Review- Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara

Intense Volume and Curl Mascara. Captivating volume and audacious curves give lashes the fullest advantage - with clump-free, smudge-proof separation. Innovative six-sided brush ensures dramatic results. $28

It's happened yet again, I've fallen in love with a product I'll have to break my piggy bank to afford. Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara is what it says- Exceptional. Instead of a bristle brush or rubber bristles this mascara gives you a brush that is made up of six rows of combs. Now I've tried other comb mascaras and didn't like them, but this is somehow different. Be warned- this is not for those of you who are going for the "natural lash" look. This gives you bold, beautifully separated, voluminous lashes. My lashes generally don't curl, but there is a little curling going on with this mascara. The brush allows you to easily get every little lash in the corners. I have it in black (Smoky Noir), but it also comes in brown, dark blue and violet. If you've got the extra cash and you want dramatic yet well defined lashes, then you've got to check this out. Oh, and I've had no contact lens troubles with this mascara. It looks like I'll be eyeing up that piggy bank for my new "must have".

Review - Natures Embrace Organics Four Step Full Product Pack

Four Step Full Product Pack Four Steps to Beautiful Skin in 21 days includes:Facial Cleanser, Facial Toner Healing Face Cream, Facial Mask

So, I have been using this four step facial care line for just under the recommended 21 days... and I already have to rave about the results. I feel beautiful, my skin is blemish free and completely radiant. When I started using this line I was under some significant stress at work, and my skin was taking a beating as a result. I had a few blemishes, and I just looked rather worn out and dull. It is unusual for my normal to dry skin to really get pimples, so I was happy to try anything to fight it off. I began with the mud mask, followed by the cleanser, toner and then cream. The mud mask is only used twice a week, but I used the last trio every morning and evening since I received it about 2 weeks ago. The mud mask is slightly drying for me, but when used in conjunction with the cream and the toner the effects were really just momentary. The only complaint I had was the smell, all of them smell really natural, not that I'm complaining about that, but I did feel a bit overwhelmed by the smell of the mud mask every time I used it. The cleanser has a very light smell, and reminded me of Castille Soap. The toner is gorgeous, and smells slightly of rose geranium, it will be your favorite part of the process. The cream was not my favorite, although it works really well, and leaves your skin looking to die for, it is rather thick and you really feel like your wearing it. It also smells distinctly of patchouli, not a smell I dislike but one I would rather my face did not smell of. Luckily, the smell fades pretty quickly. The cream is, I would think, a little too thick for my normal skin during the summer time, but during the Autumn it is just enough moisture. The company is very cool, and all of the products are 100% natural, vegan, and gluten free, which is a breath of fresh air in my book. If you have been looking for a truly superior Raw, Organic product line I would definitely recommend Nature's Embrace Organics.

Joyce says:

I’m wearing the mask as I write this. The scent my co-blogger mentioned is to me like quality, organic soy or tamari sauce, which makes me think of how beneficial these are for the body when ingested. So, my thoughts are the mask is doing something good. Of course, the fact that my skin looks and feels really good provides evidence the products perform. The mask goes on in a thin layer which means the mess of rinsing off a thicker mask doesn’t happen. I like the fact that each product has a unique scent based on ingredients included for a specific purpose. The only thing I’d suggest is that two creams be offered: regular and for more mature or drier skin. My skin tends to like a little extra. I also really appreciate that the facial cream can be used under and around the eyes. One thing about the toner . . . the instructions say to spritz it on and wait 20 minutes before using the cream. I can go 2 minutes then my skin says, “Lube me now!” So, I do. A funny thing happened on the second day I used this line. It was a Saturday. I’d bathed, used the entire line, applied mineral powder, and took a much-needed nap about two hours later. When I woke and saw myself in the mirror, I was glowing. I’m serious. It was as though my face was illuminated from inside. I must have stared at my face for several minutes thinking, “Wow.”

Sheba says:

I am close to the 21 days, but I feel qualified enough to thoroughly endorse the Natures Embrace Organics Four Step Full Product Pack wholeheartedly. I am not your typical user for Organic products -- my skin usually craves all the chemical ingredients that are not 'best' for it. Perhaps, that is because I have used those products for so long that it is addicted to them. Anyway, this package delivers. My skin looks glowing -- just as Joyce described!! I will defer on the scent descriptions as I just cannot truly say what they remind me of-- only that they were not bad. I actually liked them all. I do not really usually like Masks but this is so thin and is removed so easily that I honestly love it. The cleanser is incredible (did a separate review for it). The toner is non-drying and does tone!! It contains all good things for the skin and my skin did soak it up even though it is used to the chemicals it usually gets. The cream is a bit thick but was immediately swallowed up by the skin and the results are truly amazing. Deedlejuse said it best--'to die for'. Something good for your skin that works miracles --it is worth the investment. The site offers a 35% introductory discount on your first purchase -- quite a savings. Even without the discount -- you are getting 4 products that WORK for your money.

