fragrance would have been perfect.

Connect with Sugar Creek Candles at:

• Online
• Amazon
• Product Link
• Facebook
• Twitter 
• #SoyCandles #SugarCreekCandles

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Sugar Creek Candles. 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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The Japanese Konjac Sponge: Green Tea Puff Review #KonjacSponge

I’m still on my Konjac sponge binge because they really perform so well. My skin has improved dramatically and I attribute it to being able to achieve gentle exfoliation on a daily basis, with zero irritations or adverse effects. Not all natural items agree with us, however the Konjac root really is so gentle and kind to the surface of my skin, that I can report less blemishes and just overall a better glowing complexion.

I learned this past week that not all sponges are created equal and a few days back had to unfortunately give negative remarks to a charcoal one that did not seem it was derived from what was noted. Not this time! I can easily report that I think I found the company to stick with. You know! The company that actually uses and makes a great product that is still 100% natural……that company is, The Japanese Konjac Sponge.

First, you will see just by how the product is made, stored and shipped to the consumer that this puff is on a whole other level. The Konjac sponge is nicely crafted and larger in circumference from the other brands I have tried. I have also learned through observation on how the “milling/grinding” of the vegetable root is done really makes the difference. Those air bubbles on this sponge are small and tight, just like I want the pores on my face to be! The Japanese Konjac Sponge company also has a huge array of sponges that are infused again with 100% natural ingredients to fit your needs:

• Bamboo Charcoal
• Cherry Blossom
• Green Tea
• Pure White
• Wild Mint
• Citrus Fruits
• All the above selections are also available in larger sizes for the Body.

I wish I found this company before because I was so happy with my first Konjac sponge, which I tried several months ago and that “Konjac High” started to fade when I noticed that respecting what you produce and make is not something everyone takes seriously. I started to feel the sponge was being treated as a fad and not really what it is, a product that works without gimmicks. You may see infusions to optimize performance but the base product has to be solid and The Japanese Konjac Sponge company produces one solid and great quality product that as of today, has outperformed all other brands I have tried.

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Retail Price Point: $11.65 for facial sponges and just $13.90 for the Body puffs via their website.  Visit Amazon and score this awesome sponge for $11.00!

Results:

I was kindly given the green tea version that is suitable for oily and combination skin types. My T-Zone has been acting up as the days warm up and my routinely normal skin areas have actually been more towards the dry side. On my first use, my skin is immediately evened out. The sponge feels solid in weight and balances nicely in my hand because of how well the vegetable root is packed and shaped. It’s soft on my skin and when I rinse my face, I notice I have an even skin tone and the green tea balanced my skin beautifully. I pat dry with a towel and 5 minutes later, my skin air drys and does not feel ultra-dry and stretched out, but just normal. Still soft to the touch and a nice glow but I can’t get pass the even complexion it left. I’m not blotchy and I remain like this for hours because I went with zero moisturizers to see if the green tea would dry me out. It did not!

Ingredients: 100% Konjac Glucomannan, Japanese Green Tea Extract, and Green Clay. The product is also handmade in Japan.

Final Verdict:

All these sponges orbit the $10 price point and some fluctuate up towards $12, with $18 being the highest I have seen. As most are $10, let me tell you that your face and safety of what you are using is worth the extra $1.65 here! The Japanese Konjac Sponge company takes care in production, they have a website that is full of information that is well written and easy for the consumer to learn how and what Konjac sponge will fit their needs. They have a web presence and coming from the girl that has tested all these 100% natural products, they are truly not all 100% equal so go with the best I have found so far, The Japanese Konjac Sponge Company.

Find the Konjac Sponge that fits your needs at:

• On-line
• Green Tea Konjac Sponge Link
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Amazon
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Google+
• YouTube

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from The Japanese Konjac Company.  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.

Milagrous Beauty: Natural Exfoliating Facial Massage Konjac Sponge #Review #Milagrous

I have been very eager to try new Konjac sponges from several different companies because trying is really the only way to know what’s the difference with all the infused additions like charcoal, green tea and so forth. I also get to learn what to look for in quality because you see some sponges ranging from $10 to $18. They all claim to do the same and let’s be honest, they look the same via the computer screen.

Konjac Charcoal sponges are usually formulated for oily complexions, acne prone to combination skin. The sponge is still like the original versions, made from the Konjac root, which is a vegetable. The vegetable’s fibers are perfect for gentle exfoliation and detoxifying the skin. The addition of charcoal helps clean out impurities that cause your typical skin problems like blackheads, clogged pores, blemishes to even controlling the oil (sebum) your skin may be susceptible to producing. Due to the product being natural and gentle to the skin’s surface, if you suffer from sensitive skin, this form of washing and exfoliating will not cause further irritation but actually calm your skin. You should see improvements in as little as 2 weeks with daily use.

