Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Ladies, It is ALL About Druzy (AKA Drusy, or Agate) Jewelery




I love unique stunning pieces when it comes to jewelery. I will not wear it unless it stands out as totally odd and one of a kind. I've spent far too much money on custom made pieces of jewelery.

Recently though I discovered one of the hottest jewelery trends on the market right now.

There are different names for it. It's called Druzy, Drusy, Agate, or Geode.

They are all one of a kind custom pieces that you cannot find elsewhere. You can buy them in the form of rings, necklaces, earrings and more.


Basically they are natural clusters of crystals that you would find inside of a geode. Only they are delicately cut to create stunning, stunning pieces of jewelery for you to wear.


You can find them in all sorts of colors, from black to pink.

If the crystal clusters are too small, than you will definitely want to check out Winter Sunshine Druzy/Drusy.




Most of the best pieces I have come across are for sale on Ebay. I recently picked up a gorgeous blue Drusy ring, and a pink Geode ring.

Just look at how beautiful some of the pieces are!




Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Review: Neutrogena, the Anti-Residue Shampoo


I use hair spray daily, and every other day I will spritz into my hair some shine serum, or leave in treatments. I noticed over time with my non-stop use of leave in products, and sprays that my hair seemed to look dull, and feel dull. I knew that this was because my regular shampoo was not removing all residue from my hair. I at times would even discover hair spray build up on my scalp...which is just gross!

I went to my local super center looking for something that would take care of the problem. A shampoo, or conditioner capable of removing left over residue. My choices were pretty obsolete up until I came across a shampoo designed especially for residue removal.

Neutrogena, The Anti-Residue Shampoo!

I was taken back by the very small size of the shampoo, but after reading the directions I figured it was worth it (you are to only use this shampoo weekly). Still though for $7.99, one would expect a little more product for the money. With Neutrogena, The Anti-Residue Shampoo you only get 12 ounces of shampoo.

The Promise:

The promise was that it would remove up to 95% of dulling residues. That it will remove residues left behind by shampoos, conditioner, and styling products.

Perfect! It was exactly what I wanted.

The Scent:

The shampoo had a mild old fashioned scent that reminded me of cheap hotel bar soap. I also was able to note something that smelled a little bit like pool chemicals, but that odd note was not very strong, and would be missed easily if you were not really inhaling the scent.

Overall though, the scent is mild, and you don't have to worry about it sticking around.

My Use:

I scrubbed the shampoo into my locks, and rinsed it out. I then used my regular brand of conditioner and waited to see results.

The very first thing I noticed while my hair dry was that it was softer, shiner, and felt cleaner. As my hair dried no notes of my hair spray were detected (sometimes I'd have so much hair spray residue behind that my hair would dry slightly hard, clearly meaning all of my hair spray was not out).

Overall:

Neutrogena, The Anti-Residue Shampoo worked perfectly, I just wished it were meant for daily use, and not just weekly use. I also wished they would have been a tad more generous when it came to the amount of shampoo you get.

Besides that though Neutrogena, The Anti-Residue Shampoo works, and it works well. It removes all residue, and leaves hair clean, refreshed, and feeling like new.

Review: Salon Grafix Shaping Hair Spray; Extra Super Hold


-My review also on AC
I have thick wavy hair by nature, and when I want to style my hair type, I have no other choice but to keep the style still by using gobs of hair gel, or hair spray. If you are a frequent user of hair spray, than likely you already know that no two are created equal.

While some hold all day long, others barely even keep down the frizz.

Recently I have been having a hell of a horrible time trying to find one of my favorite hair sprays. No longer were stores selling it, and I needed something to replace my one hit wonder.

I bought sprays in the $20.00 range that were awful, and I bought sprays in the $4.00range that were decent, but not good enough. I wanted long lasting hold, without the flaking that many sprays leave behind towards the end of the day.

2 weeks ago I came across a cheap bottle of hair spray that cost me less than $3.00. I was having such bad luck with hair spray, that I figured I would just go ahead and buy it, and hope for the best. At $3.00 my expectations were low, but I honestly had tried so many different sprays that this mega cheap bottle became my last resort.

The hair spray is labeled as Salon Grafix Shaping Hair Spray; Extra Super Hold. It came in a simple white spray can, with a small logo towards the bottom that read spray mist. Spray mist itself sounds weak, but at the same time they label it as Extra Super Hold.

In the store it was anyones guess on how it would work.

My Use:

After tying my hair back, and shaping it the way I wanted it to stay, I went ahead and sprayed out some of the hair spray. It had a light powdery scent to it, but nothing that was overpowering, or sickening. It was fresh, light, and OK.

After spraying I noticed that the hair spray dried quickly, allowing me to press down any frizz, and mold my hair into the shape and style that I wanted. Basically it allowed me just enough time to manipulate my hair if I needed to.

As it dried, I liked it immediately. It left my style in place, and held on well. It also added sheen and brilliance to my hair without leaving it looking hard, stiff, or rock like. It looked soft, and natural, and I loved it!

The only thing this hair spray had to do was hold my style, without flaking, and I am happy to let others know that Salon Grafix Shaping Hair Spray; Extra Super Hold did just that. It held my style, kept frizz down, and did not flake up or leave my hair looking and feeling like stone.

Overall:

I'm happy, my hair is happy, and my style stays in place without issues. What I especially like about Salon Grafix Shaping Hair Spray; Extra Super Hold is that I can brush the hair spray out easily at night, and it does not leave behind ashes or flakes in strands of my hair like other sprays do.

I am happy with the low price, and the high quality results! I couldn't recommend this one more.

Review: New Dove Energize Go Fresh Therapy Conditioner for Normal Hair


Grapefruit & Lemongrass Scent

A week ago while doing some last minute Christmas shopping I picked up a little something new from Dove, called Dove Energize Go Fresh Therapy Conditioner for Normal Hair, in Grapefruit and Lemongrass Scent.