CitySlicker Says:
I have only been using this for 14 days so I am a week shy of the recommended 21 days. I started everything out by stopping the use of my other cleansers, moisturizer (day), toner & masks. I begin the regime by cleansing and moving onto the mud mask. I found it to be nice & loose so it was very easy to apply, not like some that are thick like a mud frosting. I left it on longer than I should have and began to resemble a crumbling crypt keeper. I found that a little warm water on a soft cloth was all I needed to see that my skin looked flush and fresh. I totally think that this mask helped slough all the dullness away and made my skin very smooth and soft.
I moved right onto the toner. I am not a rosy gal but can appreciate the soothing feeling of this lightly scented spritz. My gauge for a good toner is the proof on the pad and I swept over my face to find that this does pick up the excess oil and deposits hydration in it's place. I enjoy using this and have been doing so morning and night since trying it. I don't really notice the scent now so if you are scent conscious don't worry you become immune it and don't notice it after a few days..
I really like the cleanser. It's no nonsense, gets all of my makeup off, is very gentle and non drying.. a combination that many have attempted but few prevail in! I do notice a very faint scent. This is my favorite item of the 4 products and a little goes a long way.
Moving on, the cream is a heavier formula but exactly what my skin needs so no complaints from me. I enjoy using a product that brings an extra pop of moisturizing power. My skin has been a little dry from the weather so by the end of the day my makeup can look a little flaky. Since using the Nature's Embrace line I have had only good days without flaky. I even use the cream at night to help hold in the moisture. This line is lovely and obviously well thought out from people who not only sell the line but use it. I will continue to use until my products are scraped out of the containers! Thanks Nature's Embrace!

Hillary says:

I only got a few items from this line. The Mud Mask is one of them. I was a but skeptical putting it on because as it dried, it started feeling tight. My ultra-dry skin doesn't like tight. But I decided to stick it out for the 20 minutes and see what happened. I'm glad I did. After rubbing the mask off with warm water, my skin is glowing. I did need to moisturize after, but I would have had to do that under any circumstances. The only downside is the smell. It smells at first a little like vinegar, a smell that disappates as it dries. The smell is a small price to pay, however, for such a natural, organic product.

Maria Says:

As it turns out, my favorite item in this line is the toner, followed closely by the cleanser. I have really come to love those two items. I think I may have been far too spoiled by other masks I have used -- and not that I didn't like the mask, I just didn't love the mask. It does give a nice glow though, I, like Hillary above, had to moisturize after b/c my skin felt tight. The moisturizer is very light and would do me well on days that I don't need that extra something, but b/c my skin is so dry and especially since we are headed for colder/dryer weather, my skin needs the big guns as far as moisturization goes. I have said in other posts that for some reason I do better with chemicals than an all natural line - I don't know why. I almost wish it weren't so. However, I would say that this is a superior line of natural, organic products and I have plenty of friends who swear by organic that I could wholeheartedly endorse this line to. I think there are going to be a lot of people who will "embrace"' this line - and everything it stands for.

Review - Ocean Potion Suncare Face Potion

Zinc Oxide is known worldwide for its sun protection qualities. Face Potion SPF 45 goes on clear and protects the skin against both UVA & UVB sun rays. It is ideal for all outdoor activities.

Are you kidding me??? This is only $3.49! Honestly, I can't believe it. This is probably the best inexpensive face sunscreen I have ever seen. We all have used Zinc Oxide for our faces, like when we were kids and the white greasy stuff just wouldn't rub in the right way, or maybe that is how it was supposed to work.... but this is completely different. It is like whipped, seriously, the consistency is more like a whipped body cream than (shudder) Zinc. It rubs in instantly, and does not have a strong oder which, for me, is the best part. It isn't greasy either, again a huge bonus for this little miracle pot. I used it as recommended on my face, lips, ears, and neck and I didn't find that it tasted bad or was annoying in any way. I have to reiterate, only because I love this stuff, that this is without a doubt the best deal I have ever seen for a face sensitive sun cream. LOVE IT!

