Review of Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask!

Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask by Valentia

In just a few more years I'll be 40 and those fine lines and wrinkles are starting to creep up.  I like the Valentia as a company, what they stand for, and their products, so when I saw that I could try Valentia's Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask I got excited.  Below is some information on the product and my review!

Valentia believes in the power of nature and therefore we proudly treat nature with the utmost respect and care.  Inside every Valentia product you will find ingredients that are organic, natural, toxin and paraben­-free.  Using sustainable energy, vegan friendly, animal cruelty free, and made in the USA.  Our experts have scientifically formulated products that are highly concentrated with only the most potent natural medicines, meaning a little goes a long way.  In our firm conviction that everyone deserves self ­care and to have access to luxury skincare solutions, we always keep our products priced fairly.

• Retails for $54.99 at Amazon.com.
• About The Product: Ultra Plumping Hydration mask is a powerful 3 in 1 rejuvenation treatment that boats both rapid results and long lasting effects in erasing the signs of aging. In 30 minutes experience a totally new type of glow with our innovative formula of organic, natural ingredients which, one: flood skin cells with essential moisture, two: detox everyday cellular wear and tear, and three: increase collagen production, for totally nourished, firm, even­-toned skin.
  ● INTENSE HYDRATION: Moisture is absolutely essential to glowing, younger looking skin. Valentia’s Ultra Pumping mask is formulated using natural ingredients that permeate profoundly, to moisturize on both a surface and cellular level and immediately rescue skin from dry dullness.
  ● COMBATS SIGNS OF AGING: Wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and dryness are the most common manifestations of skin fatigue. Valentia Ultra Pumping Hydration Mask contains a miraculous Silk Protein Amino Acid blend, which increases the skin’s production of collagen, the molecule that is fundamental in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and CoQ10 further improve elasticity for more taut skin and an even skin tone free from dark spots.
  ● NATURALLY NOURISHING INGREDIENTS: The highly concentrated Organic Rosehip Seed Oil is nature’s most powerful tool to lock in moisture for a 24 hour glow. Combined with a unique blend of amino acids and potent antioxidants, like Japanese Green tea and Aloe Vera, to reduce fine lines, increase collagen production, and fight natural skin irritants.
  ● GLOWING RADIANCE: Valentia’s exclusive ingredients are meticulously selected from the highest quality, organic, all natural, resources for their individual medicinal values and also for their powerful combined and cumulative effects together.
  ● ORGANIC SEA BUCKTHORN OIL: An anti­aging wonder berry that does it all: fewer fine lines, diminished sunspots, more even skin tone, and firmer, more supple skin. Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil is one of the main ingredients in Ultra Pumping Hydration Mask for it’s unprecedented results.
  ● IN HOME SPA TREATMENT: Lifelong exposure to toxins and free radicals seems like a giant battle for your skin to conquer. Valentia offers an at home rescue opportunity to nourish delicate facial skin with nature’s most restorative ingredients.
• How To Use: Apply to face avoiding the eye area.  Leave on for 15-30 minutes.  A slight tingling sensation is normal.  Use a damp cloth and warm water to remove.
• What I Thought: It has a gelatinous consistency that is easy to smooth onto your skin.  I felt it gave off more of a cooling sensation than tingling while applied and waiting for it to dry.  While it is drying you can feel it tightening you skin.  I used this once a week for 3 weeks.  I dampened a cloth with warm water and used it to easily wipe the product from my skin after 15-30 minutes.  Once it was off, my skin was ultra soft and smooth to the touch.  It felt plumped, hydrated, and healthy.  My skin definitely gave off a more healthy glow and some of my finer lines were less noticeable.  It also smells fantastic!
• I would buy this!

You can currently purchase this for $24 at Amazon.com!  In the link, check out some of their other Special Offers and Product Promotions to save even more!   Also, check out another review I did of their Even Glow Serum!

This is a sponsored post.  I received this product for free from Valentia, through Tomoson, to try & 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.

Love your booty & keep it fresh with Booty Fresh!

