Review of Even Glow Serum – Vitamin C 20% by Valentia.

Even Glow Serum – Vitamin C 20% by Valentia

 

• Retails $70.00 for 1.18oz.
• About the product:
  • SUPERIOR INGREDIENTS INCLUDE: Organic Rosehip Oil, Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil, Green Tea Extract, Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, and Resistem (Plant Stem Cells). All ingredients chosen for their anti-aging properties and ability to enhance Vitamin C efficiacy on your face and skin.
  • EVENS SKIN TONE | INCREASES GLOW & RADIANCE: Vanquish dark spots and revitalize your skin with this new generation Vitamin C serum along with essential fatty acids that leave skin smooth and visibly brighter. Smooth skin capable of reflecting light will give your skin a youthful glow and a brilliant shine for that well-rested and refreshed look.
  • LUXURIOUS SMELL + ALL DAY HYDRATION - Experience the most addictive Vitamin C Serum on the market today. Non-Watery texture allows for greater coverage with less serum, deeply penetrating and reducing pores by locking in moisture.
  • REDUCES WRINKLES & FINE LINES: Special ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Organic Sea Buckthorn oil work to plump up the skin, reducing wrinkles leaving skin clearer and younger.
  • BOOSTS COLLAGEN PRODUCTION: The presence of Organic Rosehip Oil and a foundation of 20% Vitamin C increases collagen production so your skin retains the elasticity responsible for a youthful appearance and prevents skin sagging associated with aging. Enjoy smooth and supple skin that takes years off your face... LIFETIME GUARANTEE- Try our Even Glow Serum Today - RISK FREE.
  Ophthalmologist
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  

  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
  Ophthalmologist-tested
• How to use: Shake lightly 1-2 seconds before use. Wash face, pat dry and then apply a small amount of product to face and neck. Allow to dry before applying moisturizer.
• What I Thought: You have to find the right way to personalize this to your skin. I have combination skin, dry patches here, oily patches there. When I first started using it I would apply it twice daily after cleansing, then apply moisturizer, and it was a bit overpowering causing me to break out and my skin felt very oily after using. I ended up doing my normal cleansing routine in the morning and using the product only at night. This seemed to help maintain my skin's balance much better. The serum is very thick and it dries super quick upon application, so you really do want to put it on right after patting your face dry after washing it or it may not spread as evenly as you'd like it to. I found it worked best for me by applying 4 drops directly from the applicator to my face, on my chin, cheeks, and forehead, then massage into my skin in an upward & outer motion, then on my neck. It really does smell fantastic as it gives more of a citrus scent, and it diminishes quickly after use. I've been using it for a month now and it really has helped with evening out my skin tone, reducing pores, and fine lines (yes I have them) though they are still there. I'm sure after long term use they will get even better and I still have a lot of the product left. If you break out due to hormone fluctuations, as I do, it is not going to completely help with that, but it definitely helped my skin overall. 
• I would buy it.

You can currently purchase this for $35 at Amazon.com! That's a fantastic price to try it out and see if you like it yourself!

This is a sponsored post. I received this product for free via Valentia and Tomoson to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

 

Review of Secret Outlast® Completely Clean Clear Gel

I'm always up for trying new things, if I like them or not.  I'll be honest that when I 1st signed up for the Secret Outlast® Clear Gel campaign through BzzAgent I was sure I was not going to be a fan of the antiperspirant/deodorant.  I'll always try everything once and I love beauty products, fine soaps, and things that smell good, so why would I pass this opportunity up?

Secret claims its Outlast Clear Gel is:

• Specifically designed with fast drying ingredients to evaporate in seconds.
• Has a water-based formula allows active ingredients to permeate sweat glands faster and more efficiently than invisible solid deodorant.
• Let's you bid farewell to white marks forever with rub-off resistant coverage that won’t leave a trail.
• Is clinically tested to help stop odor before it starts, continually working to detect odor and wetness.
• Has a pH that minimizes odor-causing bacteria for longer-lasting, 48-hour odor protection.

I've been pretty loyal to the Dove brand deodorant lately and I hadn't used a clear gel deodorant in years, and there was a reason for that. I've tried clear gel deodorants in the past and they went on wet, and stayed wet... for too long.  Some even felt sticky.  I had NEVER tried one that I liked.  Even with the Dove deodorants there's certain ones I like and dislike in the invisible solids (my preferred type of deodorant), but this post isn't about that.  So, when this came in the mail I was in the mindset it was going to be like the other clear gel I had tried and I was going to dislike it.

My thoughts on this product?

