I'm BACK! Review of Almay Goddess Gloss™.

Well, it has been a long while since I last posted, and there's good reason for that. I moved to GA, got a new (and awesome) job and have been living the southern life for the last 2 years.

I miss NY... to a point. I'm NOT changing the blog name from The Soap Lady NY to The Soap Lady GA. Most of my heart still belongs to NY and always will. Though I have thought about it.  There have been ups & downs, as usual.  I'll try to have a post about them later.

I have a new, resident cosmetologist in the home, Kiah, who will be helping me with some of my beauty posts, like the one you will see today! She has her cosmetology license from NY, is working on getting her GA license, and has the youth I no longer have as I'm pushing the age of 40. 😅 You'll understand the youth reference in a bit when we get to our review.

 Almay Goddess Gloss™

 

• Retails for $9.99 at Ulta.
• About the Product:
• Gives lips a holographic, iridescent glow.
• Lips feel moisturized and smooth, never sticky.
• Made with pomegranate, grape and raspberry oils.
• Available in 8 sheer, easy to wear, high-shine shades.
• As always, hypoallergenic & fragrance free.
• How To Use: Apply to lips.  Pretty simple.  Some tips are to:
• Rock it solo for an iridescent glow on lips.
• Mix & match shades to create infinite ombré looks.
• Layer over lipstick for a transformative holographic effect.
• What We Thought: Immediately when I opened the package & saw the color I was like, "Yeah, this is NOT the shade for me."  The color we received was Rainbow (swatch to the right).  I'm more of a neutral & natural colors person when it comes to makeup, so I was hoping to get it in a color like Cosmic.  Oh well.  So I call my resident cosmetologist (Kiah) over & am like, "Hey, I got this gloss but don't like the color, you want to try it & give me a review?"  She immediately swatches it & starts telling me about how it's well pigmented, so I knew it was a yes before she even stated it.  Onto her review:

• It's very pigmented & so the color is really nice & lasts almost all day.  I had to re-apply only once after lunch.  It's comparable to the Grand Illusion Glossy Liquid Lipcolour by MAC but it's a LOT less sticky, very smooth, settles into your lips well, & doesn't shift like theirs.  Plus MAC's price is $21, so the Goddess Gloss is 1/2 the price.  The Goddess Gloss applicator is also nicer & doesn't make a mess when used like the MAC brand tends to, by getting all over the bottle & my hands.  It didn't have any scent or flavor to it.  It's a fun color for a party or going out, it's not a casual color.
• I might buy it in a different color.  Kiah would buy this.

Kiah rocking the solo look!

Ulta is currently having a sale on these where you can buy one & get one 50% off!  CLICK HERE to get yours!  Also, let me know which color is your favorite?

I hope to get back into the swing of things & post more often.  THANKS Kiah for your help & I hope to collaborate on more posts with you later! 

This post was sponsored by Almay as part of a sampling activation for Crowdtap. I received  complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Discover Garnier SkinActive™ & Establish Great Skincare Habits For The Coming Year!

Garnier wants us all to establish great skincare habits for the coming year.  What a better way to do that than with Garnier new SkinActive™ products!  Crowdtap sent me a kit containing Garnier products to pass out.  I asked my friends and coworkers to try the products, then either take a selfie of them with their favorite product, or a picture of it with an object that will help them with a goal or resolution for the upcoming year!

When I brought these into work to pass out I was surprised at the number of people who were already familiar with what micellar water was & how excited they were to be getting a whole bottle of it.  Hearing more than once, "I love this stuff!"  I've only recently started hearing about it an didn't know too much about it myself.  Micellar water is made up of micelles, nano-sized balls of cleansing oils, soaps, or detergents suspended in water.  These micelles absorb other oils and fats, pulling the impurities from your skin without irritation.  Apparently, it has also been around for hundreds of years but is only now making a comeback!  Did you know that?  I thought it was new technology in skincare!  Also, regular micellar water is not meant to remove heavy foundations or waterproof makeups so Garnier also made a bi-phase micellar water that does! 

Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser

• Retails for $8.99.
• About The Product: All-in-1 cleanser is surprisingly powerful yet gentle to skin.  It effectively removes makeup, cleanses skin and refreshes. A multi-purpose cleanser that contains Micellar technology. Like a magnet, micelles capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without rinsing or harsh rubbing, leaving skin perfectly clean, hydrated and refreshed without over-drying.
• How To Use: TO REMOVE EYE MAKEUP -Hold pad over closed eyes for a few seconds, then gently wipe. TO CLEAN SKIN & REMOVE FACE MAKEUP - Gently wipe all over until skin is completely clean from makeup and impurities. Use daily, AM/PM. No need to rinse.

Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

• Retails for $14.99.
• About The Product: Designed with our Antioxidant Complex of Vitamin C & E, Pine Bark Essence, and gentle exfoliating Lipo-Hydroxyl Acid (LHA), this fast absorbing, non-greasy formula turns dull, rough skin into smooth, polished-looking skin with a more radiant, even tone. Clinically proven results in a clinical test. In 1 week, reveals two key dimensions of brighter looking skin: improving skin texture, even reducing wrinkles.
• How To Use: FOR SUNSCREEN USE - Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply at least every 2 hours. Use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. 

I got a lot of feedback!  Mostly how everyone loved the micellar water.  Vicki said her daughter had already used up a whole bottle of the moisturizer too!  My coworker Michelle said, "Garnier SkinActive™ is a great product for sensitive skin.  It thoroughly cleansed my sensitive skin without irritation."

The best feedback I received was from Dionna.  She said, "This stuff really works! I suffer from seborrheic dermatitis and when it flares up my forehead and skin under my eyebrows gets really scaly and flaky. I've been using this for the past week and it's kept my flares down. With a little more usage I'm pretty certain it'll clear my forehead completely up!"  That's awesome to hear!  Check back later on because I may get more feedback from her!

I think my favorite of the two was actually the moisturizer.  Usually SPF 15 products are too heavy on my skin and reek of suntan lotion.  When I initially applied it it felt heavy, but it absorbed quickly and didn't leave my skin feeling weighed down.  It actually left it feeling very soft and smelled nice!  I used it more as a daily moisturizer, underneath my makeup, than as a sunscreen.  Applying it only once in the morning.

As far as the resolutions, most of us are focused on health it seems.  I had a photo of healthier snacks like nuts, popcorn, and I just had to throw in there coconut milk chocolate ice cream (which I love to sprinkle crushed gluten free pretzels on top of! YUM!).  Ok, well maybe that's not so healthy, but it's better than the ice cream I used to eat! My friend Michelle used and ornament that says, "Joy," to help inspire her, and Jess wants to spend more time with her cat!  How cute!

Garnier has a large line of SkinActive™ products to best suit your needs!  Discover SkinActive™ today and see what you can do to improve your skin, and establish great skincare habits this year!

 A HUGE THANKS to everyone who participated!

This is a sponsored post.  I received these product for free from Garnier through Crowdtap to try & review.

Wipe for Water with Neutrogena® Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Do you know that every day you can waste up to 5 gallons of water just by washing your face?  When I wash my face, depending what I'm using, I probably waste more than that now that I think about it.  I'm all about recycling, being "Earth friendly," reducing waste, & using natural products too, but I'm not perfect and could really be doing more on my part to help the environment.

So when Neutrogena® Naturals teamed up with Kristen Bell and The Nature Conservancy for their Wipe for Water campaign to support water conservation, I was all over it!  Neutrogena® Naturals will contribute 10% of the retail purchase price on Neutrogena® Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes sold in the United States from April 1-June 30, 2015, as well as $1 per pledge made at wipeforwater.com to The Nature Conservancy, with a combined maximum contribution of $50,000 on the retail sales and pledges.  Take the pledge and share the impact of your water savings.  Below, watch the video for their mission then read my thoughts on the product!