My best friends and I are always complaining about butt problems, so much so that if you know us well enough, or follow us, you will often see us mention either, "Butt problems," or, "Occupado!"  So when I saw the opportunity to test out Booty Fresh I jumped right on it!  For this post I teamed up with my bestie, Brown.  I transferred some of the product into a spray bottle like the one it came in, gave her the directions, and we were good to go.

After a little bit of time I asked my number 2 for her opinions on the product.  I'm going to get it out there right away that we both came to the conclusion this is not a product we would buy.  BUTT, it did have its pros and cons and I think there is a market out there for it.  So, I'm going to start with some details about the product and its claims, then Brown will give her opinions, then I will give mine.

• Retails $35.00 for 4oz on Amazon.
• About The Product:
  
  • GET WHERE SOAPS, WIPES, AND TOILET PAPER CAN'T: Take Poo Pourri a step further! Toilet Paper leaves little bits behind. Simply cleaning the surface with soap & water is not enough, because bacteria has sunk into the skin. Booty Fresh pulls out what you've been sitting in all day.
  • UNSCENTED & EXTRA SOOTHING: Booty Fresh is made with soothing aloe vera & leaves your bum smelling like... well...  nothing! That part is for you to decide.
  • EXTRACT & NEUTRALIZE ODOR-CAUSING BACTERIA: Booty Fresh is not a cover up nor a perfume. With one full application of Booty Fresh, & with normal bathing, you won't notice offensive odor from the offending area for up to 7 days. This stuff works!
  • IMPROVE YOUR LOVE LIFE: We spend so much time on our hair, face, and outward appearance, but then we forget our most offensive area! Finish the job, and have the complete confidence that you are clean and sexy.
  • IBS, CROHN'S DISEASE, INDIGESTION: Manage embarrassing fetor caused by bodily ailments.
  • ALL NATURAL: Safe to spray in mouth & safe to swallow. (Yuck! We DO NOT recommend.)
  • PET USE OK.
  • GET OVER 120 USES FROM THE 4OZ BOTTLE.
  • MADE IN THE USA.
  • HASSLE FREE GUARANTEE: Contact Amazon within 30 days for a full money back refund.
• How To Use: Approximately every 2 days, hold product upside-down and spray 3-4 properly aimed sprays directly on washed and dried booty.  Let product sit for 3-5 minutes or more then rinse or wipe off.

Now for what my best friend thought...

"Pros: smells good, does not leave residue on your skin, low irritation in certain areas.
Cons: will irritate certain lady areas so watch where you spray.  Steps of usage.

I was really not impressed with the overall product. First you spray it on before you shower, and you have to wait 5 minutes prior to bathing. This being the case, you are going to be washing yourself in the shower, in that area with soap and water so it eliminates the need for the product. This sequence of use makes it almost Impossible to know if the product is effective or not.

I would have enjoyed the product more if this was something you could use in between bathing, say post workout, when camping or traveling, or on hot days or times you need to freshen up down there and a shower is not an option."

Now my thoughts...

First off there's a design flaw.  It comes in a manual spray bottle with a tube that goes to the bottom of the bottle for the product, so you really cannot hold it upside-down and spray as all the air will go to to where the tube opening is & no product will come out.  I was able to disconnect the tube from the cap & get it to work that way.  It's also not that easy to aim and spray.  It will take a few times for you to get it right.

Considering hydrogen peroxide is the second ingredient in this, for us women, it may cause a little irritation the closer you get it to your baby cannon.  I got a little tingling when I first started using it, before I became a Booty Fresh applying pro.  That's all it was though, just a little tingle, nothing more.

You could recommend it to patients if you're in the professions of proctology, gastroenterology, esthetics, obstetrics & gynecology.  You NEED this if you're a stripper.  Or if you're into that kinky shit where you and/or your partner have your faces down in that region doing God knows what, I assure you this will probably make it more enjoyable.  Oh and the dreaded butt problems, this will help keep you fresh through those tough times.

They claim it is safe for pets but aloe is considered poisonous to both cats and dogs!  Usually pets have to ingest a lot for it to become dangerous to them but I wouldn't take any chances.

It has no scent that I could detect and I feel it did a great job at keeping my booty fresh!  The application and removal process is a bit much, in my opinion.  I would prefer it in a gel, aerosol, or wipe instead of the spray, and something that I could just apply and not have to wipe off, just for more convenience.  It DOES really work though after continuous use!  You can't just use it once then determine if it's effective or not.