I notice the Sponge is not formed well (dented)

Lighter in color and texture than other Charcoal Konjac Sponges

I have tried the original/plain Konjac sponges, Charcoal and also a Green Tea versions prior to using the Charcoal sponge from Milagrous Beauty. I first noticed this is the first sponge that arrived in a bag versus a box like most others. The sponge is also not pre-wrapped in a plastic wrap….just sort of dancing in the bag. I notice this sponge feels lighter in weight and density (in dry form) from my other Charcoal based Konjac sponges from different manufactures. I wet the sponge and begin gently exfoliating, using a circular motion and applying light pressure. I notice that the sponge has at the center a more dense portion that feels almost like a knot but 75% of the remainder of the sponge, is not very dense at all. The bathroom’s light reflects through much easily than with other charcoal sponges I have used and this one is more a gray in color as it furthers away from that middle knot I referred to before.

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Results:
My skin does not feel too clean, so I tried a second use and notice the sponge is leaving an almost jelly like residue. I understand the charcoal and root leave a residue but I have never experienced a jelly/sticky film. I have to be super delicate in how I hold the sponge because like any wet product, it becomes softer but this one dimples and collapses badly that I am afraid to poke a nail through and shorten the life span of the sponge.

Retail Price Point: $10.00 via Amazon

You can see here the fray ithe sponge came with

Once wet the fray becomes worse

I used a hook supplied from another Manufacture for proper drying

The product states a shelf life of 3 years on the packaging, which lists Qingdao Fujiale Cosmetic Products Co., Ltd as the manufacture and states to refer to the “sealing” for the date it was made. None was listed or written anywhere on the packaging. Like with all my Konjac sponges, they need to dry and air out to stay clean and reduce any bacteria from producing, so most manufactures include hooks. None was included. Bacteria is bad enough for anyone’s skin and can be worse if you suffer from acne, where you may have open skin caused by pimples…….so maybe using such packaging is not the safest for the product or even user. You add that no hook is supplied and I’m willing to even make the leap that this is a refill as I use the hook I already was supplied by another company.  I was just not too satisfied seeing sponge dust at the bottom of the bag, the sponge is not well shaped/formed, and you have dead links when it comes to the companies Facebook, Twitter to the Website page they supplied as contact information.  The product did not perform like any other Konjac sponge I have used prior to this one and that is even trying to ignore the jelly like residue left on my skin.  You then take into account the price point that is identical to other manufactures where the sponges outperformed this one, so I can’t even say you pay 1/2 and get 1/2 the performance.  You still pay $10 and end up with what I call a sponge.  I just can’t recommend a product that is not consistent to what I have seen and used on the market.  Milagrous Beauty does offer a 100% Money-Back Guarantee, so this may be something to consider if you wish to try their products.

 

Connect with Milagrous Beauty when they are up and running at:

• On-line
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• #Milagrous

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

 

Pure Sol: The Original Konjac Facial Sponge #Review #konjacsponge

In a beauty world that is consumed with chemicals, it is nice to find a company that takes the natural approach and especially when it comes to cleaning the very thing you are trying to keep looking it’s best, your skin!

What exactly is a Konjac Sponge-

The Konjac Sponge is made from 100 percent preservative-free konjac root. This is a root-based vegetable, which in Asia has been cultivated for it’s fibers. The root’s fibers are a perfect detoxifying and purifying agent. The fibers calm and exfoliate, creating a sponge that is delicate to sensitive skin. The Konjac root material is natural in alkaline and balances the acidity of your skin by removing impurities and oils, such as build-up from congested pores. Blackheads and acne issues are easily corrected and managed because the fiber of the root provides gentle exfoliation. No chemicals here to encourage redness, irritations, or more skin problems!

The root is naturally enriched with many minerals and vitamins but remains gentle enough for the sensitive skin suffers. The Konjac sponge provides deep-cleansing, leaving you with a natural PH balanced surface.

Pure Sol offers a large array of Konjac sponges, with each variety addressing different needs. I was able to review the Original sponge from their product line. Their Original Konjac sponge provides the following benefits:

• Deep Cleaning
• Detoxifying
• Hydrating
• Naturally PH balances your skin and it’s safe to use on your face, neck and most sensitive areas
• Exfoliation
• Natural glow and softening to the skin
• Free of Parabens, Sulfates and any chemicals

Ingredients: 100% Pure Konjac Root Fiber and the product is handmade in China.

Retail Price Point: $10.00 for 1 sponge and 1 hook that features a suction cup

Longevity: The Original Konjac sponge provides 2 to 3 months of use and is compost friendly after use.  Pure Sol also offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee with their products.

Directions- You simply wet the sponge until it becomes soft and gently massage in a circular motion and keeping in mind you want to apply light pressure to the skin’s surface. You want to clean and gently exfoliate your skin. You can opt to use a facial cleanser or use the sponge as-is. After use, you simply rinse and gently press the water out, then hang on the hook supplied. Make sure your sponge has proper ventilation to dry properly.