Normally I don't buy products by Dove, but I was running low on funds, and figured I'd give it a try. The conditioner was cheap, so I figured I'd get low quality results. My first impressions were dead wrong though, because Dove Energize Go Fresh Therapy Conditioner for Normal Hair actually worked a heck of a lot better than I thought it would.

In the store the initial sniff test went well. The conditioner had a pleasant creamy mandarin orange scent, with a clear note of grapefruit, and a very, very micro note of what reminded me of fresh mint.

The promise of course is to protect the hair from daily wear and tear, while leaving behind a long lasting scent of lemongrass and grapefruit. The conditioner also promises not to weigh hair down, and that it will leave it bouncy and revitalized.

My Use:

After shampooing with my usual brand, I went ahead and squeezed out a decent amount of the conditioner into my palms, and spread it into the entirety of my hair. Roots to tips!

The conditioner itself has a pale yellow cream color to it, but the texture is a bit runny. I have thick wavy hair naturally, and usually I need to use conditioners that have a bit more weight to the texture. Dove Energize Go Fresh Therapy Conditioner for Normal Hair was sort of lacking.

Anyhow, I let the conditioner sit in for about 3 minutes, and finally got to rinsing it out. As I rinsed I could tell that a transformation had taken place. My had was silky under the running water. It was also soft, and free of knots, which was not something I was at all expecting from this $5.00 conditioner.

The only downside was that the scent was not long lasting at all. After my hair dried completely, the scent died completely. No matter though, because the results on my hair, made up for the lack in scent.

Results:

I let my hair air dry, and found that my hair was left very shiny, very soft, and it remained free of kinks and frizz.

All in all, I will say that Dove Energize Go Fresh Therapy Conditioner for Normal Hair is an excellent low priced conditioner, which was surprising. I never really expected Dove to deliver such goods, but low and behold, this conditioner managed to win me over.

Review: New Downy, Simply Pleasures, Spice Blossom Dare Liquid Fabric Softener


-My review also on AC

I don't buy fabric softeners all too often, and when I do it usually means the scent won me over. As much as I enjoy fabric softeners, I find the prices of many of them to be out of the questions.

Two weeks ago I came across a fabric softener that I could not deny, made by Downy.

Downy in particular has been on of my top favorite detergent/softener brands when it comes to getting my clothes clean, and smelling fresh. When I saw that Down had a collection of newly released scents I was intrigued. I wanted to see what they were all about, and I wanted to see if the scents were anything that I would like.

The very first fabric softener I sniff tested was the one that came home with me, and that liquid fabric softener was new, Downy, Simply Pleasures, Spice Blossom Dare, and the reason I was so quick to purchase it was because the softener had a scent unlike any other softener I've ever tried.

The scent was clean and fresh, with a spicy autumn flair to it. It smelled like apple blossoms, and cinnamon, with a very wonderful light note of clean linen. A mixture that reminded me so badly of the fall season.

I prayed that the scent would stick to my clothes after I used the softener, and it is safe to say that it does!

After washing a load with Downy, Simply Pleasures, Spice Blossom Dare, I immediately noticed that the Spice Blossom Dare scent was lingering all throughout the basement where our washing machine is. Having the while bottom half of the house smelling like the softener was enjoyable, and the scent stuck around afterward.

A little really went a long way, and I was impressed.

After letting the clothes dry, I took out a sweater and inhaled it's sweet spiced fragrance, while taking note to how soft and clean the sweater felt on my skin. I was impressed, more than impressed really.

Overall:

If you are looking to infuse delicious autumn spiced scents to your clothing for long lasting scent, and long lasting freshness, than you need not look any further than Downy, Simply Pleasures, Spice Blossom Dare.

One cap-full gets an entire load of laundry infused with its addicting spicy scent, while leaving clothes soft and fresh. The scent will also fill up your home while clothes are drying. Something no other fabric softener is capable of doing.

Where To Buy:

I bought a giant bottle of Downy, Simply Pleasures, Spice Blossom Dare at my local Sam's Club for $12.88. You can purchase this and other Downy, Simple Pleasures Fabric Softener scents, in smaller bottles as well. You won't regret the purchase.

Review of New Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick


-My review also on AC
I simply adore just about everything Soap & Glory has to release. It's rare to come across something by them that does not work well, however when I came across their new, Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick, I was hesitant to try it. You see, although I am a girl, I do sweat, and finding the right deodorant for me took me years. I wasn't about to switch it up, but I was intrigued by it so much so, that I just had to buy it.

Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick comes in a really girly pearl pink container, and features your standard dial at the bottom. It has the standard retro black and white photo that all of their products feature. The retro photos honestly were what peaked my interest in this company in the first place, and I love how they have stuck to the retro girly format.

Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick does not smell like Soap & Glory's original formula, which I love. The deodorant stick has a peachy scent to it, mixed with a refreshing grapefruit like scent. Although it's not their original formula, it still smells really good, and is fitting to their collection of beauty and bath products.

So the main concern, does this deodorant stick work? Will it keep me dry, and will it leave me smelling fresh?

This was my main concern.

I tested One Pit Wonder out on a day off. I could not risk using it and going to work, only to have it fail on me.

The deodorant itself is a pink gel deodorant, and goes on clear, so there are no worries about it streaking clothing.

After applying it, I did notice that it took awhile for the deodorant to absorb, so it left my underarm with a wet sticky feeling, which I didn't like too much. The sticky feeling sticks around for about 10 minutes before it's no longer noticed.

Sweat Factor:

I wore the deodorant alone all day long with not a single drop of sweat forming, which was really awesome. So for sure, Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick gets two thumbs up from me in this department. For me, it's usually very hard finding a deodorant stick that will keep my dry.

Stink Factor:

Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick impressed me yet again with how well it kept me smelling fresh. Whenever I grew hot, the delicious sweet peachy fragrance would kick it up a notch, and protect me from smelling bad.