It's currently on sale for $24.95 (plus shipping) at Amazon.  Try it once and see what you think!  Makes a great gag gift too just for the name and packaging.  Plus I'm sure we ALL know SOMEONE who really needs this!


This is a sponsored post. I received this free from Rubicoux LLC / Booty Fresh to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

Make One Switch to Purina ONE® Cat food.

I had been selected to "review" Purina ONE® dry cat food and my kitties couldn't have been more excited!  Ok, so I personally am not reviewing this, my cats are.  As I'm sure you are also aware, my cats also cannot speak to me like a human.  So if I were to interview them about this I would either be (a) ignored, or (b) meowed at in which I would have no clue how to translate.  Instead, this post will mostly be about the product and I'll try to do my best job translating how my cat felt about it.

I received a bag of  their Chicken & Turkey dry cat food and 'Alohi couldn't have been any more excited!  My gosh, she made it known!


So, why make the One Switch?

Purina has been an innovator on creating products to help us take care of our pets for over 85 years.  From being the first pet food in grocery with real chicken as the #1 ingredient, lowering their environmental impact by reducing water usage and waste, to formulating their foods with SMARTBLEND® to provide your pet with balanced nutrition.  If you click on the picture above it will take you to their site where you can compare their brand to others.  It shows for each product selected, their top 5 ingredients all the way down to vitamins, helping you select what's best for your cat!  You'll see they're quite comparable.  Unsure if it's right for you?  Ask your vet!

Cats can be sensitive to food changes so it's imperative that you do it gradually.  Purina shows you how easy it can be to make the One Switch in a week!

• Days 1–2: Introduce Purina ONE to your cat in small amounts, still feeding primarily his or her old food.
• Days 3–4: Feed a little bit more Purina ONE to your cat each day.
• Days 5–6: Gradually increase the amount of Purina ONE food and decrease your cat’s former food until you are feeding Purina ONE exclusively.
• Days 7–10: By now you should be feeding your cat exclusively Purina ONE.

Unfortunately my older kitty came down with a bad bout of diarrhea before I even got the food and is now on a diet of prescription food and meds before I can even attempt to switch him, but my younger cat, 'Alohi, made the One Switch!  As you can see in the video above she was so excited.

Their old food, which they both shared, after I would feed them they would eat just a little and then go about their cat day, doing cat things.  Then eat a little more here and there, but there would always be a little left in the bowls, or pieces all over the floor by the bowl. With the Purina ONE, she is fed and it's gone quickly leaving her full and satisfied until her next feeding.  I know this because if she wasn't she would make it known!  You heard how loud she is!

Milton wishes he could have made the One Switch.

Once Milton's tummy settles down I hope I can make the One Switch with him.  Based off the information I have, I'm confident in their product.  Plus they make a Sensitive Systems food which I think could be best to feed them both.

The prices can range dramatically depending where you get it, but Purina has set up a pretty good Where to Buy page.  Put in the food and size you are looking for and under "Shop Online" you can see competitors and their pricing.  While you're on their page, go & register to get a $2 off coupon!

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

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.

Reviews of a trio of products by Adeline Skin Care.

ADELINE SKIN CARE

 

Adeline was founded by a man named Mark and his wife.  Below is their mission from their website, and then my review of their 3 products I have tested:

A Digital, Boutique Company - We have chosen to start small and focus on quality and the customer experience. We may not be the biggest but we are the best at what we do. We deliver results that deliver results that don’t contain nasty chemicals and other additives. We do this because we have our customers at the top of our mind, all the time.
Forward Thinking - We are always trying to innovate and create better products. We also try to think outside the product and think about the user of the product. How does the bottle feel in their hand? How does the bottle function? Is it easy to use it? Does the user feel educated? These  questions we constantly think about at Adeline Skin Care.
Problem Solvers - We know alot of the time skin care products end up in the skin care graveyard because they don’t deliver the results or don’t meet the expectation. We want to avoid that with education and science.
Customer Support - We pride ourselves in our “bottom of the bottle” guarantee. We love our customers and we want them to love us and love using our products. We will do whatever it takes to make you satisfied.