Results- I have had issues lately with make-up removers in wipe form causing irritation, so this was been getting in the way of being able to use masks or even exfoliate properly. It seems the chemicals left behind by the wipes do not play nice with this cold Winter weather, which is causing redness and even peeling around the sensitive skin near my eyes . I have been washing my face now to remove the make-up and then using the Original Konjac sponge after and once my face is cosmetic free. No issues so far and I am at the 1 1/2 month period of using this product. It’s easy to use and I love not having an excuse to not wash my face as I should, especially those days I am staying in and doing chores. I can get tunnel vision and brush my teeth but not wash my face and just splashing water doesn’t cut it! Using the sponge in this method allows me to use my masks as I need to and be worry-free if any chemicals are going to give me lizard eyes. I also found the next cheapest Konjac sponge out there for $15, so using the Pure Sol products saves me $5 without missing out on a facial sponge.

Connect with Pure Sol and their sponges at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Amazon Link to The Original Konjac Sponge
• Amazon Link to The Charcoal Konjac Sponge
• #konjacsponge

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

Swaggable: Alive Reef Safe Sunscreen from Sea Kind #Review

Sea Kind makes several products for the face and body, from sunscreens to bath salts. I received a tube of the Alive Reef Safe Sunscreen and liked that the product is advertised as being 100% natural. It’s a good start for my skin and especially with this summer being in the pool a little more than usual. The formula provides 20% Zinc Oxide and is broad-spectrum, protecting your skin from UVA/UVB rays. The tube came with zero information when it came to contents and oddly the product had no marker when it came to SPF. I know! A sunscreen tube that does not reflect the coverage of SPF was a first for me but this is why we have google 🙂

I seek and I find that Sea Kind makes only one sunscreen formula and it comes in SPF 30. You won’t see the number in the description on the product’s page and ready for ordering, but if you put your mouse over the bottle’s image….viola!

• Naturally Derived Ingredients (from the website):
  ZINC OXIDE 20%, PURIFIED WATER, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, COCONUT OIL, CAPRIC CAPRYLIC TRIGLYCERIDES, SORBITAN SESQUIOLEATE, CASTOR OIL, POLYGLYCEROL-10 LAURATE, MAGNESIUM SULFATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, JOJOBA OIL, TOCOPHEROLS, ACOPHYLLUM NODOSUM. HYALURONIC ACID, IRON OXIDES, PHENOXYETHANOL, ETHYL HEXYL GLYCERIN, PROPRIETARY BLEND OF FRUIT, HERB AND FLOWER ESSENTIAL OILS COMPLYING WITH THE ISO 9235 NATURAL STANDARD.

NO OXYBENZONE. NO PARABENS, PHTHALATES OR SULFATES. NO SYNTHETIC COLORS, DYES OR FRAGRANCE. NON-GMO, CRUELTY FREE

• Price Point: $24.95 and again you have to put your mouse over the bottle’s image to see that it’s for a bottle that supplies 3.0 fluid ounces.

Results:

Being a Southern California native, I have tried mostly every brand and formula readily available. I look for a product that does not clog my pores, is long lasting and simply works. I always found the first two features present but working on my fair skin was always the issue. I can start tanning rather quickly with SPF 50 on me but not all are created equal. Looking lobster red is not cute no matter the bikini you just bought and let’s not get into how bad it is health wise and much less how it feels that evening and the following days. I was weary of trusting a SPF 30 product to protect me enough. I have even given up on being tint/oily free and found peace having a white film as long as I could swim and stroll without looking like a sea creature but I decided to test this out. You will notice the “Non-Nano” on the bottle and this means the product will not absorb into your skin. As stated on the site, “The 200 namometer size particles avoids the risk of absorption in the body caused by smaller nano particles”. The formula also says water resistant and I used the every 80 minutes rule when it came to reapplication because again this was not stated on the product or site.

Verdict:

I can state that the product is light, leaves a slight oil shimmer but not even close to calling it oily. It just looks like you applied a light lotion and my face remained protected with zero clogs or blemishes, so zero penalties for trying not to burn. I tanned but no redness so protection was there and this was being in the pool and surviving 3 tidal waves that my wonderful Husband claims 2 were pure accident but since I had already assigned blame, the third one was “just because” he was already getting the evil eye from me.

Final Verdict:

I like the product and wish I could have tried it longer but my test tube really satisfied 2 face applications. I like the formula and it’s claims. Being 100% natural is rare and working is rarer for me. I just leave it in your hands when it comes to paying almost $25 for 3.0 ounces. My application was light on the second reapply, and that equated to using .33 fluid ounces for 160 minutes of pool time and just on my face. I would purchase this to be seriously blemish and irritant free on the face but can’t suggest taking the plunge for total body application unless you don’t see the sun much and can make the tube stretch.

Checkout the entire line of Face and Body Products from Sea Kind:

• On-line– http://sea-kind.com/sea-kind-ultra-sunscreen
• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/pages/SEA-KIND/424252987638160
• Twitter– https://twitter.com/SeaKind
• Google+– https://plus.google.com/106139072276040110862/about
• Pinterest– http://www.pinterest.com/seakindpinteres/

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Swaggable and Sea Kind. 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.