LOVED IT!  Also, seriously considering switching it to my main deodorant.  I found 1-2 clicks gave me enough coverage and though it has a nice, fresh scent to it, it's not too overpowering.  Putting it on right after a shower or bath I didn't notice it as much and it didn't give that uncomfortable wet feeling.  Even putting it on when completely dry, it dried quickly (around 15-30 seconds).  It was completely invisible, considering the invisible solids still pill and leave white marks sometimes, even though they claim not to.  It also lasts a good long time.  Not sure about 48 hours, but definitely over 24 hours.  This lives up to what it claims!

Clear gel has come a long way since I tried it last!

When I explained to people about how I had received a sample through BzzAgent and had coupons so they can save money to try it themselves, the conversation I had with most people about clear gel deodorants were how they didn't like the wet feeling of them.  I had this conversation about how it felt with the guys on my team (since 1/2 of the coupons were for Gillette® clear gel) and a few other friends at work.  I let them know the 1st (and last) time I tried a clear gel it went on wet feeling and stayed that way for a long time, so I didn't blame them. Of course this was many years ago and I hadn't dabbled in that type of deodorant since.  I explained my experience and that clear gel has come a long way from many years ago, so they may change their minds now, like I have.

Some coupons were given out at work after our discussions, and after I posted on my facebook how I had coupons I mailed a few to friends.  I also had a conversation with my doctor today about different sites I'm on and campaigns I do for them.  This ended up in a whole conversation about how she loves clear gel deodorants and Secret, so another coupon gone.  Didn't expect that to happen!  Haha!

If you try it, let me know what you think!

Spread Posibilities... with the NEW Hershey's Spreads!

So if you've been following me on Twitter or Facebook you've probably seen a bunch of posts about a new product Hershey's is coming out with.  Simply called Hershey's Spreads, they come in 3 flavors: chocolate, hazelnut & almond!

Crowdtap gave me an opportunity to test it out & I received the hazelnut spread from them.  I was hoping to receive it before Festivus, Christmas & New Years as I had some baking ideas & that would have been an ideal time to "share" with others personally.  Unfortunately, I received it just after the new year.  So, even though the parties are over & done with, I got to try it with some things at home with my boyfriend & will share with the world of the internet the goodness of it.

The 1st thing I noticed is it's just like Nutella.  So, I'm the kind of person that's going to do some comparing.  It smells the same, tastes the same, spreads the same.  So what makes Hershey's Spreads better than Nutella?

Which is which?  Can you tell?  If you click on each one it should open a new page & make it bigger to compare.  Oh, & the URL should give it away.  :)  Almost everything is the same (serving size, calories, etc.) except for a few things.  The big thing for me was that, per serving / % daily value, the Hershey's Spread had 10% less saturated fat!

Initially when opened I could smell more hazelnut than chocolate.  Then, depending what I used it with, sometimes I would pick up more on the chocolate, & other times, more on the hazelnut.  The consistency was a tad thick so it might tear apart soft bread, but if warmed, it will spread more easily.  Please don't heat up the plastic jar it came in.  A spoonful or two in a small sauce pan on low heat will do the trick!  Below are some pairings I used it with.  I'll save the best for last!

• Toasted Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich:  I initially tried this on soft white bread but it wasn't that easy to spread & I ripped the bread apart.  After toasting the bread, the warmth of it softened the spread & it spread more easily.  Using it with peanut butter, it kind of drowned out the hazelnut in the product but all together, with the bananas, it was so yummy!  The next time I will just use the spread & forget the peanut butter.

• Pretzels:  Salty & sweet!  What's better than that?  The chocolate taste came out more with this pairing.  Because it is a bit thick, if you dip the pretzels in the jar it came in, you might end up with a lot of broken pretzel pieces left in it.  Best soften it up a bit before dipping your pretzels in.

 

• Coffee & Hot Cocoa:  Really easy.  Take 1 spoonful & stir it in!  Watch how easy it is right here in my short video.  I really thought it would be good in coffee considering it's hazelnut & the 1st ingredient is sugar but it left it pretty bland & I ended up adding more sugar to it.  It gave the coffee a hint of hazelnut but wasn't as great as I expected it to be.  The hot cocoa on the other hand ended up super creamy & tasty!  I just used one of those dried packets of cocoa, added hot water, a spoonful of the Hershey's Spread & it was like getting a hot cocoa from a cafe!  It made it THAT much better!  Try it!
• Waffles:  Just spread it on like butter.  The only problem for me was that it was just dry.  I like having my waffles where they are crisp but have that juicy bite when you drown it in syrup.  Even if I added syrup it didn't do much for me.  On the other hand, my boyfriend really liked it, without the syrup.

 

• Banana Bread:  Skip adding the chocolate chips & walnuts in the bread as the Hershey's Spread with chocolate & hazelnut will do the trick!  My boyfriend baked up a fresh loaf for us & spreading Hershey's Spread onto a warm piece was delish!  Next time I'm thinking we can somehow incorporate the spread into the bread that's baked.  Hershey's has a recipe for a Chocolate Banana Snack Cake on their site I may need to try out in the near future!