   

• Retails $3.24 for 7 count, $7.49 for 25 count.
• About the product: These 97% naturally derived, ultra-soft wipes are clinically proven to completely remove dirt, oil and makeup, targeting even the most stubborn long-wearing and waterproof makeup.  Skin is left purified, fresh and healthy-looking with no greasy residue, so there's no need to rinse.  Made from naturally-derived fibers that come from sustainably-managed forests.  Contains Peruvian Tara Seed bionutrient which hydrates and softens skin naturally.  Rich in Vitamin C, B and complex sugars.  Tara seed works within the skin to boost moisture levels and help prevent dehydration while strengthening skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• What I Thought: Not sure if it's because of the green packaging that made my senses do this but it had a light apple-like scent to it.  The cloth is definitely softer than other facial wipes I have used but a downside of them is they are not biodegradable.  Though you're saving water, you are adding to a landfill somewhere with unknown results on how quickly, if at all, this product will break down.  I do say it's great at removal of stubborn makeup as you can see in my pictures below.  My skin felt a little flush after using but it didn't last very long.  It dried rather quickly and left my skin feeling soft & moisturized for long after.
• I would be open to buying it.

  
 $3.24 is a good price to try it for a week and see if you like it before you splurge.  Also check out and Neutrogena's Special Offers & Coupons for a variety of their products!

This is a sponsored post. I received this as a free sample from Crowdtap & Neutrogena® Naturals to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Review of BROOKSIDE Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters.

BROOKSIDE has an awesome product out called Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters.  It's made up of dark chocolate, crispy multigrains, cranberries, and juices of pomegranate, raspberry, and blueberry (to name a few).  They are Kosher but not gluten free.  I decided to make up little sample packs to distribute to my co-workers, as long as they provided me with some feedback!

Here's the feedback I received from others:

• Jackie: "These taste great! I like the crunch that it has with the berry flavor. I would like it in milk chocolate."
• Brandon: "Very tasty!"
• Jessica: "Very good! Tastes like Raisinets."
• Larry: "These were a treat. I especially liked the berries. Rich tasting. Thanks!" Then he added later, "They taste expensive."
• Jared (Who I was advised only eats healthy things.): "Excellent! Très bon!" 

Apparently these were SO popular that 3 of my sample packs were taken when I left them overnight.  Unfortunately, with no feedback left.  :(

My thoughts?  You can't just try it and not want more.  They taste great and are addicting!  Juice is infused into the chocolate making it very decadent and rich.  When you bite in you get a crispy crunch, also a soft chew from the cranberries and chocolate.  I left these out on the coffee table and Chris took a handful and was hooked.  He stated more than once, "These are REALLY good!"  They are great alone or paired up with something.  My pairing was as a topper for ice cream!  A MUST try!

The only thing that might be a problem for some people who calorie count is the serving size.  It does state that 40g, about 22 pieces, are 190 calories, but the pieces really range from large to small.  So unless you have a scale, you might go over your limit.  I got a 5oz bag which states there's about 3.5 servings per container, and I was able to give most of it away and enjoy a lot for myself.  So as long as you have self control (which can be hard with this because it's so tasty) you'll do fine!

This is a really good product to indulge.  I haven't seen it in my local stores yet but if you do, you should pick one up and give it a try!  You can also buy them on Amazon.com where they range from $4.12 to $43.74, depending on how much you want to indulge in!

This is a sponsored post. I received this as a free sample from Crowdtap & BROOKSIDE to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Review of Neutrogena® Rapid Dark Circle Repair eye cream.

I have awful dark circles under my eyes.  I've had them for a long time and have been told it's due to allergies, not sleeping enough, diet, and most recently, possibly due to my thyroid condition.  Whatever the reason, I've learned to live with it and also learned to spend a lot of money trying to cover them up.  So when I received this Neutrogena® Rapid Dark Circle Repair eye cream, I was excited to give it a go.

• Retails $20.99 for 0.13oz.
• About the product: Wake up fatigued eyes & visibly reduce the look of dark circles in just one week.  This nourishing, ophthalmologist-tested eye cream is formulated with Accelerated Brightening Complex to make under-eye skin tone more even and diffuse the look of dark circles while light reflecting minerals brighten eyes.
  