Overall:

All in all Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick is a winner. I will continue to buy it for it's power to protect me from sweat, and stink! For $5.99 you cannot beat it.

-For those interested, note that Soap & Glory, One Pit Wonder Deodorant Stick is only sold in Target, or at Target.com. Th brand is exclusive to Target.


Review of Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Moisturize Conditioner


My review also on AC

About 3 weeks ago I accidentally bought a bottle of Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Moisturize Conditioner. I quickly scooped up the bottle by accident thinking that it was my usual Nexxus brand of conditioner. I must have been tired, because Nexxus and Aveeno have two total different shaped bottles, but the colors, and bland bottle packaging designs are very similar. When placed on shelves next to one another, its rather easy to grab the wrong one, especially if you are half asleep, tired, and in a rush.

When I got home, I was a bit miffed, but after popping open the click up lid and realizing that the conditioner actually smelled really refreshing, I figured I'd use it, and not bother returning it.

The bottles description basically gave me comfort that the conditioner would work well for my hair type. In a nut shell, it promised to nourish and moisturize my hair. Besides just that though it made the bold claim that it would quench my hair ridding it of dryness, that it would leave my hair soft, and that it would strengthen my hair.

Good, good! It all sounded fantastic.

My Use:

After shampooing with my usual brand, I went ahead and squeezed out a decent amount of the conditioner into the palm of my hand.

The conditioner itself is a very bright white color, with a semi runny consistency. I honestly did not like the runny consistency because other conditioners I have tried with the same weak, watered down consistency, never do much for my hair. I have thick hair, so the thicker the consistency of the conditioner, the better the results (at least for my hair type).

I saturated my hair in the conditioner, and let it sit there for around 3 minutes before rinsing. Once I began to rinse I could notice in the shower immediately that my hair felt much softer, it was fully infused with moisture, and I ran into no knotting issues.

All in all everything seemed to be going perfectly.

I let my hair air dry as I always do, and was pleasantly surprised at how soft and nice my hair felt. The only absence I noted though was a high gloss shine. Many conditioners are capable of leaving my hair soft, moisturized, and they add a healthy shiny sheen. Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Moisturize Conditioner did a wonderful job at leaving my hair soft and silky, but the lack of shine was a bit of a disappointment.

Recommendation:

Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Moisturize Conditioner will in fact leave your hair moisturized, and feeling fantastic. It lacks a little bit in the high beam shine department, but for what it costs, it's a pretty decent conditioner, that I would in fact recommend.

Personally I was surprised it worked as well as it did on my thick wavy hair type. Normally I have to spend anywhere from $12-$20 on a conditioner to get similar results, so saving nearly half that cost was very nice.

Review: Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging, Micro-Exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths


-My review also on AC

Did you know that if you wear makeup daily, and you fail to get every last trace of that makeup off a night before bed, that you are more prone to waking up to break outs?

Hopefully you knew that. If not, now you do.

I began using makeup removers since my teen years, and over the years have found that some removers work like a charm, while others contain an oil base which actually caused more harm to my skin, than they did good (break out city!).

I stuck to one particular non-oil makeup remover for years. This remover however was expensive, and did not come with much formula in its small bottle.

More recently I have found a love in cleansing cloths. Cleansing cloths not only will remove all traces of makeup, but many on the market today have cloths that will remover makeup from your skin, as well as dirt and oil. Besides just that though, they provide a benefit to the skin.

One such product goes to Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging, Micro-Exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths.

These wet cleansing cloths will remove dirt, oil, impurities, and at the same time will leave behind a beneficial formula that will improve your skin by making it smoother both to the touch and visibly. The cloths are strong enough to even remove stubborn waterproof mascara.

My use with Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging, Micro-Exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths, was positive. The cleansing cloths not only removed all traces of makeup, but it left my skin feeling very smooth, clean and refreshed after just one use.

Over time I noticed a subtle difference in my skin tone, but to me the difference was very, very small, so if you buy this one, don't go on expecting miracles as far as curing wrinkles goes.

If you want a really efficient makeup remover than these cleansing cloths are perfect for you. If you are looking for help with minimizing the appearance of wrinkles I'd suggest Cerave, and Estee Lauder's skin care products.

All in all though, Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging, Micro-Exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths are cheap, effective, and leave your skin feeling clean, refreshed and new after just one use.

Review of Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Wet Cleansing Cloths


My Review is also on AC

Olay's wet cleansing cloths are basically my newest addiction. For years I had used standard makeup removal liquids to rid my face of makeup, oil, and dirt. As effective as they were, they were expensive, messy, and you had to buy your own cloths in order to pour the formula onto them and
use on your face.

Recently I came across a new makeup removal product that not only removes all traces of oil, dirt and makeup, but Olay's new wet cleansing cloths will also improve your skin over time.

With Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Wet Cleansing Cloths you get just that. A makeup removal, along with an infused formula with anti aging properties. The cloths will fight 7 signs of aging. They exfoliate the skin for a smoother look, and leave no residue behind.

The promises are all really wonderful, but in order to see how well they really worked, I had to put them to the test.

They come in a package of 30, and I use 2 a day. 1 when I wake up, and 1 to remove all of my makeup before bed.

My Use:

Olay's Total Effects Age Defying Wet Cleansing Clothsdo in fact clean off all traces of makeup, and they even did a wonderful job at removing my mascara and eyeliner without having to excessively rub my eye area.

After rubbing the cloth around my face till all of my makeup was gone, I noticed immediately that the cloth could have used a lot more wet formula. They tend to dry out very quickly while using them, so at times I am forced to use 2 cloths at once.

The scent it leaves behind is fresh, and non-chemical like, so that was nice, and my skin was left feeling very refreshed, clean, and smooth. I could tell the cloths did a great job at cleaning my face just by looking at my skin, and feeling my skin after the formula completely dried.

I've been using these cloths for about 2 weeks now, daily, and I haven't really noticed any difference in the fine lines around my eyes. The anti-aging promise was not really seen as far as results go.