 

• Popcorn: We air popped a bowl of popcorn & added a little butter & salt.  I took 2 heaping tablespoons of the Hershey's Spread & melted it in a small saucepan on low heat and it quickly became a fondu-like consistency.  One spoonful probably would have been enough.  I took the melted spread & drizzled it onto the popcorn & it was amazing!  I do have to say that our fingers got messy eating the popcorn but who cares!  It was really easy & quick to make.  It left us wanting more when we were done!  A definite must try!

 

A little of this stuff goes a long way!  Hershey's has a lot of recipes on their site that are more baking related.  I think the next spread I want to try is the almond one!  You can definitely "Spread Possibilities" with Hershey's Spreads!  Keep your eyes out for this in your local grocer!

B&BW new Bubble Bath gets a HUGE THUMBS DOWN!

I got an e-mail the other day advising Bath & Body Works had $3 wallflower fragrance bulbs which was a pretty awesome deal & so I wanted to go get some.  That plus they just released a new signature collection guaranteeing the world's best fragrance & so if you purchased $10, with a coupon you could get 1 signature item for free.  I already wanted to go to Sephora for my free birthday gift, as I had 1 day or so left to get it, so I had my boyfriend cart me to the mall.

I was so excited to see that they are transitioning their wallflowers & candles to their winter scents already.  So after about 1/2 hour of sniffing all the new candles the wallflower bulbs were picked out.  My boyfriend bought those & used a 20% off coupon, making them even less than $3!  WOO!  Plus we used another coupon to get a free mini Snow Day candle!  For my coupon I got a small Cranberry Woods candle at $10 exactly & then, when looking for my free signature item I got SUPER EXCITED to see they came out with a Pink Chiffon bubble bath!  Love the scent & I think I already have everything else in that scent that they make, so the bubble bath it was for my free item!

I get home & decide I want to use it right away.  The 1st thing I notice is that the consistency is very runny.  It is also clear, not shimmery, opaque, and thick like their old bubble baths.  I dissolve it into the running water & it bubbles up, then almost immediately the bubbles start dissipating.  By the time the bath was full almost all the bubbles were dissolved.

I looked at the bottle again because I could have sworn I bought the shower gel instead of the bubble bath.  Nope.  I got the right product, or so the bottle says.  The scent is fine, doesn't seem any stronger or better than their old products.  So I'm really not understanding what they are advertising with these being so new or better.  Scent is the same, lingers the same, overall product is much, much WORSE!  And so what if the look of the bottle changed.

Just to make sure, the next night I pulled out an OLD bottle of their Carried Away bubble bath & used that.  Just as I thought.  It was thicker, it bubbled up thicker & LASTED THE WHOLE BATH!

So, here is your WARNING!  DO NOT BUY THE NEW BUBBLE BATHS FROM B&BW!  They retail $14 compared to their shower gels only at $12.50 and both are 10 oz.  You will be wasting your money when you can get the same bath experience by just tossing in a cap of the shower gel instead.  Seriously!!!  Why pay more for a product when it doesn't provide what it's supposed to & there's something else that costs less, smells the same, and will give you the same results?  I also noticed their priced had increased.  Shower gels went up by $1.50 & the bubble baths increased by $2.  I'm thinking this may have been within the last year though I'm not really sure.

I am so glad I got this for free otherwise I would have taken it back.  Whatever they did they really need to go back to how they made their old bubble baths.  I hope they do.

Now onto other things...

September is usually the month in Western NY where you start to see dramatic fluxes in temperatures and you start to anticipate the arrival of fall.  Then comes October, the temperature drops, we have cold rains, air that smells of burning fireplaces, occasionally snow (that doesn't stick), & just the perfect autumn weather.  This year we've had a few of those days that make you say, "I love this time of year!"  Oddly enough, with the leaves changing and falling, we were hitting temperatures in the 70's and even 80's.  So it feels like a never ending Indian Summer.  Even through the next week the highs are being predicted in the high 60's & low 70's.  What our average temperature should be for October are highs around 59º & lows around 43º.  I feel like I'm back in Los Angeles.

Now that I'm off the prednisone I'm still waiting for that day that I start feeling normal again.  All my doctors kept saying to me was that I'll probably start getting the results I'm (they're) looking for once I'm off of it.  It's been only a week & I still don't feel any different.  I kind of wish right off the bat, before & after the surgery, they would have told me that this recovery could take a long time.  Instead, everyone kept saying 6 to 8 weeks.  So 6 to 8 weeks was drilled into me & my expectations of this were high.  Upon talking with others who have had a thyroidectomy, some advised it shouldn't be long before I felt better, and others have been suffering the awful side effects of hypothyroidism for years.  I don't want to be one of those people.  Still trying to find my normal after years of suffering.  I've already been suffering for years being incorrectly diagnosed & treated.