  Ophthalmologist
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
• How to use: Twist the bottom of the package until the product appears on the brush, approximately 10 twists.  Apply to eye area alone or under makeup.  To clean, wipe brush with dry cloth or tissue.  Do not wet, or allow water to pass through brush.

• What I thought: First off it took just over 50 twists to get the product to come out onto the brush.  Yes, I counted!  The wording on the package, "Visibly reduces the look of dark circles in just one week," makes it sound like after a week you could either stop using the product or use less, but after a week I noticed no difference in my dark circles.  I also wasn't sure how much of it I should use so I ended up using it 2 times a day.  Once in the morning before I applied my makeup, and once in the afternoon after removing my makeup and washing my face.  It reminds me of a Clean & Clear Under Eye Brightening stick I used to like that has since been discontinued.  How it helps diminish the circles is by reflecting light and you can see the shimmer in the product when applied.  The brush was soft, the product was definitely moisturizing.  Unfortunately, it left the skin around my eye looking dewy and feeling oily on its own and I ended up using the same amount of concealer as I had in the past.  One thing I wish it would have done is left a cooling effect on my skin.  Something I had loved about the Clean & Clear product.
• I wouldn't buy this.

I must say this might be a better product for someone who doesn't have dramatic racoon eyes like I do.  So my search will continue to find something that will help save me from my awful dark circles. 

This is a sponsored post. I received this as a free sample from Crowdtap & Neutrogena® to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Discover what's new with Campbell's®!

Crowdtap and Campbell's sent me a bunch of products to try and give my honest opinion about.  Below are the products I received.

 

• Swanson^® Traditional Cream Starter™
• SpaghettiOs® Micros
• Campbell's® Chunky Beer-n-Cheese with Beef & Bacon Soup 
• Prego® Homestyle Alfredo (Light) 
• Campbell's® Creamy Poblano and Queso Soup 
• Campbell's® Creamy Parmesean Chicken Skillet Sauces
• Campbell's® Savory Portobello Soups for Easy Cooking
• Campbell's® Slow Kettle® Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup with Herbs and White Meat Chicken

In addition, I received a cutting board, wooden spoon, tote, shaker, and recipe book with coupons.  Here are some of the highlights of recipes we made with our new ingredients!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Swanson^® Traditional Cream Starter™

The 1st recipe we tried was for the Loaded Baked Potato soup & it was YUMMY!  Here's Campbell's Recipe and below is our version of ingredients.

• 1/2 package Morningstar Veggie bacon strips
• 1 pound russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carton (26.1 ounces) Swanson® Cream Starter Traditional or Swanson® Cream Starter 25% Reduced Fat
• 1/2 cup shredded GoVeggies Cheddar cheese
• 3 green onions or fresh chives, chopped

We didn't change the recipe too much but made it vegetarian friendly by using fake bacon.  Also we're glad we used 1/2 of what it called for on the onion or I think it would have been overdoing it.  The only other thing we probably would have done differently was boiled the potatoes to soften them up a bit more.  It turned out very hearty and flavorful!  We'll definitely be making this again!

Creamy Parmesan Chicken

Campbell's® Creamy Parmesean Chicken Skillet Sauces

 

I can't even begin to say how ridiculously quick and easy this was.  We followed the recipe exactly and, even though it suggested it was "Great served with pasta!" we just had it on its own with a side of vegetable and potatoes.  There was a lot of sauce when it finished cooking, so it probably would have been a lot more awesome over a bed of linguine or fettuccine.  The sauce was pretty mild as far as flavor but it complimented the chicken well.  We'll be trying it over pasta next time.

Milton is a chicken fiend!

Creamy Poblano Mac & Cheese

Campbell's® Creamy Poblano and Queso Soup

This one took a bit more preparation with the ingredients.  We cooked this up but without the cilantro (because I HATE cilantro) and accidentally used monterey jack cheese instead of cheddar jack.  We made those Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go as a side with it which ended up being a really good choice, but I think those biscuits are addicting and would go with absolutely anything you pair them with.