Organic Eye Serum

• Retails $59.95 for 0.5oz.
• About the product:
• MOISTURIZE skin around your eyes with natural ingredients to reduce the appearance of crow's feet and fine lines.
• REDUCE dark circles under your eyes caused by aging, toxins, poor sleep, pollutants, and sun damage with our organic eye serum - enjoy a healthier, more youthful glow even when you're not wearing makeup!
• ELIMINATE brown spots and discoloration, reduce inflammation, improve clarity and tone to take years off your appearance in just 60 seconds a day using the best eye serum available.
• PROTECT the skin around your eyes from dangerous and unsightly damage with antioxidant vitamins.
• How to use: Pat gel and smooth over clean eye area with special attention to wrinkle prone areas.  Use daily for best results.
• What I Thought: The only thing I didn't care for about this product was its consistency.  One full pump provided a bit too much watery serum to be applied.  Eventually I learned to control the amount I wanted for use.  It went on very wet but it did seep in rather quickly leaving a slightly shiny look underneath the eye.  If you apply makeup or concealer on top of the product it may cause a reaction that will flake off the makeup, as I noticed this with a few liquid concealers I use, but not all.  I applied it both morning an night and within a few uses I noticed how soft the skin around my eyes were and it definitely helped reduce puffiness.  Within a few weeks a few of my more noticeable wrinkles around my eyes had been diminished but not completely wiped away and it slightly (emphasis on slightly) reduced my dark circles.  I really enjoyed this product but would probably prefer it in a less watery form, maybe like a cream.
• I would buy it.

Anti-Aging Moisturizer

• Retails $59.95 for 1oz.
• About the product:
• 5 POWERFUL ANTI AGING INGREDIENTS IN ONE BOTTLE: Adeline's Anti-Aging Face Cream is formulated with 5 powerful ingredients that fight wrinkles and rejuvenate your skin: Matrixyl, Witch Hazel, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C & Vitamin E. The results on your skin are fantastic! You would normally have to purchase multiple creams to attain the benefits that we pack into one of our bottles. Our customers discover they don't want or need to use any other creams on their face after using our skin cream.
• SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to double the amount of collagen needed to give the skin its elasticity. This means your wrinkles are going to fade and you will no longer be looking at celebrities and other women wondering how they look so young because you now know the secret. Start feeling more confident. Your search for the perfect anti-aging skin cream is over!
• GET YOUR TIME BACK: After washing in the morning and evening, it takes just 30 seconds to gently apply the cream to your face, neck and decollete. Skin appears radiant and more plump after use. Over time our customers experience visible improvements in the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, laugh lines, dry skin and uneven skin.
• UNBEATABLE PREMIUM QUALITY: Our face creams are handmade in our FDA-Inspected facility according to strict manufactures guidelines outlined by the GMP right here in the USA. All our products are free from parabens, SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) & petrochemical derivatives. With no added fragrances and no additives or fillers we are positive you are going to love our anti-aging moisturizer from Adeline.
• How to use: Wash and pat skin dry.  Apply toner and serum if being used.  Then apply moisturizer to the skin; allow to dry.
• What I Thought: The first thing I noticed using this was the scent of peppermint that it had and I loved it, though I usually do associate peppermint with foot creams.  Like when Janis states in Mean Girls, "It's been a month, and all we've done is make Regina's face smell like a foot."  One pump of the product was enough for it to deeply moisturize my skin.  The scent didn't last long but the moisturizing did leaving my skin feeling very soft.  I started by using this twice a day and, between using their facial serum and this, the moisturizing was a bit too much for my skin which caused me to break out.  Once I started using it once daily, in the morning, it worked much more to my advantage.
• I would buy it.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