I haven't really been having night sweats anymore.  Yay!  Except they have kind of become more random throughout the day.  Boo.  Still having a hell of a time getting a full night's sleep.  My patterns are all messed up.  I'm exhausted & can't seem to sleep more than a few hours at a time, though I'm sleeping all the time.  Since the day after my birthday I've felt awful.  In pain, tired, cold, hot, diarrhea, acid reflux, nausea, sneezing.  I've pretty much been confined to my couch & this is the 1st time I've really sat at my computer desk for this long.  Though the couch & another nap are calling for me right now.  Also, randomly the skin on my fingertips, no where else, decided to peel.  I have no clue if this is associated in any way to my hypothyroidism, though it's not unheard of.  It doesn't hurt or anything, it's just annoying.

Looks worse than it actually is.

I'm almost wishing the temperatures would drop here so I know what to be expecting with my hypothyroidism & the cold.  I already have a hard enough time handling food in the freezer.  It feels like my fingers get instant frostbite when I touch frozen stuff, & no I do not attribute my peeling skin on my fingers to handling frozen food.  The other day I curled up under a blanket on the couch & just couldn't get warm.  I could have sworn the temp inside my home was in the low 50's & my furnace was broken so I got up to check the thermostat.  Heat on, inside temp & set to temp the same, 69º.  What the flip!?  Now, remember how I've complained before about how 71º was too cold for me.  Ugh.  I knock the temp up a degree & am able to get a few hours of sleep, wake up, then get another hour of sleep in.

I feel like crap.

My 2nd Birchbox Review & Randomness.

Overview of the Birchbox I got: 

• Nail lacquer in Fox Hunt by Ruffian.
• Bon Genre Eau de Parfum by BCBGMAXAZRIA.
• Ultimate Youth Power Eye Serum by Racinne.
• Intense Repair Complex by Airelle BERRIMATRIX.
• This is a Sea Salt Spray by Davines.
• Savings coupons for Birchbox purchases.

I'm going to start off by just saying that I really dislike the ruffian manicure.  I think no matter which way you do it it's weird looking & there's no way you can make it look good.  Perfect example?  Look at the first picture here.  It looks like her cuticles are bleeding orange.  It looks like you screwed up painting your nails, the coat of polish shrunk, you have some weird complex & color showing underneath around your cuticles, or your nails are growing out diseased or with some off color after you painted them (depending which colors you are using).  I am hoping this trend doesn't last long.  I'm also not too keen on the half moon manicures but they don't look as weird to me. *end rant*
 

• Nail lacquer in Fox Hunt by Ruffian.  Orange is the new black this season or so they say (whoever they are).  It's not my favorite color, especially on me, but this shimmery, bright, orange-ish red has me changing my mind.  ONE coat of this is all you really need & is pictured below.  The picture I took makes it a little bit brighter than it actually is but the links to the product show the actual color much better.  After about a week I had some normal chipping (being the crafty lady I am) around the tips of the nails and it was very minimal.  This was without using a topcoat also because I was just lazy the last time I painted my nails.  I have to say I am very impressed with this polish.  I'm open to buying it in the future.

• Bon Genre Eau de Parfum by BCBGMAXAZRIA.  My boyfriend liked the way this smelled on me but there are days I like this and days I dislike it.  Birchbox described it to have top notes of lychee and red berries, middle notes of tiger lily and jasmine noir, and also notes of sandalwood with golden amber.  Other sites I have found also describe the fragrance as having bergamot, tuberose, cardamom, black pepper, patchouli, and black vanilla.  It reminds me of a much more floral version of Yves Saint Laurent's Baby Doll though the notes are completely different.  I feel like I am picking up more on the amber and tuberose though I do get a bit of the berries when I wear it.  It's very strong so a tiny spritz will last you the entire day.  Don't go heavy on it!  This just reminds me of too many other perfumes on the market & it's not my style.  I'll keep the sample & use it, but I wouldn't buy it in the future.
•  Ultimate Youth Power Eye Serum by Racinne.  I have awful dark circles under my eyes & I've had them for years so I was a bit excited to get this.  Just a bit because I've tried almost everything to get rid of them & nothing has ever worked.  It claims to have plant stem cells, amino acids and all sorts of things to cure your dark circles, enhance production of collagen, moisturize, brighten, firm skin, and stimulate blood flow around the eye.  There isn't really any scent to it & it goes on wet but within a few minutes it seeps in and is unnoticeable on the skin.  I've been using it for a few weeks now and the skin around my eyes feels fresh and moisturized.  I think the collagen production worked a bit too well as my eyes seem more puffy than normal especially around the eyelid.  Nothing too drastic though.  I really don't see any difference at all with my dark circles.  I can't find the insert that came with the bottle to see if they listed a time frame for maximum results, considering I've seen some products say 2+ months.  There might be a slight difference but I really can't tell & I'm not going to fork out $32 for minimal, unnoticeable difference in my dark circles, puffiness I don't really want, and a good moisturizer for the eyes that I can find for less in other products.  I wouldn't buy this. 