This was a great meal with lots of flavors.  It was very filling and it made a lot for 2 people so this would be great for a family meal.  I thought it was a tad on the soupy side and would have had a better kick if we used the right cheese, we are going to be making this again, and probably soon!

Additional Items

Before I wrap this up, just a few additional thoughts on some of the other products we ate.

The SpaghettiOs® Micros made me realize how old I'm getting as I got terrible heartburn after eating them.  Still has the same fantastic taste as they have always had and it was very quick and easy to heat up in the microwave, but I think I've outgrown my Uh Oh SpaghettiOs days.

Chris ate the Campbell's® Chunky Beer-n-Cheese with Beef & Bacon Soup.  He thought it was a little on the salty side, but was surprised at low calorie content for the whole can (190), considering what it is.  He wished it would have had a bit more meat in it too.

I ate the Campbell's® Slow Kettle® Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup with Herbs and White Meat Chicken.  It was very delicious and head hearty chunks of veggies, meat and pasta. It's a really good portion also so I felt full after eating it.  The mix of the herbs & saltiness was perfect and it gave off more of a homemade taste.  Plus the whole container had only 100 calories!

~

We don't make meals like this as often as we should.  Campbell's Kitchen is full of information, awesome recipes to fit your budget or needs, and coupons!  Check out their site and try one of their recipes.  I'm really looking forward to even more new things I can discover with Campbell's! 

This is a sponsored post. I received free samples from Crowdtap & Campbell's® brand to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Review of Listerine® HealthyWhiteᵀSodium Fluoride Anticavity Mouthrinse.

Again, Crowdtap & Listerine® have graced me with their presence of fine products.  This time with Listerine® HealthyWhiteᵀᴹ Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Mouthrinse.  Woah, that's a mouthful!  Well, when you have 19 different mouthwashes to choose from, the names are going to start getting a bit long.  But it's helpful in helping review all the differences to see what might best meet your needs!

I'm not big on whitening products for a few reasons.  Depending which method you use, it either hardly works, or it can be very expensive to have multiple treatments done for it to work.  Toothpastes show minimal effects, if any at all, even with long term use.  Bleaching kits could take a few weeks of treatments to show, and laser treatments work much quicker but are so darn expensive!  Many methods also usually use hydrogen peroxide.  There has been back and forth if it's really safe to be using.  The most I've read up on it is that it can cause a lot of irritation if it comes in contact with your gums.  I have enough issues with my teeth, TMJ, and Oral Allergy Syndrome that I usually just stay away from whitening stuff all together.  Unfortunately, coffee, wine, and tea addictions are my main issues keeping my teeth not so white.

I already love Listerine® products for a multitude of reasons.  The fact they they have become so innovative to meet your needs.  You want mint?  Whitening?  Alcohol free?  Original?  You got it!  None of them taste great... but they DO taste a heck of a lot better than store brand rinses.  Sure, sometimes you can find a store brand that's competitive, but I've learned the hard way that Listerine® is top notch!  If their product is labeled gentle also, trust it!  You won't feel the need to spit it out immediately after taking a swig of it.

This Listerine® HealthyWhiteᵀᴹ is a bit different than their other HealthyWhiteᵀᴹ rinses as it doesn't contain Hydrogen Peroxide for whitening.  I also noticed the alcohol content was 14%, the highest of all the other HealthyWhiteᵀᴹ rinses they offer.  I can't really tell by looking at the ingredients how it's whitening but I trust Listerine® has done their research and maybe if you're big into chemistry you can figure it out. 

My thoughts?  The product is clear and has that strong Listerine® scent.  I was surprised, with the high alcohol content, exactly how gentle it was!  It wasn't overpowering and had a light tingle with a burst of mint.  Even less harsh than the Listerine® Naturals I tried.  It just keeps getting better and better!  It left my mouth feeling clean and fresh long after use, which I think they have perfected long ago.  As far as it being considered a whitening product, of the limited time I was using it I don't feel it whitened my teeth any more, but I do feel it helps with staining if you use it directly after a drink or meal that may cause staining.  It has been extremely helpful after my morning cup of black tea.  Who knows, maybe after time I will see a difference.  It's still a great product overall.