• Retails $59.99 for 1.7oz.
• About the product:
• EASY TO USE - just apply twice daily and enjoy tighter, toned, younger looking skin in the morning. Just 60 seconds a day is all it takes to reverse the signs of aging and turn heads with your radiant, youthful skin!
• IMAGINE having a smooth, even skin tone and a glowing complexion... even when you're not wearing makeup! Age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes fade effortlessly with just twice daily usage!
• NATURAL NUTRITION for your skin - Hyaluronic Acid Serum contains Retinol, a blend of Vitamin A for elasticity, collagen formation, and sun damage repair; Vitamin C for improved moisture, elasticity, and tone; Vitamin D to moisturize skin and promote healing; Vitamin E for anti-oxidant protection and non-greasy moisture!
• GENTLE on skin - will not sting or burn when applied! This is the best anti wrinkle and anti aging serum available on the market. Great for even sensitive skin!
• How to use: Wash and pat skin dry.  If using toner, apply toner first.  Apply a pea-sized amount of serum with fingertips to entire face and neck.  Allow to dry.  Follow with a moisturizer.  Can be used daily, morning and night.
• What I thought:  I used this twice a day after cleansing and was a bit glad it didn't dry quite as quickly as a lot of other facial serums I have used.  I didn't detect any scent to this and it applied very wet to the face.  That made it easier to apply just one pump of the product and work it into my skin.  I usually don't find serums to be very moisturizing but this one was.  I almost didn't feel the need add an additional moisturizer into my routine.  Unfortunately, like many other serums, this didn't help when my hormones went all out of whack, but when those settled down it did help get my skin back in order to the best of its ability, calming and helping heal my skin.
• I would buy it.

All these products worked amazingly well together and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to test each one!

You can currently purchase all of these products for $35.25 each at Amazon.com!

• While there, look below each product under Special Offers and Product Promotions for additional savings opportunities!

Adeline also has a 100% NO RISK MONEY BACK GUARANTEE on all their products!

This is a sponsored post. I received these products for free via Adeline and Tomoson to try, review, and supply my honest opinion.

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.

 

Reviews from my Influenster Frosty Vox Box!

Influenster sent me an amazing Frosty Vox Box full of fun products to test & review!  Below is what I received & what I thought!

 Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum Bottle

• Retails $29.99 for 1oz.
• About the product: Supercharge your skincare regime with this clinically proven serum. No7's highly acclaimed Protect & Perfect Intense technology has been re-engineered to deliver even better anti-aging results. Independently tested and proven to work. This serum is powered by Matrixyl 3000 Plus™, a combination of the most powerful form of Matrixyl plus a next generation peptide that works together to help restore more youthful skin. With our patented antioxidant complex, it helps protect skin from future signs of aging, keeping it looking younger for longer. After 2 weeks, skin looks younger; by 4 weeks, deep lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced. 80% of women said this serum provided the best ever anti-aging results they had ever seen.
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• How to use: Use morning and evening, smooth into your face and neck after cleansing, then moisturize. Results keep getting better with continued use.
• What I Thought: Considering the length of time this product needs to work, 2-4 weeks, the sample I had only lasted me about 4 days.  It smelled rubbery, which was a little bothersome, and it had a silky texture to it which felt almost like a primer.  It felt a bit heavy on my skin after initially applying it, but that soon diminished.  I don't feel I had enough of the product to get the full effects of what it could do.  Based off what I had...
• I wouldn't buy it. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner

• Retails $3.97 (at Walmart) for 0.042oz.
• About the product: Long lasting shocking color intensity with kohl Britania High intensity color for an instant color impact Ultra smooth & creamy formula that glides on easily Waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof, heat-proof, humidity-proof and scandal- proof Dermatologist & ophthalmologist tested. Safe for sensitive eyes.
  
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• What I Thought: This glided on very smoothly without tugging at my skin.  The pigmentation of the eyeliner went on very dark so that I didn't feel the need to reapply it to define what I had already done.  The color stayed all day and didn't smudge, it was like a liquid eyeliner in a stick.  It stayed so well that certain eye makeup removers didn't work well removing it.  Otherwise, it's a fantastic product!
• I would buy this!

Rimmel Gentle Eye Make Up Remover

• Retails $4.47 (at Walmart) for 4.2oz.
• About the product: Gently removes all eye make up, including long lasting & waterproof make up, with no oily residue. Suitable for sensitive eyes & contact lens wearers. Dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested.
  