I however love these cloths because they work a lot better than old wet formulas I've used to get makeup off of my face completely.

Overall I recommend them because they work, and they work well. They could have been tweaked with a little more formula, but all in all they get the job done and are a lot cheaper and more effective than many other makeup removal products.


Friday, November 13, 2009

The Best Hair and Lint Remover Ever! Review of the Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush

The Best Hair/Lint Removal Brush to Date!!!!
-My post also on AC

Every morning I consistently have a battle with my clothing. Not that they are too tight, or fit uncomfortably; the battle I endure every morning is the battle of de-furring myself.

You see we have a lot of pets, and pets have fur, and fur sheds eventually making a landing spot on my clothing, especially my black clothing! Every morning I used to pat myself down with some water, and rub away the fur. This method works great in the summer, but with cold winter months closing in, patting water onto myself is not a dashing idea if I plan on keeping myself flu free in flu season.

I have tried all types of other methods such as hair rollers, which also work fantastically, but having to buy new rollers every month became an annoying task, and pulling one out at work is sort of embarrassing.

Last weekend though I came across the mother of all hair/lint removers. I found this sweet gem lined up on the checkout racks at a local Walmart; labeled as Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush.

Initially I was going to skip out on buying it, but thanks to the open window packaging, I was able to test it out on my clothing right there on line. I was amazed out how the rubber hand held lint brush slickly stuck to my clothes while gobbling up all traces of lint, and loose hairs on my jacket.

The Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush was by far the oddest hair removal tool I have ever touched, with a very rubbery grip to it, and wiggly rubber fingers that when brushed across clothing will grab hold of hair and lint without missing a single strand of imperfections.

After getting to my car, the Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush was the first thing I went for in my bag. I opened the package and slid the brush across my entire jacket. The results were nothing short of surprising! My entire jacket looked brand spanking new. Not a trace of lint, not a strand of hair. Frankly I could not have been happier.

The Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush saves me time, aggravation, and frustration every morning. It is small enough to fit in my purse for touch-ups throughout the day, and I love it!

If you have pets you can also run the Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush across their coats. It will snatch up loose shedding hair with ease. It's quite a diverse little brush, as you can also touch up furniture in the home.

Overall:

If you have pets, or if you have issues with lint, you will find that the Evriholder Rubber Lint Brush is your best solution. I couldn't recommend this brush more.


Review of New Olay, Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle, Wet Cleansing Cloths

-My post also on AC

I have always been fond of cleansing cloths that are capable of removing makeup from my face. I used to use makeup removals that would come in bottles, however I always found them to be messy, and they'd cause break outs, especially the oil based makeup removers! Gag my skin!

I began using cleansing cloths because I found them to be cheaper, work better, and they were not as messy as tipping a bottle of liquid over tissue paper. More recently though, cleansing cloths have become even better, due to the added extra benefits. Not only will they remove makeup, but they will also improve your skin. Olay in particular is well known for going that extra mile when it comes to skin care.

When I came across their newest wet cleansing cloth with the added benefit of reducing fine lines on my face, I knew I had to try it. Besides ridding my face of makeup, and hard to remove eye makeup like mascara and eyeliner, Olay went and added an anti wrinkle serum which is infused within the cloth!

Although I'm pretty wrinkle free, keeping my skin wrinkle free is a must; especially at my age, when wrinkles are bound to pop up in due time. Keeping them away is my goal, and so far its been an easy task thanks to all of the wonderful products available to me.

Olays new Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle, Wet Cleansing Cloths is one of them!

These wet cleansing cloths come in a pack of 30 for about $7.00. Its a bit pricey for just a months supply, but I was willing to spend the extra loot to see if they were worth it, and to see if they would work as promised.

My Use:

The New Olay, Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle, Wet Cleansing Cloths have a soft quilt like texture to them, which are not at all abrasive to the skin, nor do they leave behind and greasy or sticky residue. They have no scent whatsoever, and I was pleasantly surprised that it removed all traces of my eyeliner and mascara without barely having to try.

The New Olay, Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle, Wet Cleansing Cloths worked, and it worked well. I really liked how it left my skin feeling soft and pampered after using it.

The only complaint I have is that I wish the cloths were saturated in the formula a little more. The cloths have a slight dry feeling, but thankfully the cloths themselves are very soft, so it does not feel dry on the skin.

Overall:

While it cleans my skin free of every trace of makeup, I am happy knowing it is also helping protect my skin against wrinkles, and reducing fine lines. It's a win/win in my opinion.

Other Products of Interest:


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Review of Umberto Beverly Hills, Super Hold Hairspray


After returning a horrid little hairspray by Garnier, I picked up one of my favorite brand of hair care, Umberto Beverly Hills.

I had never noticed before that besides just shampoos and conditioners, Umberto Beverly Hills also had a small line of hairspray, one in regular hold, and another in super hold.

Seeing that the line rarely fails me, I went ahead and chose their super hold hairspray. Regular hold hairsprays never do much for me as I have extremely thick wavy hair. Super Hold sprays are basically the only sprays that will work as far as maintaining my styles hold all day long.

The spray itself comes in a tall stand up aluminum can with 10.6 ounces of spray. With daily use the spray will last me about 2 months which is not bad considering it only cost me $8.99 which is mid-range priced hairspray.

Right now Target.com is selling this spray in 2 packs for the same price, so I highly recommend you take up that offer, and here is why:

First and foremost Umberto Beverly Hills Strong Hold Hairspray will really hold your hair, and it will hold your style all day long without any signs of weakening.

Secondly the hairspray does not leave behind white flakes. I have used so many hairsprays that promise to not flake, and they end up flaking. Umberto's brand does not promise it, it just does it.

The hairspray itself does not have a scent that it leaves behind, which sort of stinks because if you have ever smelled their moisturizing shampoo, you would probably be wishing the hairspray had that angelic scent. Only it doesn't.