Want to try it for yourself?  CLICK HERE to get a $1 off coupon! 

This is a sponsored post. I received this as free sample from Crowdtap & Listerine® brand to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Deck the Stalls with a Cottonelle Holiday Party!

Crowdtap & Cottonelle have once again sent me some awesome butt related cleansing items!  If you know me and my friends, we're all about clean butts, butt problems, toilet humor, and the legend of Poop Man!  This time I received glitter glue, confetti, coupons, question cards, and 5 Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Cleansing Cloth Dispensers to host my own Deck the Stalls Holiday Party!  We almost couldn't contain our excrement... err... excitement!

Originally, it was supposed to happen on November 20th so I had planned to go out of town with my goodies and have a party elsewhere on the 22nd.  I had even created a Facebook event, "Amanda's Cottonelle Deck The Stalls Holiday Party!"  USPS said my package arrived to be shipped on the 19th and then nothing else updated until I ended up receiving it 2 days before Thanksgiving.  That plus me getting the flu on the 19th (but I got my flu shot!) made me have to put the party on hiatus.  On Thanksgiving I gave a coupon, some question cards, and 2 of the dispensers to my BFF, then got together with my family on Sunday to decorate.  I thought my boyfriend would want to decorate one but he backed up.  Or, umm... backed out!  So it was just my mom and I and then I connected with my friends over social media to see how their party was going.

My mom's a very talented crafter and loves to do Artist Trading Cards.  She specializes in rubber stamping though so we were discussing for a bit what we wanted to do.  I was afraid, because of the plastic, that nothing was going to stick, or that using markers or stamping would smear.  We decided to stay away from stamping & took out a ton of Christmas crafting supplies from gems, to washi tape, to stickers and got to the decorating!  I was surprised how well everything stuck to its place.  Things that had no stickiness to them we used glue dots or a tape runners on to get the embellishments to stay.  We were very happy with the outcome!

BEHOLD!  The "Nutcracker" and Santa themed dispensers below!

 

My mom did the "Comfort and Joy" themed dispenser.  I found it funny she had never used these before and she was going on and on how the wipes would bring "comfort and joy" to dirty bums! When she was done I opened the package and showed her how to use the dispenser.  I explained their SafeFlush Technology™ and Quick Dry Performance to her.

My friends, on the other hand, are no strangers to the awesomeness of Cottonelle's wipes.  Below are their masterpieces.

We also got cards with questions to answer on them.  Of course, most of the answers from my friends were answered with "butt problems" followed by uncontrollable laughter.  My mom got one asking about a favorite holiday memory so she told me how once her uncle dressed up as Santa and he handed out the gifts to her and her siblings.  They knew it was their uncle though, so then they though their uncle was the one buying the gifts for Christmas, not Santa nor their parents.  LOL!

The winter holidays are not something that's really decorated for in the bathroom's of America but we can CHANGE that!  Get your crafting supplies out and have a Cottonelle Deck the Stalls party of your own!  Also be sure to check out the offers currently available on the Cottonelle page to save some money on your favorite products!

Thanks again to Cottonelle and Crowdtap for providing me supplies and the opportunity.  Thanks to my mom, Colleen, and Billy for making it a fun experience!

Review of Fast Acting Advil® Film-Coated Tablets.

Crowdtap and Advil® gave me another opportunity to sample and share "Fast Acting" Advil Film-Coated Tablets.

What better place to share these than at work?  I have a desk job and so sitting all day and being on the phone, the fluorescent lighting, the sound coming through the earpiece... it can be a recipe for headaches.  I decided to get a little crafty with this share and so I created little envelopes to put the blister packs in so my co workers could take them and have something nice to hold onto for use when needed.  I didn't realize that most would be needed right away!  I left them out on the desk with the coupons and explained my mission with Crowdtap and Advil.