• Intense Repair Complex by Airelle BERRIMATRIX.  I got a teeny tiny sample of this that lasted me about 2 weeks & boy was I upset when this was gone!  I used this as a moisturizer after washing my face in the morning & night every day & it was FANTASTIC!  So this is said to be packed with antioxidants, be based on a phytonutrient found in blueberries, improve circulation, and help reduce lines & restore rough or dry skin.  It was very watery for its consistency and absorbed extremely quickly.  After just a few days of use my skin felt fantastic & very balanced!  My combination skin felt normal and even for once, and I had NO breakouts!  It also had a nice, light scent that didn't linger long after application.  The instructions advised to use a dime sized amount, so I did, & a little does goes a long way.  The only real downside to this product was the price.  $116 for 1.7 fl oz.  I would definitely buy this (if I could afford it)! 

• This is a Sea Salt Spray by Davines.  Sea salt sprays were the new "in" thing this summer for hair giving nice, beachy waves.  I was a bit surprised to receive this considering I put in my profile that I had hair that was dry/damaged and too short for a ponytail.  I even had to question Birchbox on Facebook their decision to send it to people who listed what I did in their profile, & also questioned if anyone else with short hair liked it & how they used it.  I got mixed responses & Birchbox's response was that it was moisturizing so it should help.  My hair is still extremely short but there's enough length where I felt I might be able to enhance my natural waves that I do have & get a good use out of the product.  And I REALLY tried to get it to work with my hair but it just wasn't happening.  I tried using it with hair oils, with hair cream moisturizers, with no additional hair products, on dry hair, on damp hair.  My hair always frizzed up & felt terribly dry & even more damaged when using this product.  Even with the moisturizers that I tried applying at different times before and after applying this product.  Every time after use, I couldn't wait to wash it out of my hair.  I doubt it was the length of my hair but I'm almost positive it was the fact that my hair is bleached blond.  It's smelled great, but that was about it for me.  I'll be giving the rest of the sample away to a friend.  This product may work well for others, but I wouldn't buy it.

Now for some random chatter.

Today is my last day on the prednisone!  I'm still not feeling any better, though I'm not feeling worse which I guess is a good thing.  Within a day or 2 I'll most likely have the awful withdrawal symptoms I usually get with stopping the medication.  Hoping that lasts only a week.  I'm still not getting much sleep at night & I'm insanely exhausted & symptomatic throughout the day.  Can't wait for this to end.

I did get my new prescription glasses though.  I'm supposed to wear them all the time & I was told that it might take a few days to get used to them but I think the script may be a little off.  It's amazing how well I can see with my left eye through them but now the right eye seems blurred a bit through the glasses, which makes the overall vision seem a bit off.  *sigh*  Not really sure if I need this adjusted or if it's something that I'll just get used to.  I have the feeling I need an adjustment.

My birthday is coming up shortly.  I'm not going to say how old I am turning but I can say I am not upset about it.  Though some of my friends were upset turning this old.  Which I found funny.  People keep asking me what I want.  I don't really want, nor need anything.  I jokingly told my friend on the phone yesterday I wanted the $116 bottle of Airelle.  If anything I need either money to pay bills right now, or I need things done around my home like having the doors replaced, having my entire kitchen and bathroom redone, replacing my carpets & window blinds.  Stuff like that.  To me though it's just another day.  Nothing special.  I'm most likely going to spend the day on my couch in pain, writing letters, reading a book, ignoring phone calls, & staying away from the internet.  Just like most days lately.  And that's how I want it to be.

Found out our little mew was peeing outside the litter box again.  It only happened a few times and so we were able to clean it up right away.  It's been over a year since we got her & since we had the initial problem of her doing this so I knew something was up.  I got a vet appointment right away & found out she had a UTI and blood in her urine.  Poor girl.  She got an antibiotic shot & I have to take her back in soon for another checkup.  We had one more incident the night after the vet visit but she's been back to using the box regularly again.  I am still keeping an eye on her though I think she's doing much better now.

'Alohi tuckered out after the vet visit.

I was getting an insane amount of spam comments on this blog for a while.  They were mostly on my post about the Kashi Hummus Crisps so I'm kind of curious as to what was leading them there.  Really weird comments having nothing to do with the post or this blog & then links to God knows what.  I got 7 or more in one day & so I decided to turn off the comments to that post.  Every now & then I get another on some other post of mine & I just delete them.  Am I the only one getting these?  I can't be.