What Umberto Super Hold Hairspray does though is keep your hair in place, without flakes, and without budging.

Your hair will remains slightly soft, with only a tad bit of stiffness. However I find that when hairspray leaves a bit of stiffness behind it keeps hold the longest, and the strongest, so I do not mind the stiffness at all.

Those of us with thick hair know that stiffness left behind from hairsprays is not a bad thing. If you have thinner hair though, you may not like this one. I can only speak for those women with thick unruly wavy hair. Umberto will press down the frizz, and hold your style in place.

Although the hair will feel slightly stiff, it will not look stiff at all, so there is balance, and what you have left is beautiful hair that will stay beautiful throughout the day.

I highly recommend this one ladies. You will not be disappointed.



Review of New Garnier Fructis 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment, Triple Nutrition


-My Review also on AC

Recently I came across a new collection of products from Garnier Fructis. In the winter months my hair seems to become more dry than usual so I wanted to begin to prepare it early on for the freezing cold weather that seems to dry my hair out like nobody's business.

Their new collection of products is called Triple Nutrition, and when you are out in stores this week, I recommend you pick up their
3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment, Triple Nutrition.

The dryness reversal treatment comes in a standard green, stand up, squeeze tube, and will be easily located in the hair care section of local stores. You can find it amongst the crowd of other Garnier Fructis products, so spotting it should not be a problem.

The promise is to not only moisturize hair, but to keep hair as healthy as possible using the formulas fruit oils to nourish the hair. The treatment is supposed to be added to hair after shampooing for 3 minutes.

Scent:

In the store I popped the top, and inhaled the scent. Garnier Fructis 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment, Triple Nutrition smelled fantastic, like a beautiful fruity fragrance that reminded me a lot of one of Britney Spears' perfumes.

My Use:

After shampooing I squeezed a decent amount of the treatment out into my palm. I noticed immediately that this treatment had some sort of micro-beads within it. As I rubbed the treatment into my hair the micro-beads began to melt, and were no longer detected.

I liked it a lot though, because if you rub it in your scalp you feel a slight exfoliation which will stimulate the hair follicle.

I let the treatment sit in for a full 3 minutes and began to rinse it out. Immediately as I began to rinse I could feel the change in the shower. My hair felt like buttery silk. There were no snarls or knots.

I had a good feeling before even getting out to dry my hair, that the treatment worked some sort of magic, and I had a hunch that I was going to like the results.

Sure enough I did. When my hair was fully dry (I allow my hair to air dry), there was way less frizz, and no notes of dryness whatsoever. My hair was left shiny, knot free, dabbed with a beautiful sweet fruity scent, and looking and feeling fantastic.



Review Newton's New Fruit Crisps


Are Newton's New Fruit Crisps Snacks Worth Trying?

-My review also on AC

Fig Newton's have been one of my favorite snacks for years. Since childhood I truly couldn't get enough of them. A delicious moist bite, with a gooey filling that no other snack cookie could replicate, Fig Newton's are delicious.

While doing my regular weekly routine shopping this week I came across something by Newton's that I had never seen before. In fact, I never saw anything by Newtons that was not a fig newton bar. To see a brand spanking new snack by the company was thrilling, and also unique.

They are called Newton's Fruit Crisps, and I had the option to buy them in an apple cinnamon flavor, or a Mixed Berry flavor. I'm an apple lover, so naturally I went with Apple Cinnamon.

The box comes with16 individually wrapped bars, and clearly the yellow color of the package matched up well to what one would expect from Newton's. On the package itself we get a sample of what we can expect from the Fruit Crisp's.

They are much flatter than regular fig newtons, and a large chunk of what appears to be ooey, gooey, apple cinnamon goodness is clearly seen inside of the bar. They looked good, but were pretty expensive at nearly $5.00 a box.

At home opening the box, and removing one of the bars I was surprised at how flat they really were. On the box they looked a bit thicker than what you really get, and each package contains 2 of the fruit crisps.

The outer shell of the crisps was exactly as one would expect. It tastes like a fig newton shell, only flattened and toasted. The inside had a very delicious apple cinnamon flavoring, but the filling definitely was not as thick as the box likes leads you to believe.

After munching on the apple cinnamon crisps though, I must say I was not disappointed. They tasted really good, with a perfect infusion of cinnamon and apples, with a sweet freshly baked pie zing to it. If anything I was surprised that such a bland looking bar packed so much realistic apple pie flavoring.

Most of all though, I didn't have to feel guilty about chewing down both of the bars. They are low in fat, and pack the same flavorful punch that one of those delicious mini apple pie snacks do by Hostess.

Overall:

I recommend them, Newton's Fruit Crisps in Apple Cinnamon are delicious; I do however wish that the price was lowered as I find the introductory price to be way over the top for what you are getting.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Stay Beautiful With: A 100-Calorie Daily Delight! Yoplait Delights Parfait in Creme Caramel


Whenever I'm out at the grocery store stocking up on weekly household needs, I always stop in the last aisle in the dairy section to pick up milk and cheese. Once in a while I will browse the yogurt selection to see if anything new or interesting is on the shelf.

Normally I walk off empty handed, or with a small container of Greek yogurt.

Last night though while doing my usual rounds, I came across a new delight. They are called Yoplait Delights. They are sold in packs of four, and come in four different flavors. The best thing about these sweet numbers are that they only contain 100 calories.

I personally would have liked to mix and match all four flavors to try them all, but decided to go with Creme Caramel.

The Yoplait Delights Parfait, Creme Caramel, come in small containers. To get an idea of how small they are, just imagine a Jello cup on a diet. Yes, they are small, but still looked like a delicious quick treat for when I wanted to kill a sweet tooth, without going overboard.

You can see through the cup. Inside you will notice that a top layer of a creamy caramel colored yogurt sits at the top of a darker more chocolaty caramel colored yogurt. It looked like a parfait, minus all of the fresh fruit bits.