Per their site, Advil advises: "Advil® Film-Coated Tablets goes to work in minutes.  Our latest innovation in relief stops pain before it gets worse.  This Advil^® is formulated with a unique Advil Ion Core™  Technology and an ultra thin shell to absorb quickly – in fact nothing is proven to work faster* (*Among OTC pain relievers.)  Use fast acting Advil^® Film-Coated for headaches, muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, back pain, and aches and pains associated with the common cold. Fast acting Advil^® Film-Coated leverages the rapid absorption properties of ibuprofen sodium, now available for the first time in the US."

All my co-worker samplers were happy to get this.  I was even asked if it was gluten free as there are some people with gluten intolerance in the workplace.  Initially I didn't have an answer but I did find on their FAQ page this: "I am allergic to gluten. Is it all right for me to take fast acting Advil^® Film-Coated? Gluten is not added to Advil^® Film-Coated products during the manufacturing process. However, we cannot guarantee that minute amounts of gluten or gluten derivatives are not contained in raw materials obtained from various suppliers for our manufacturing process since the end product is not tested for gluten. You should check with your doctor if you have any concerns about taking this product."  I can say that said person still used the product with no adverse reaction!

 

Unfortunately I have issues with migraines.  I'm happy to say that I don't suffer from them nearly as much as I have in the past, but I didn't think I would get the chance to have a need, or use for this in the time period allotted to write about my sample and share.  Well, I was wrong.  I've had a LOT of stress over the last few weeks, or I should say months... well, really years, and there was a day when I felt one coming on.  I thought there was no way I was going to overcome this as I've had these types of headaches and migraines before where I would take a prescribed medication and it would take a good 2 hours for the medication to kick in.  Sure enough, just as they say, within minutes it took the edge off the headache and it didn't develop into a full blown migraine.  I was surprised and relieved!

Want to try it yourself?  You can get a coupon HERE!

HELP Save the Undies with U by Kotex®!

Crowdtap has given me another opportunity to sample & share U by Kotex!  I was sent sent 3 sample packs, one for myself & 2 for my friends.  Each pack contained 2 U by Kotex Sleek® Tampons, and 2 Curves® Liners.

U by Kotex is on a mission!  A mission to... 

Save the Undies!

Oh you KNOW what we're talking about here!  How many pairs of undies have been lost by less than par period protection? Meredith says MILLIONS are lost EVERY MONTH!  Watch the video below to see how U by Kotex 3D Capture Core can help stop the carnage of lost undies, and at the end of the video select to see how it stands up to either red soda, pink lemonade, or the "mystery liquid."


Unfortunately, in demand as these were, I only had 2 sample packs to give out.  Want to try them out yourself?  Click right here to select your perfect match for samples and coupons.  But HURRY before they run out!  While you're at it, check out the Save the Undies page to learn more about U by Kotex's superior and innovative products, play Pad Racer or Pad Flyer, and take a quiz for some fun!

I've been one of the unfortunate ones.  Due to my hormones jumping around from hypo to hyperthyroidism, I never knew when my period was going to strike.  Hypothyroidism gave me longer and heavier periods.  Hyperthyroidism gave me spotting and missed periods.  I've lost far too many panties the last few years because of this and because of cheap period protection, though luckily, I've been more regular lately.  Why pay more to be constantly going through cheap protection or having to "double up" (you know, tampon and liner) to get the protection I need when I can find it in one product?

Not only does U by Kotex have cool and compact packaging, making it easy for storage and travel, they are doing everything they can to provide that superior protection!  The packaging is not discreet with their bold colors but hey, we're women, we get periods, it's normal, get used to it!

My friends who I gave the sample packs to were glad to take part in the sample & share.  Below are some statements from them!

Panty Parade!

Jess said: " I was really excited to try this product since I've been seeing new advertisements for them.  I like how the wrappers are cute and colorful, so I'm not embarrassed for anyone to see them.  I'm really happy with how they work.  For the size they are super effective!"

Michelle said: "So happy to have a new go to!  I really hate having to throw my panties away."

Michelle felt she didn't say enough so here's an extra sexy pic of her with her sample pack!