If you haven't noticed yet, The Body Shop is selling their Honeymania online already!  I've been trying to save money until I can get back to work again though I'm kind of kicking myself for not buying some when they had a 50% off promotion going on.  So I've been on a honey kick!  Last night's bath consisted of:

• Flying Saucers bath foam by Lush Cosmetics (no longer available)
• Killer Beez soap by Villainess
• Honey moisturizing shampoo by The Body Shop (no longer available)
• Honey & Orange body wash by The Body Shop (no longer available)
• Honey & Almond lotion by The Body Shop (no longer available)

Target currently has a sample up on their samples page for Simple Skincare.  You have to fill out a short survey & then provide your address & you should have it in a few weeks.  These go quickly so act fact!

Well, I feel like a before noon nap now.  Take care everyone!

“If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes.”

First off this is VERY important to me!  Please take a moment and go to this link & sign the petition for change in the treatment of patients with thyroid disorders WORLDWIDE!  It would be even more amazing if you would SHARE it and its importance to your family, friends and even people you don't know.  I had already suffered under the care of one endocrinologist who did not treat me well, nor understand how I could still be suffering because he was basing it off of old education.  My family and I soon learned how the condition was affecting me more than he did & I found a much better doctor.  It is such a complicated condition & doctors need to be educated & treat patients individually & differently, keeping up with all the new information & medicine that can HELP US!  So, PLEASE, SIGN & SHARE!

This WILL put you on an e-mail list for Change.org but it is VERY EASY to unsubscribe.  After you sign, you should immediately get an e-mail from change.org with links at the bottom where you can choose to either update subscriptions, or unsubscribe.  It's THAT EASY! 

I got my 2nd Birchbox the other day!  Some of the products I love & some I'm still trying out so expect an update w/in the next few weeks with the reviews!

The holidays are coming and most stores have their Autumn lineup of scents out.  If you don't already know, The Body Shop will be releasing a new, limited edition line called Honeymania (If you click the link you can already see a few of the products that will be available) and you should start seeing it in your local stores & sold online by mid October with their holiday lineup.

OH how I LOVE honey!  They way it smells, the way it makes my skin feel in beauty products, the way it tastes!  I was told they will be making a bath melt with this line also.  I think it's kind of a perfect time for them to be releasing the line as it will be autumn so you will not be chased down by bees wearing this scent (at least here in NY you shouldn't).  I had that problem a while back with a honey & almond/orange product of theirs.  I'm so excited for this line to be released!

Redbook is currently having a Honeymania soap giveaway through October 14th, 2013.  There will be 10 winners & you can only enter once during the sweepstakes period.  If you do not want the free trial of the magazine please MAKE SURE you select the "CLICK HERE" in the subscription disclaimer to keep you from getting it.  Good luck if you enter!

I haven't been very motivated, nor feeling well, the past week.  I woke up the other day to the temp outside at 42º and the inside temp 70º which felt freezing to me.  I took my medication, fell asleep for about another hour on the couch curled up under 2 blankets, woke up for breakfast then fell asleep probably for another 2 hours.  I felt tired, achy, & wished it was a dark, rainy day because then I could somehow justify my laziness.  Coffee couldn't even keep me awake.  The next day my wish for rain and gloom came true & the day was wasted though I got some reading & writing done.  Yesterday the temp got up to almost 90º and my body couldn't decide if I wanted to be extremely cold or extremely hot, & today the high is supposed to be 86º.  Then on Friday the high is supposed to be only 55º.  It's THAT time of year in WNY and my hypothyroidism is NOT helping!

I've been writing this over the last few days also to get stuff out of my head.  Still frustrated with my vision & how I am feeling, I had blood taken on Monday and have 2 appointments tomorrow so I'm really hoping to have some answers as to what's going on with my body & condition.  I have a feeling I am going to need more medication adjustments.

The other day I also realized just HOW dry my hair was.  My friend was taking me out & so, while getting ready, I took my flat iron to it & that really didn't work out so well.  Even on the lowest heat setting it just seemed to singe my dry hair even more.  I have been neglecting using oil in my hair lately so I need to bring that back into my daily routine & also do a conditioning masque a few times per week.

I put a tweet out the other day that stated, Had the #muddiest, #dirtiest looking #bath ever tonight. #Tub was a complete #mess after. #Skin feels amazing! More later! :)  Here's the, "More later," part.

The last order I placed with Drugstore.com I was looking for new products to try to help with my dry skin after the thyroidectomy and I came across a line of products from a company called The Seaweed Bath Co.  Since I felt I had enough bar soaps & shower gels & am always looking for new bath additives, I noticed their Wildly Natural Seaweed Powder Bath with Hawaiian Kukui Oil & decided to get it in the Citrus scent.  It was on sale, I like seaweed & all natural products, I got another free product of theirs with it, I checked out the reviews & decided that this was my kind of product!  So I bought it.