Taste:

At first I wondered if they would be any good. A week prior I picked up a parfait cup that was simply disgusting. So much so that after one taste test I threw the whole thing out. Being a fan of Yoplait though, I figured it would be good.

My hypothesis was right. Yoplait Delights Parfait, Creme Caramel tasted delightful, and I knew immediately why they gave it the name they did.

The very top layer tastes like a creamy caramel chew, without the messy chew of course. It's light, and features the perfect dab of caramel flavoring, mixed with what tastes like vanilla bean cream.

The darker colored bottom layer of the parfait is a richer caramel flavor that has a noticeable tint of what tastes like coffee cream. Combined the two flavors are delicious.

While eating Yoplait Delights Parfait, Creme Caramel I was amazed that something so delicious could contain only 100 calories. Then I remembered, the portion size is quite small. The flavor though is so rich and tongue twisting that you find you eat it slowly, so the small portion size is really not an issue at all.

Overall:

I love Yoplait Delights Parfait, Creme Caramel, and am excited to give the other 3 flavors a try. If you like caramel, and coffee flavored food products than I think you will enjoy Yoplait Delights Parfait, Creme Caramel.

You can find them for $3.99 for a pack of 4 at your local grocery store in the yogurt section. I suggest you try them out!

Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub, A Review


Whenever I run out of facial scrubs, I go out and restock on a binge. I find that I cannot make up my mind, I get overwhelmed, and I end up purchasing three different bottles of scrub. Normally I only do this whenever I see that a company has made something new. If I see that different companies have made new facial care products I buy them all. It's a bad habit, but I care about my face a lot, so the bad habit is really a benefit to my skin.

During my most recent binge on facial care products I came home with a large squeeze tube of Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub.

The reason I bought the scrub was mainly due to the fact that it was something new from Olay, and I have been a fan of Olay for quite some time now. The other reasons of course go out to the promises the scrub had made.

It promised to exfoliate, and clean deep deep down into the pores in order to purify the complexion of the skin. The scrub also promises to polish away dull skin, while minimizing pores and leaving the skin clear.

The promise has of course been heard a million times over and over again. Just about every facial scrub I have come across promise the same, or similar results to the skin. Olay however usually comes through with their promises, so I felt like the $7.99 I spend on the scrub would be a good investment for my skin.

My Use:

In the bathroom I clicked open the cap, and squeezed out a generous portion of the scrub into my palms. The scrub itself has a grapefruit transparent coloring to it. I was able to spot the small studs of exfoliating scrub in the formula.

The scent was refreshing, but at the same time really weak. I usually like rinsing my face with citrus scented products because they give me a good burst of refreshing energy after I use them. Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub sort of disappointed in the scent department.

After wetting my face a bit, I went to work at scrubbing the formula into my face. The exfoliating beads did a pretty good job at lightly scraping the surface of my skin, without being harsh or painful.

After scrubbing it around for a little bit, I then rinsed. My face felt refreshed and clean, but I have used other scrubs that have left my skin feeling fantastic and rejuvenated. Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub failed as far as leaving that 'beautiful' clean feeling behind after drying off.

Long Term Results:

I have been using Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub for over a week now, and have noticed no changes in my skins appearance at all. I continue to use it to see if there are any long term benefits, but after waking up this morning and discovering small breakouts, I decided to bring this one back for a refund. I do not know if the break outs have anything to do with this scrub, but breakouts like this do not happen too often for me. Usually they only occur when I am using a bad product that my skin does not agree with.

Overall:

I'd recommend saving your money and buying another scrub.

Try These:

Review of John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Conditioner for Breakage-Prone Hair


-Review of mine is also on AC

During the cooler seasons like fall and winter my hair is usually at its very best. I find that it is softer, silkier, and smoother. I also find that my hair is much more likely to breaking, and split ends.

Before the cool weather even gets a chance to do its usual rounds on my hair I wanted to begin to protect it early.

When I came across a new conditioner from John Frieda that promised to protect my hair, and make it more resilient with every use, I went ahead and purchased it.

It's called John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Conditioner for Breakage-Prone Hair, and the green tube of conditioner promised a whopping of good things.

First and foremost it promised to silken my hair from roots to ends. It would also keep my hair from breaking, making it more radiant, healthy, and of course, as I mentioned already, resilient. The formula also states that it will help prevent split ends.

It is made with Natural Eucalyptus and peppermint oil, which promise to add a little tingling sensation which stimulates the scalp; the John Frieda website states to massage the scalp to awaken new healthier growing hair.

John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Conditioner for Breakage-Prone Hair comes in a green squeeze tube containing 8.45 ounces of conditioner.

It only came to $4.99 at my local Target, but with it's really low price I wondered if it would work the wonders that it stated it would on the tube.

Scent:

John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Conditioner for Breakage-Prone Hair has a fresh scent, with a potent tint of what smells like creamy mint. In the shower it gave off a really familiar scent of mint chocolate chip, which oddly enough, I really liked.

As I worked the conditioner into my hair I noticed that it went to work pretty quickly at de-tangling, and adding moisture to the hair. The tingling sensation was very weak, but it was slightly noticeable.

After rinsing the conditioner out I was pretty stunned at how flawlessly silky and smooth my hair felt. I hoped when I stepped out of the shower that my hair would dry this soft and silky.

Results:

The results were there even on the very first use. My hair did dry smoother, silkier, and there was a healthy shine to my hair that I loved.

As far as protecting my hair from breakage, I will say that after one use, less hair came out of my scalp while brushing.

After a week of daily use, I notice a slight change in my hair. It seems healthier, shinier, smoother, silkier, and breaks while brushing happen less often than usual.

Overall:

John Frieda Root Awakening Strength Restoring Conditioner for Breakage-Prone Hair is a winner in my opinion. You can really not go wrong for just $4.99. This one is fairly priced, and works as promised, which is rare for any product.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Jennifer Garant Dollnation Serving Plate


What makes the Dollnation Serving Plate so adorable is of course the artwork on the plate. It features a large woman in a polka dot long coat, with a large crew of matching dalmatian dogs that she is walking.