Review- derma e Microdermabrasion Recovery Serum

Calm, soothe, and comfort newly exfoliated skin with derma e®’s Microdermabrasion Recovery Serum. Powerful botanical extracts such as Aloe, Calendula, Canadian Willowherb™, Olive Leaf, and Pycnogenol® deliver natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients and potent antioxidants, helping reduce inflammation and irritation from microdermabrasion treatments while replenishing important nutrients. For softer, healthier skin, nourish and revitalize your skin after every microdermabrasion treatment with this cool, refreshing serum.
Regular Price $24.50 Sale Price: $20.50

This is an add on to derma e's Microdermabrasion Scrub. It is very soothing and refreshing after exfoliating with the scrub. It sets your skin up for moisturizer. It's nice to have that extra layer of anti-oxidants on freshly exposed skin. It is cruelty-free (as are all derma e products), paraben free and eco-friendly. derma e's company is run entirely by wind power and they donate a portion of all of their profits to an outreach called the Paraguay Project. They make great products and they do good works. I am now a loyal derma e user.

Review- derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub

Immediately improve your skin's appearance using this formula's gentle but firm persuasive powers. This state-of-the-art scrub utilizes a crystal blend system to remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oils. Markedly diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and retexturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth.
Regular Price $32.50 Sale Price: $27.50

When I see the word "scrub" I want a good scrubbing. I don't want 1 scrubbing particle per oz. of cream. This microdermabrasion scrub was built for a scrub lover like myself. It thoroughly removes all traces of dull, flaky skin revealing a fresh, healthy glow. You use this scrub by putting a small amount on your face and rubbing in a circular motion for 3 minutes. By the end of those three minutes your skin is renewed. And it's not hard to rinse off either like some scrubs. They call it a salon skin treatment alternative and as someone who has had professional microdermabrasion I can say this is close if not as good as the real thing. This is one of the best exfoliants I've used.

Review- Dior Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Foundation

DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25. A silky, long-wearing liquid foundation with SPF 25. This luxurious foundation stays flawlessly smooth and looks naturally perfect in any environment. With two unique innovations: an exclusive nano-stretch network inspired by nano-textile technology to insure makeup will fit like a second skin and a unique hydra-gel moisture-stabilizing system, Dior takes smoothing, wear, and comfort to the ultimate extreme of beauty. Non-transfer and waterproof. $42

Honestly, I can't believe I haven't written about this foundation sooner! This is my absolute end-all, be-all product for my face. This foundation is the holy grail of foundations. It covers completely without looking like a mask and stays in place all day. It is so good that I often don't have to use concealer on imperfections that I would have to conceal with other foundations. Add on to that the fact that it has an SPF of 25 and you've got the ideal foundation. Keep in mind that this is medium to full coverage, so if you're used to a tinted moisturizer, this will afford more coverage, but it doesn't really add any weight. It's a little pricey, but it only takes 2 pumps to cover my whole face and I've been using the same bottle for months. Rather than meander through tons of drug store foundations, try this one and you'll find it's worth the investment.

Review - Nature's Embrace Organics Facial Toner

Restore your skin's natural luster with raw nutrients that will protect from dehydration, sun damage, aging and harsh chemicals. Softens fine lines and diminish pores while removing impurities and bacteria.

I'll say this first: this toner is fine. It's not a miracle product, but it's certainly not a bad one. Because I was using it with the facial cleanser, it's hard for me to tell how exactly effective it was, but it worked all right. I did have a packaging problem with this product, however. Now, normally, I don't remark on the labels, method of dispensation, etc. of the products we review unless they're really cute or useful. Unfortunately, in this case, the dispenser of this product is totally inappropriate. It's a spray bottle. For toner. Which, to me, seems very inefficient. You can't really apply it to a cotton ball without spritzing it a LOT of times, and if you spray it directly on your face, I feel like it's not really "working." The only other option is to take the cap off and apply it to a cotton ball, and then you're wrangling with the spray cap, and...it's just not pretty. While I don't have any major problems with the product itself, the packaging, in this case, would prevent me from buying it.

Amanda S. Says:

I actually really liked the way this product was dispensed in the spritz bottle. I normally, if I use a toner at all, use the kind you apply to a cotton ball by flipping it over onto the cotton. This is kind of messy since I'm generally messy anyway. I really liked the spray for that reason, and also because i felt like i wasn't using too much of the product and wasting it. I could spray a little on the cotton square and just rub it over my face. I can tell this bottle is going to last much longer than a regular toner. The best part was that it didn't dry out my skin but did give it a really clean feeling after also using the daily facial cleanser. I would definitely use this again.