When I received it I noticed there was a disclaimer on the product that advised to consult a doctor before use if you had a thyroid condition so I went to their facebook page and questioned it.  They responded, "The warning on the packaging is due to the naturally occurring iodine found in seaweed, which we use in all of our products. Iodine can stimulate the thyroid."  When you have a thyroid, and it is working properly, it takes iodine & processes it into T4.  So, I can understand the warning, but I don't have a thyroid anymore so it was very interesting to learn that about the seaweed!

The ingredient are: Sodium chloride (dead sea salt), Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack seaweed), Citrus reticulata (tangerine) essential oil, Zingiber officinalis (ginger) essential oil, Argania spinosa (organic argan) oil, Aleurites moluccana (kukui) oil, Aloe barbadensis (aloe), Tocopherol (natural vitamin E).  

I posted some pictures of my preparation and the aftermath of using this product above.  It is suggested for adults that you use 4-5 scoops (it comes with the scoop), the bath water should be a medium brown, soak for 15-30 minutes, and for best results to use 3-4 baths per week, one per day.  The container says you should get around 16 baths out of it.

The 1st time I used this product I just dumped all 4 scoops into the running water.  Because the "powder" is so dense with all the oils & seaweed, it really didn't dissolve much.  So, the 2nd time I used a trick by putting it in a nylon knee high, tied it at the top, kept it under the running water & also massaged it between my fingers to get it to dissolve.  This worked much better, though, as you can see in the pictures, still left a film on my skin & tub.  Now, imagine how it was without the nylon!

The scent of it is very earthy and considering that seaweed is the 2nd ingredient, that's what you will pick up on the most.  I didn't really pick up on the citrus scent until the 2nd bath where I got more of it to dissolve.

I have an old, ugly, plastic tub where any oily bath additive will stick to the side of it.  Like with the tub, this will stick to your skin.  I should emphasize stick!  When you are done with the bath if you just get up & on out you will have brown dots, splotches, streaks all over you.  Just taking a washcloth & water will not remove it & you will actually need a soap or soap-like product to do so.  I'm going to suggest that if you DO buy this product to also either get one of their skin soaps or body washes to maximize the effect.  I had neither so I used a regular body wash & bar soap with a washcloth & the splotches were easily removed from my skin.  Your tub will also look like a mess once you let the water out but it's extremely easy to clean up with a cleanser & you don't have to scrub hard.

I can't even begin to tell you how awesome my skin felt after using this!  So soft and moisturized.  So if you have eczema, psoriasis or very dry skin this is a product for you!  The best I have used so far!  If you think the brown splotches and clean up would deter you from buying this product, I can assure you the the benefits of what this can do for you with regular use will far outweigh a minor annoyance of a dirty looking tub!

 Until later, happy bathing!

Review of Simple Skin Care Cleansing Wipes.

I actually got what I could consider to be a good night's sleep last night.  I woke up only a few times, or so I think.  I didn't fully wake up until the alarm went off.  Heart rate racing for a few minutes.  Now I'm feeling cold again & starting to sweat.  Comes & goes throughout the day & it seems nothing is changing.  I should probably stop writing about that until I start noticing it changing for the better. 

I have to go see my allergist today.  I have asthma & can get an asthma attack from cleaning up something dusty, to being out in harsh cold weather, to getting really upset about something.  So they are going to test my breathing but I don't know how much of a good the test will be due to the fact I'm on prednisone.

The reason why I posted before that I was so happy to have been off the drug for 2 years was the fact that every time I had a bad asthma attack from anything the doctors always wanted to put me on it & the stuff suppresses your immune system.  So it was a vicious cycle.  I would get some type of virus or cold & get an upper respiratory infection & with all the coughing I might get asthma attacks so they would throw me on it.  Then someone at work might come in with a different cold or I would just randomly catch a virus or cold that NOBODY else around me would have had or would catch from me then they would throw me on it again.  I'd be put on it sometimes 2-3x per year.

The receptionist for my eye specialist finally got back to me yesterday (I did call in the morning again) & apologized.  She took all my information, concerns & said she'd have a doctor get back to me, though it could be a few more days.  Well, I got a call back this morning & I need to stay to course on the prednisone.  I really want to get off it sooner so that I can finally tell how the thyroidectomy is really affecting my body.  Usually about a week after I stop the dosing is when I feel the worst.  This would be my projected week back to work.  I can handle the usual side effects that I get from the prednisone though, I've done it before.  I'm concerned about what it may be masking as far as the hypothyroidism.  I've never been on such a high dose of this this medication for this length of time, nor tapered off it it for so long.  I've also never experienced hypothyroidism this severe before.  So it's like a game, what's causing which side effect and am I figuring it out correctly or not?  Now I have to wait until almost mid September, when my next appointment is, so I can 1st be checked out & then maybe get more answers.