The woman is peering right smack at you as if she was caught by a stranger in a photograph unaware that her photo was being taken.

The artwork is adorable, and is gives us an impression that big is beautiful, and Jennifer Garant pulls it off marvelously in her artwork.

The subject of the plate has a lovely matching polka dot border that matches the dalmatian theme going on. The plate itself is serving size, and is 8 inches in diameter.

It's meant to serve smaller finger foods such as pies, cakes, crackers, and anything else you could come up with. The plate itself is microwave and dishwasher safe.

I personally suggest you hang it from the wall though alongside the rest of the Fat Lady Serving Plates. The plates will only go up in value as they become more and more scarce, and believe me, they are adorable enough to sell out quickly.

The plate feature the artwork of Jennifer Garant, but the plate itself is made by Roscher.

Where To Buy:

Dollnation Serving Plate can be found at Marshall's for $2.99. If you cannot find it there though you can pick it up online at eBay for much more money (starting at $9.99), so definitely see if you can find it at Marshall's first.

-My review also on AC

Jennifer Garrant Dollnation Mug


Dollnation is one of my top favorite pieces of artwork by Jennifer Garant. I originally fell in love with the artists works a year ago when I came across a note set that featured fat ladies just going about their everyday lives.

The fat lady featured in Dollnation wears a polka dot long coat, with a large hat. She is walking a bunch of dalmatian dogs, and peers right smack at you with her small beady eyes. It seems to me as if she was caught walking dogs, and someone snapped her photograph.

Jennifer Garant was able to capture big as beautiful in her artwork, and her collections are not only unique, but they are very, very beautiful.

Dollnation sells in numerous forms, you can buy the artwork as place mats, prints, framed prints, plates, or as in my most recent find, a coffee or tea mug.

The mug features the Dollnation work of art on it, and on the inside lip of the cup a small dalmatian dog is drawn in for added extra fun. The polka dot borders are also added to match the dalmatian theme perfectly. The Dollnation mug is the perfect must have match to the Dollnation Serving Plate. You can purchase other Jennifer Garant Serving Plates for a matching set as well.

The Dollnation mug features an elegant shaped long handle that actually resembles an ear. The handle is big enough for even the largest fingers.

Where To Buy:

I was lucky enough to stumble upon the entire Fat Lady collection of serving plates and mugs at my local Marshall's.

The mug came to only $2.99. I have so far been unsuccessful in locating the mug online for sale, but I am sure in due time it will be found for sale on eBay for much, much more than what I paid, so if you have a Marshall's nearby I highly suggest you check it out to see if you can scoop up some of these mugs for a low, low price. In time the mugs will rise in value just like Jennifer Garant's Fat Chef plate set.

(The mug can be used for any hot beverages and is dishwasher and microwave safe. The artwork is by Jennifer Garant, and the mug was made by Roscher).

Review Of: Elizabeth Arden, Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner


My post is also on AC.

I fell in love with Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea fragrance years ago. I was given a small perfume vile of the scent and forever found a fragrance soul mate. A scent so thirst quenching, mouth watering, refreshing, and natural.

The scent however did not gain much recognition until more recently. Now you can find the addicting juicy fragrance being sold as deodorant sticks, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

My most recent find was Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo came in a large set which contained shower gel, conditioner, and a nice 1 ounce bottle of the perfume. Most perfumed shampoos and conditioners usually dry out my hair, but do a wondrous job at leaving behind the scent. I'm here to discuss how well Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner panned out.

First is the scent. The shampoo and conditioner has the same sense striking scent as the perfume does. It's refreshing, natural, and has a very slight tint of what reminds me of mint mixed with tea. The mint refreshes the senses without overpowering it, while the green tea scent creates a calming mood. For me the scent is more like aromatherapy.

The shampoo itself came in a small trial sized squeeze tube. You are capable of seeing through it, and clearly the shampoo is a light green see through color. The conditioner comes in a see through tube as well, and the conditioner is a creamy white color.

The lather works up really well as far as the shampoo goes, and the scent fills the air as you are working it into the scalp. After rinsing the shampoo from my hair though I realized that it left my hair feeling quite parched and thirsty for some moisture.

Rinsing with the sister conditioner however did not provide much moisture at all. I had to actually add some of my own moisturizing conditioner to my hair in order to lift the dry feeling from it.

Results:

As far as results go, I would say that the shampoo smells wonderful, as does the conditioner, unfortunately though it does nothing when it comes to moisturizing hair. Had I not paired up with one of my conditioners my hair would have been left dry and frizzy.

Overall:

Although I love the scent, the shampoo is one to skip on. The conditioner is no better. It's pretty unfortunate too, because they smell fantastic.

Skip Those, Get These:

A Beautiful Find! Jennifer Garant Faux Paws Serving Plate


I smile every single time I come across artwork by Jennifer Garant. The artist manages to put together some of the most beautiful and unique images I have ever seen. What I love about her work though is how she is able to portray big, as beautiful.

I came across her work last year, and have since been a fan. I have also searched out her collections online, and in stores.

My most recent find was a set of Fat Lady serving dishes. One of those serving dishes is called Faux Paw. The dish itself is 8 inches in diameter, and is dishwasher and microwave safe. I however placed the dishes on the wall, because they are far too adorable to be used to serve food on. Not to mention the fact that they will eventually become collector's pieces like her Fat Chef kitchen collection.

The Faux Paw Serving Plate is one of my favorite plates in the set. It features a larger than life woman wearing a leopard fur coat. Her large unique hat matches her fake fur coat, and a bunch of little black dogs follow her at her feet. The small dogs also are wearing little dog coats, which of course match her coat. Fake leopard.

The plate just makes me smile because it looks like a woman being caught on camera unknowingly going about her everyday business. As if the paparazzi are following her; and why wouldn't they? She is fantastic!