This is not the only mission of U by Kotex.  Did you know that over three-quarters of girls feel like they shouldn’t talk about their vagina or vaginal health in general, and more than half of girls say that most girls their age are misinformed about vaginal health?  I was extremely surprised!  U by Kotex wants us to get with Generation Know to put that to an end.  See how you can make social change & help others by taking action!  We shouldn't be misinformed or embarrassed by our bodies!

Be empowered!  

Be educated!   

Be U!

The Listerine® "Challenge" with NEW Listerine® Naturals!

Crowdtap has gave me another opportunity to sample and share Listerine^® Naturals Antiseptic Mouthwash in Herbal Mint.

Listerine® has a new product out called Listerine® Naturals!  It is 99% natural with ingredients derived from plant sources including eucalyptus, cornmint, ajwain seeds, stevia extract, and wintergreen oil, containing no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes.  They advise it is just as effective as the original Listerine® by cleaning the whole mouth and killing up to 99.9% of all germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis.  It also has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval!

I decided to do my sample and share at work.  So in our morning meeting I told everyone what my mission was with Crowdtap, and that I'd like them to try the Listerine® and give me their honest opinions about the product after using it.  I set up paper cups, the Listerine® Naturals bottle, the info sheet received from Crowdtap, and note cards for them to write their opinions on.

We're on the phones the majority of the day & sometimes we still need that extra blast of freshness, especially after lunch.  Somehow, my sample and share became the, "Listerine® challenge," though there really wasn't any challenge to it.  That's just what everyone decided to call it. 

 

Michelle & Tim about to give it a try.

Ken is taking the "Challenge!"

Listerine® is known for making very powerful and effective mouthwashes and not everyone likes that.  We even joked about how some people didn't want to use it before (and after) eating because they were afraid it would distort the taste of their food or drink.  So I was sure that I was going to get someone who was not going to like the product.  Below are the responses I received.

• Aaron: "I enjoy that it is clear and doesn't turn my mouth blue.  The flavor seems the same as your other fine products."
• Jess: "Very tasty.  Fresh feeling!  Nice after coffee!  Would definitely buy!  Best I've had."
• Charles: "You could mistake it as vodka water.  It's not as harsh as other products."
• Michelle Z.: "Really good.  Tastes like a milder Listerine®."
• @ArtKennyB: "Hyper-refreshing!  Like a Jackson Pollock painting exploded in my mouth!"
• Tim: "Good taste.  Mouth felt very fresh.  Extremely similar to original Listerine®.  Good product overall."
• Larry: "Smells good.  Doesn't burn.  Feels tingly.  Aftertaste is a bit strong.  Now that it's worn off, my mouth feels clean."
• Michelle B.: "Love that it's a natural product.  Would buy."

I was completely wrong!  Everyone actually liked it!  I had a few further discussions with some of my friends & samplers.  Mostly about how they could tell the difference that it was a natural product compared to the ones that aren't.  I was also asked if it was being sold  in stores yet.  Why yes it is!  Here it is at Target, Walgreens, CVS, drugstore.com, and probably many other retail locations!

So what were my thoughts on the product?

I was a skeptic!  Usually, with the original Listerine® products I will have that stuff in my mouth for only a few seconds and I want to spit it out right away because it's so strong I just can't stand it!  The original Listerine® contains 26.9% alcohol and the Naturals only 21.6%, which is the same percentage in the majority of their other mouthwashes.  Plus the active ingredients and percentages are the same throughout their line of antiseptic products.  When my turn came to try it, I was ready to disapprove.

LOVED IT!  It really wasn't as harsh as their other products though it will still give you that Listerine® tingle.  The hint of mint was subtle and it left my mouth feeling clean, and breath fresh for long after.  To me the aftertaste didn't linger for long, which is another thing I wasn't too fond of in their other products.  The only thing I wish it had in it was fluoride.  But WAIT... they DO have a Listerine® Naturals with fluoride!  I know what I'll be buying next!  Get your coupons here!

~

Thanks again Crowdtap for giving me this opportunity, to Listerine® for constantly being innovative, and my friends and co-workers for taking the "challenge!"