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• How to use: Apply to cotton or wool and gently sweep across eyes until all traces of makeup are removed.
• What I Thought: There is no scent to this and it's definitely gentle.  It didn't cause any sensitivity issues, was non-oily/greasy, and even left my skin feeling refreshed and moisturized.  I was able to get most of the makeup off both of my eyes using one cotton pad.  The only thing was that it didn't do a good job of removing its own brand eyeliner!  I had a really tough time removing the eyeliner I got from them but a different eye makeup remover cleaned it up quickly.  So it's better for light, non-waterproof eye makeup.
• I would buy this!

New York Color Expert Last Lipstick

• Retails $1.99 for 0.11oz.
• About the product: Wears up to 6 hours with long lasting shine, amplified color, velvety and glamorous finish. Doesn't feather or bleed.
  
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• What I Thought: The color I got was Sugar Plum which was kind of a dark rose color.  I didn't like the color when I 1st saw it and thought it was going to look terrible on me or too dark but I was wrong!  It glided on softly and creamy leaving good coverage without creasing, and a light shimmer which lasted a good amount of time.
• I would buy this!

EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher Hair Brush

• Retails $10.99.
• About the product: The unique bristle pattern allows the synthetic boar’s hair-like bristles to penetrate down to the scalp, distributing hair’s natural moisturizers and leaving hair with a sleek, lustrous shine. Plus, when blowing dry the brush dries hair 20% faster (Tested versus a leading brush) due to its aerodynamic Eco-Vent™ design. Less time drying allows for less heat damage and quicker prep time!
  
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• What I Thought: I didn't feel this worked well with my hair at all.  It's a good brush, don't get me wrong, just not for me.  I felt like it was just flattening my hair to my head when using and very hard to brush out my tangles, making them a bit worse by pulling at them.  It did do a nice job when my hair was dry making it very sleek, but it gave my hair no body at all.  Maybe if my hair was longer, or not over processed it would be a better match for me but I feel detangler brushes give me more body and work better with my hair.
• I wouldn't buy this.

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane® Holiday Herbal Tea

• Retails $3.39 for 1 box of 20 tea bags.
• About the product: This delectable holiday blend starts with naturally decaffeinated green tea and adds unmistakable seasonal flavors like cool peppermint, creamy vanilla and a dash of cinnamon. It is Kosher and gluten free.
  
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• What I Thought: I was expecting this to either be very sweet because it using the term candy cane, or very pungent, as most peppermint teas are.  To my surprise, this green tea balanced all the flavors well.  It is a sweet, but mild, dessert tea.  Perfect for the holidays or a cold winter night.  None of the flavors were too overpowering.
• I would buy this!

Fruit Vines Bites

• Retails $2.69 (at Target) for 10oz.
• About the product: A soft, chewy, fruity candy, Fruit Vines® bites deliver sweet satisfaction with every bite. They are low fat and made with no preservatives. Available in cherry and strawberry.
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• What I Thought: I got these in strawberry but for some reason I kept thinking they were cherry.  They smelled good but were very soft and incredibly chewy, not good for someone with TMJ.  I felt like they lacked flavor and tasted quite waxy.  There's really no nutritional value to them at all and I ate them just for the sake of eating something as a snack.  There are a lot better, more nutritious, more flavorful snacks out there with less calories than these, considering 10 pieces are 150 calories.
• I wouldn't buy this. 

McCormick Gourmet All Natural Thyme

• Retails $4.98 (at Amazon.com) for 0.62oz.
• About the product: Versatile thyme has a  light minty flavor that is distinctively warm and aromatic.  Use in egg dishes, hearty soups and oven-roasted chicken.  Harvested for the highest All Natural quality and purest flavor.
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• What I Thought: I found a recipe for Lemon Thyme Chicken Tenders that looked really good so we decided to cook some up.  It calls for fresh thyme, so we substituted 1 tbsp of the McCormick thyme.  The thyme, chicken, and lemon complimented each other well making a tangy, aromatic dish. Compared to fresh herbs it was lacking in flavor, as all dried herbs are, but it still had enough punch to it to be distinguished in the dish and is a great product overall.
• I would buy this!

This is a sponsored post. I received these products for free via Influenster 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.
  
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• 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!

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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.