Sheba says:

I see all the good features to the sprtiz dispenser like Amanda does. I find it very efficient. I like the toner for the following reasons: it is so easy to apply and it works!! You can see and feel the results in your skin. Your face is not dried out as with many toners. In fact, it is just the opposite -- your skin is so smooth and hydrated and feels so clean and fresh. Actually I used this in conjunction with the 4 product package and I did a review on the total package as well. If you love you skin and want to give it some serious care, here is one product that will do what it promises.

Maria says:

Hands down my favorite product in the line. Love this toner. It's fresh, clean, invigorating and you actually feel like you are really toning the skin. There's no dryness or tightness - just glowy, fresh, skin. It makes your face perk up if that makes sense. I actually spritz this over my make up too before I walk out the door and it gives my face a dewy, hydrated glow - this is a fine, fine product and one I would not even blink an eye to order again. I think you could use this toner any time anywhere, not just in the a.m. or p.m. after cleansing. I was already thinking of taking it with me the next time I travel for instant hydration and smoothing.

Review - Repairologie leave in treatment

Infuses the hair cuticle to help nourish and restore healthy texture and strengthens against damage.

This is my old standby. I believe I've actually been using it since high school (and I confess, that was some 18 years ago... wow that's weird to consider). Other leave in conditioners seem to (a) not work (b) make me a greaseball or (c) did i mention NOT WORK? But infusium has always worked for me, from the time of huge hairsprayed bangs and over moussed hair to using hot irons and curling irons way too much. It doesn't work absolute magic but I can tell, it prevents a lot of would-be damage, smells nice, and does the job. It's so cheap too, and a bottle seems to last me months and months and months. I've had the bottle I'm using now for well over a year. You just apply it to your towel dried hair, comb through, and do your business.

Review - Bic Soleil Citron Pivot Shavers

Citrus scented handles.

Lubricating strips with shea butter. 4 count - $5.99

Every time I shave my legs, it's not a fun time for me. Not that I cut myself, that rarely happens unless I'm half asleep or stupidly rushing my way through the business. But what I find is, I have fuzzy spots even when I'm thorough, and even worse, my skin gets sore and stingy, and even bumpy. I'm not a hairy person by any means, so I can't fathom why this happens. I've used other ridiculously expensive fancy shavers specifically for women, and I've had no luck. But these Bic Soleil Citron shavers are like magic on my legs. It's not often that I go telling my friends and female family members about razors of all things, but I've got to tell you, this is by far the best shaver I've ever used. I'm hooked and I will never use another unless (god forbid) they stop making them. I highly recommend these to sensitive girls out there.

Review - Dove Cream Oil Body Wash

Natural oil in 1/4 moisturizing cream. Here's a body wash that moisturizes your skin better than any regular body wash. Dove has embedded skin-loving natural oil in a rich cream - the result is the dreamy-creamy consistency of a cream with the silky-smooth skin feel from an oil. Intensely moisturizing, but sensationally lathering. Indulging to senses, but nourishing to skin. Rich in oil, but not oily. What a beautiful contradiction. Try Ultra Rich, if your skin just can't get enough. 10 oz. $5.99

This body wash really is tremendously moisturizing- I love it! After using it for a few days I had absolutely no reason to apply a lotion, my skin feels so silky smooth and hydrated. The shower cream is a really interesting texture, not oily at all, really more like a lotion but then it lathers amazingly well when you apply it to a shower pouf. I only used it this way, because it is my favorite way to use any kind of shower gel or cream. The smell of this body wash is heavenly, not overly perfumy, and not super floral. It is more woody and rich, which really added to my shower experience. For the price this body wash rocks!

Sheba says:
This is one very hard working body wash. It does a luxurious job of cleansing while at the same time nourishing your skin with moisture. It is more like a lotion when you use it but fear not -- it does a fantastic job of lathering up and feeling great while cleaning. I think that feeling might be because your skin is drinking up the moisture. When you finish rinsing off you will love the feeling and the look to your skin. It actually saves you the step of putting on body cream after you shower. You won't need it when you use this Dove Cream Oil Body Wash. I trust Deedlejuse's description of the fragrance much better than mine -- as that is her business and she knows it. I love the scent and it is not overpowering at all. It is not a heavy scent like some body washes have. All in all, this is a top performer for the price. Most Dove products, including this Body Wash, frequently go on sale and you can often find coupons for them. You will feel that you have invested wisely even if you do have to pay the full price -- but check around first.