Now, onto products I've been using.  The last week I was going through my sample box of things I had & have been meaning to try and I pulled out these:

The Simple Skincare Cleansing Facial Wipes I used for about a week.  They list their product is hypoallergenic, containing a natural antibacterial ingredient, containing pro vitamin B5, determatologist AND ophthalmologist tested and it's vegan. (Just to name a few thing.)

I'm not really a wipes person for cleansing my face.  I have combination skin, dry here, oily there, breakouts in another spot, hormonal issues contributing to all of this, annoyance.  If I'm wearing makeup I'll use products to remove them 1st.  Then I like to use a lukewarm water splash on my face and apply the cleanser next.  Gently wash the cleanser off with the water a bit on the cooler side, pat dry, apply medicine in needed spots, wait a few minutes, then apply moisturizer, serum or oil.  That's my normal routine & it has been working pretty well except for certain monthly hormonal imbalances that I think will never be end.

Now for these cleansing cloths I didn't wet my face 1st.  They promote them as both a cleanser and also a makeup remover, including eye makeup and waterproof mascara.  I haven't really been using makeup after my surgery since I haven't been going out much but had a little on at one time using them & it did what it stated.  I used the wipe across my face, eyelids, & neck.  The wipes were very soft and directly after use my face felt damp.  I almost wanted to pat dry my face or wipe it but I gave it a about a minute & it ended up feeling nice & refreshed.  I still finished up my routine with my medication and then moisturizer & I was pleasantly surprised how soft & nice my skin felt after.

I find it kind of odd they promote it as alcohol free when it DOES include an alcohol ingredient.  This can be confusing to some as it has Cetearyl Alcohol.  Here's the thing, it's an alcohol but what's considered a "fatty" alcohol that is used for softening & soothing skin.  So it's a good alcohol, believe it or not!

There wasn't really anything that advised how many times to use them through the day so I would base it off your normal routine at 1st, then go from there.  So, for my packet I had I used 1 wipe in the morning & 1 at night.  Because it is so moisturizing, if I decided to make these normal routine for me, I would probably use them once a day and only at night as a makeup remover & cleanser, to remove that daily build-up, then using a different, gentle cleanser in the morning.

My thing is I like as little waste as possible.  This would cut down on water waste when cleansing my face, but it would add to landfill waste, but on their site it advises their products are biodegradable.  So pros instead of cons all the way on this.  It also took a lot less time for my cleansing routine.  I felt like I was missing something!

I have other products I want to try out so maybe once I am done with those I will switch to these for good.  Something good to try if you are looking for a new facial cleanser or makeup remover.  They also make them in exfoliating, oil balancing, radiance and just for eye makeup removal.  They do have other products as well.

Target sells a 25 pack for $4.99 and is also currently running a promotion where if you buy 3 packs (or any 3 products by Simple Skin Care) you get a $5 Target gift card!

Daily bath September 26, 2011 & a review.

• Honey Please natural bath fizzer by One.
• Honey I Washed the Kids soap from Lush.
• Honey moisturizing shampoo & conditioner from The Body Shop.

So this is another steal I picked up at my local Target the other day that was 1/2 off original price of $5.99.  I have always wanted to try One products because of what I have read about them being a very eco-friendly brand, but never really knew anyone else who had tried their products.  Also being a bit skeptical about the price & the fact they were being sold at this mass merchandiser, I just held off.

If you actually go to their site you'll notice a huge difference in the way the product looks there compared to what I obtained in my package.  I personally don't care but there's either a possibility I have an old product, or their marketing needs to get consistent.  The packaging is recyclable & the plastic that the fizzer is wrapped in is noted to be 100% biodegradable per the top of the packaging!  Awesome!  What's really great about this also is once you remove the wrapping, it's made to have the 2 pieces so you do not have to split it yourself & you can use it for 2 baths.  Another plus!

I decided to use the bottom 1/2 only.  Really not much of a "fizzer" & it pretty much sunk to the bottom like a rock & just kind of fizzled a bit.  I got kind of annoyed so I ended up crushing it after a bit & mixed it around in the water until it dissolved.  It was still extremely delightful, the honey & floral scent, moisturizing oils.  1/2 was definitely enough.

I would say I would buy this particular product of theirs again, regardless of the fizzing or not, even at full price.  Unlike Lush bath ballistics where you could be paying up to $7 for 1, they're a bitch to cut into halves, and usually 1/2 of theirs just doesn't cut it on a bath. (I still love Lush!)  Just keeping it real.  I did also buy a shampoo bar of theirs that I haven't tried yet & this experience had opened up the door to wanting me to try more of their products!

Check them out if you can! 
One Bath & Body can also be found on Facebook.