The border of the plate matches the theme of the large woman and her little dogs. It features a clever border with a leopard design to match her coat and her dogs coats. The warm hues of amber, and yellow give the classy serving plate a nice fall feel, which I love.

The Faux Paw artwork can be found sold as prints, place mats, serving plates, and more. Finding them though is the tough part, and a google hunt will take you to what you need.

I found this particular plate at Marshall's for only $2.99. The same plate however is being sold online for nearly $16.00, so if you have a Marshall's nearby, make sure you stop in to get these plates while they last.

The Faux Paw plate was made by Roscher, and the artwork by Jennifer Garant.

The plate is a must have for any Jennifer Garant fan, and it would also make an excellent gift for dog lovers or those who like leopard themed decor. My opinion though is that anyone who gazes upon the artwork on the plate will want it.

More Jennifer Garant Fun:

Best Eyeliner? You Bet! L'Oreal Infallible, Never Fail Eyeliner


I absolutely adore wearing eyeliner. I cannot step out of the house without having my lids classically lined in the black stuff. One thing though that I don't like about most eyeliners is that they smear, smudge, and by the end of the day I find I have to touch up my eyeliner, otherwise it will just melt all over the place, creating the dreaded raccoon eye.

When I came across L'Oreal Infallible, Never Fail Eyeliner I was skeptical. Many eyeliner pens promised the same thing, to last, not smudge, not smear; then by the clock hits noon, the eyeliner is smudged, especially in the corners of my eyes, and outer lids.

The eyeliner stick works like any other, except it has 2 little secrets that most eyeliner twist up pens do not have. First it comes with an eraser built in to the pen. You can use it to fix up any errors you make while applying it.

The best secret about the Infallible Eyeliner though is that it has a built in sharpener. As you twist the eyeliner up out of the application tube, it will sharpen the liner into a nice point for more precise application to the eyelid! This is a little something, something that I find to be so simple, yet so fantastic. The eyeliner sharpener is hidden underneath the eraser. You simply pull it out and place it on top of the eyeliner, next twist up the eyeliner, and it will sharpen it for you.

So the pen is neat, the pen has secrets, the pen is gnarly. I bet you are wondering how the actual eyeliner works. I bet you're thinking so much effort went into the tube design, that the eyeliner itself sucks.

Think again!

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner promises 16 hours of smudge free wear, and 16 hours is what you get.

The eyeliner goes on smoothly like butter making it easy to apply it in a single stroke with little to no effort. The sharpened tip will allow you to make cat eye designs with ease, and the smudge free formula keeps the eyeliner where you put the eyeliner. It will not bleed into your upper eyelids, nor will it smudge or streak near the inner more wet part of the eyelid.

L'Oreal Infallible, Never Fail Eyeliner has won me over, and I will have no reason to ever switch brands. I have never in my life found a more perfect eyeliner than this one.

Where To Buy:

I picked this one up on a whim at my local Target for nearly $10.00. I will say that it was $10.00 well spent, and I am a forever customer of the liner.

The Trick to Making as Seen on TV Bumpits Work for Women with Curly or Frizzy Hair


I bought Bumpits after watching the really neat infomercial on them. The unique Bumpit hair products worked like a charm on the commercials, and I watched as women simply pulled up half of their hair, inserted a Bumpit, and wallah, they had really beautiful classy looking bumps in their hair! The Bumpits not only added volume, but they could be worn for formal events, casual events, or simply be used every day for a quick, easy salon quality style.

I however have very thick hair, with a unique wave to it. My hair can also get very, very frizzy in humid weather. As much as I wanted Bumpits to work for my hair type, I knew it would be impossible.

After picking up a set of Bumpits at my local Target for nearly $20.00, I was excited to give them a try. I tried parting my hair as directed, but as soon as I placed the Bumpit into the part, it would stick like glue due to the unique teeth built into the Bumpits, and it would then knot my hair.

I knew what I had to do in order to get the Bumpits to work with my hair type. I knew I had to dedicate an hour to ironing my hair straight. I figured getting the Bumpits to stay in my hair properly, without knotting it up would only work if my hair was finer, and straight.

I sat for the next hour running the straight iron through my hair till it was pin straight and silky. I then went for my Bumpits. I parted my hair as directed and inserted the medium sized Bumpit to the part. I then let my hair fall loose and to my amazement, the Bumpit had worked. It stood in its place, while creating a very nice bump at the top of my head.

I was then able to tie my hair back if I wanted for a very salon like style. I like letting my hair loose while wearing Bumpits for the added volume it gives to my straightened hair.

Many women pay top dollar to get their hair done like this in salons for weddings and proms. However if you have the time, straighten your hair, and add a Bumpit, the look will cost you a heck of a lot less, and will turn out looking just as fabulous as it would had you spent big money at a salon.

If you already have straight hair, you do not need to dedicate any time to using Bumpits. If you have thick, frizzy hair like mine though, take the time to straighten your hair, and then add the Bumpit. It will work, and you will be surprised at the results.

Finally an As Seen On TV product that actually does what it is supposed to do.

Nexxus Maximum Super Hold Styling & Finishing Mist


I picked Nexxus Maximum Super Hold Styling & Finishing Mist up this past weekend because I have grown to really like Nexxus hair care products in general. Normally I use cheap $2.00 White Rain hair spray because it works really well.

I had a few spare dollars though and splurged on the bottle of Nexxus Maximum Super Hold Styling & Finishing Mist, which came to a jaw dropping $10.59.

For the money it cost though I was expecting it to work wonders. I was expecting it to do as promised. To add shine to my hair, while keeping my style in perfect place.

Unfortunately the spray only keeps hair in its place for a few short hours. It did add a nice high gloss shine to my locks, but I needed it to hold my hair in place, and it failed to do the job right.

Its unfortunate too because I love the extra added shine.

For the money it's not worth it ladies. Stick to your cheap stuff, or try White Rain.

These Work Better: