Calm Skin with L'Occitane Shea Butter Comforting Creme

I knew before I even opened my Refresh VoxBox that I loved L'Occitane, because of my experience with their L'OcciBox I got for Christmas! So, when I saw the deluxe sample of L'Occitane's Shea Butter Light Comforting Creme in my VoxBox, I was really excited about trying out their skin care line!

Product Description:

The Light Shea Butter Comforting Cream, with its fine and non-greasy texture, is formulated with 5% shea butter to answer the essential needs of normal to combination skin, including sensitive skin types. Lastingly moisturized (48h)**, skin is supple and soft. As protected against external aggressions, skin stays comfortable all day long.

In Burkina Faso, women produce shea butter by hand. While one might expect this technique to weaken and damage the skin, in reality it leaves it incredibly soft. L'OCCITANE discovered that the shea butter produced in Burkina Faso using traditional methods is particularly rich in omega 6 and karitene. These molecules have exceptional properties and help to moisturize, nourish and give extra protection to the skin every day. 

**Effectiveness test on 12 volunteers

What I Love about L'Occitane's 5% Shea Butter Comforting Creme:

- Light & creamy!

- Highly Moisturizing without feeling super greasy!

- Smells wonderful!

- A little bit goes a long way!

- Beautiful packaging

- LOVE the size of this deluxe sample!

I had a total blast at the L'Occitane Free Mini-Facial Event through Influenster! Natalia at the Emeryville, CA location was extremely helpful! Isn't my skin glowing after my mini-facial?  I even scored my free gift with purchase!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Influenster and made possible by L'Occitane.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Falling in Love with Roses!

Earlier this week, I shared with you about the importance of using a facial toner, and what to look for depending on your skin needs.

I am personally loving this Rose Water Toner that InstaNatural sent me to review.  When my skin is happy, it behaves as the normal skin type.  (When its unhappy, its more like the miserable skin type.)

I'm really impressed with the quality and performance of InstaNatural's Moroccan Rose Water Ultimate Facial Toner.

Product Description:

-  100% Pure and Natural rose water made from 100% Rosa Damascena petals.

- Rose Water acts as a toner to naturally balance skin's pH, which makes it soft, smooth and radiant.

- Soothes and calms skin irritations while cleansing and hydrating the skin naturally.

- Suitable for all skin types: normal, oily, dry & sensitive.

- Wonderful for prepping skin for serums and moisturizers.

- Multiple Uses: facial toner, makeup remover, relaxing addition to a bath, hair treatment for soft & smooth hair, as well as aromatherapy.

- No chemicals, preservatives, fragrance, and never tested on animals.

What I Love about InstaNatural's Moroccan Rose Water Ultimate Facial Toner:

- This toner lives up to its description!

- My skin feels wonderfully smooth and refreshed after each use.

- Serums and moisturizers are more effective after I've used this serum.

- My skin feels cleaner after use, and the cotton ball proves it!

- The toner smells wonderful!

- A little bit goes a very long way, so this toner will last for a while.

- I love the single, simple ingredient of this toner!

- This toner is very fairly priced at $13.97/ 4 fl oz.

Verdict: Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by InstaNatural.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Suzanne Saturday: Afternoon Grumps

I really, really hate mid-afternoon. It is seriously the worst possible time of day no matter what day it is.

Between 2-4pm its as though the productivity of the entire day is ultimately determined. If I have not accomplished anything meaningful by about 3pm, why bother? Its around this time of day that my anxiety spikes, all my doctoral-student-induced fears come out to play, and I seriously debate going back to bed and trying again tomorrow.

I swear my body knows that the big hand is nearing 2pm every day, because I can feel all the reasons to care slowly slipping away.  I try very hard to hard on to the cares, but my reality is kind of like this:

Yes, this is an actual, honest-to-God cross-stitch that an amazing friend made for me for Christmas this year.  One day it will hang very discretely on the back of my office door . . . even if that office is at home! :-) Doesn't it sound like it belongs in Ecclesiastes or Proverbs?

So, what's a sad, pathetic, apathetic graduate student to do in this horrid nexus of the mid-afternoon?

COFFEE!

(of course)

If Marx said to let the masses have opiates and alcohol, because their lives are so miserable anyway (that was Marx, right? Or was that the author of Ecclesiastes?) Well, either way, some very jaded individual said that.

Well, I say to let the graduate students have their fill of coffee! For surely when we run low on motivation and f*cks, what else will help alleviate our symptoms of apathy and pathetic whining?

Cheers to all of you on this beautiful, sunny, perfectly annoying Saturday afternoon!

Montagne Jeunesse Manuka Honey Peel Off Face Masque Review

We all know how much I enjoy a good skin care product for my face!  I was super excited when I received a Montagne Jeunesse Facial Masque in my Influenster Refresh VoxBox!

The masque I got is the Manuka Honey Peel Off Masque!

Product Description:

Busy bees have collected nectar from the Manuka Bushes of New Qealand creating Manuka Honey - a natural cleanser. They source pollen and we add the flower power of fragrant Jasmine!

What I Love about Montagne Jeunesse Manuka Honey Peel Off:

- The pouch was easy to tear open, and the masque was simple to apply.

- This masque smells divine!

- The slight tingling sensation let me know this masque is cleaning out my pores!

- The peel off nature of this mask makes for very easy removal and cleanup!

- My skin feels totally soft after peeling off this masque!

- PLUS! I got to take this totally silly selfie!

Verdict: Yay!

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Influenster and made possible by Montagne Jeunesse.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

A Coffee Lovers Happy Place! Friends & Espresso Cups from François et Mimi!

 It is true that I am a coffee addict as a result of my years in graduate school.  However, I was definitely set up for the weakness by my wonderful Wanda & Daddy.  I grew up with the morning grind of the coffee, the whir of the espresso machine, and a house constantly filled with the wafting scents of dark, earthy coffee.

So, when I am pretty thrilled about this opportunity to share the amazingness that is François et Mimi's Espresso Set with you!  I packed up my espresso cups and toted them over to my friends' apartment for gaming night where I tested out these darling espresso cups on all the boys!

Product Description:

- Set includes four espresso cups and four matching saucers

- Made of high quality porcelain that is high-fired

- Lead free

- Each cup holds 3-4 fl oz

What We Love about François et Mimi's Espresso Set:

- Extremely attractive!  This set has really lovely lines!

- The cups & handles are well balanced; they are comfortable to hold!

- The cups sit perfectly on the saucers, and the saucers are also well balanced, which creates a delightful experience!

- They are dishwasher safe!

Unfortunately, this item is not currently available on Amazon, but when it is, you will be able to find it here!

Verdict: YAY!!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by François et Mimi.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

#DIY Sea Salt Scrub with Pure Body Naturals

Well friends, its #DIY Friday Again!  I know I just posted a DIY project yesterday, but I'm having waay to much fun with these little projects.  So, I'm squeezing two into one week!  Double the fun, right?

So, before we get started on today's #DIY, I want to introduce you to the star of the show, Pure Body Naturals Fractionated Coconut Oil!

Product Description:

- 100% Pure Natural Base Oil: liquid, ordorless, colorless, non-greasy, non-staining. 

- Botanical: cocos nucifera

- Produces a barrier on the skin that locks in moisture, but will not clog pores.

What I Love about Pure Body Naturals Fractionated Coconut Oil:

- Readily absorbs to soothe dry skin!

- Perfect for Use with Essential Oils as a carrier oil or other DIY skin care projects!

- I feel confident recommending in this oil with Pure Body Naturals 100% Lifetime Money Back Promise if customers are not satisfied in any way!

- I think this fractionated Coconut Oil is well priced at $14.45 for 16 fl oz.

Verdict: Yay!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

How I Use Pure Body Naturals Fractionated Coconut Oil:

Let's make a Sea Salt Body Scrub!

What we'll need:

-  1/2 Cup Coconut Oil (I used Pure Body Naturals Fractionated Coconut Oil)

- 1/4 Cup Sea Salt (I used Dead Sea Mineral Salts)

- 1/4 Cup Epsom Salts

- 10 Drops of your Favorite Essential Oils (I used peppermint, sweet orange & lemon since I love that combination in my sugar scrub)

- Container (I used an old plastic container that once held a hair conditioning mask)

What we'll do: 

1. In a mixing bowl, add your coconut oil.

2. Add sea salt & Epsom salts, stir until well blended.

3. Add Essential Oils

4. Pour mixture into your container!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Pure Body Naturals.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

NeoStrata Intensive Eye Therapy Review!

I really enjoy trying new skin care products, and this Intensive Eye Therapy from NeoStrata definitely got my attention!

Now, let's talk about NeoStrata's Intensive Eye Therapy!

Product Description:

- Formulated to reduce appearance of crow's feet and deflate under eye puffiness.  Also designed to reduce the appearance of uneven pigmentation as well as moisturize skin.  

- SynerG Formula 6.0 builds and plumps layers of the skin for exceptional results

- Peptides stimulate matrix components to produce more collagen

- NeoGlucosamine helps reinforce collagen's surrounding support structure

- Caffeine helps deflate under eye puffiness

What I Love about NeoStrata's Intensive Eye Therapy:

- Highly effective! 

- My eyes were dramatically less puffy, and the skin around my eyes appeared more radiant after 5 days of twice daily use!

- Formulated with high quality products

- Basically no scent!

- Attractive packaging

As wonderful as NeoStrata's Intensive Eye Therapy is, I am hesitant to heartily recommend it.  With a sticker price of $79.00 for a .5 fl oz bottle, I know that there are other eye gels, which are much less expensive, I have reviewed that have provided similar results.

All that said, NeoStrata's Intensive Eye Therapy is a wonderful product that lives up to to description!  It performs perfectly!

Verdict: Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brandbacker and made possible by NeoStrata.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Skincare #DIY & Review: 3 Basic Ingredient Facial Oil Moisturizer!

I am still learning to fully appreciate and learn to utilize oils in my life.  So, I was really excited about the opportunity to try out Rosehip Seed Oil by Foxbrim to see what it can offer!

Product Description:

- 100% Pure and Certified Organic Rosehip Seed Oil, Cold Pressed to Retain all Valuable Nutrients. No fillers, additives, parabens, or fragrances

- Contains Vitamins A & C, essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic) as well as antioxidants

- Wide array of uses such as treating scars, burns, stretch marks, blemishes, plus perfect for creating your own oil serums at home!  Also helpful for treating dry and damaged hair as well as brittle nails.

- Reduces appearance of blemishes, corrects UV damage, fades sun spots and discoloration, treats fine lines and wrinkles, etc.

- Helpful for treating skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne!

What I Love about Foxbrim's Rosehip Seed Oil:

- High quality product!

- Has a lovely earthy rose and slightly nutty scent, which is quite pleasant!

- Highly Moisturizing!

- Great for use in DIY skin care projects at home!

- Product arrives in a dark colored glass bottle with a pump dispenser, which prolong the shelf life of this oil

How I Use Foxbrim's Rosehip Seed Oil:

Recently, I have become extremely interested in DIY projects using essential oils.  When Foxbrim sent me their Rosehip Seed Oil for review, I was very excited about the opportunity to experiment with additional oils!

I found this excellent recipe for creating an introductory level facial oil serum at home so I used it as a guide for creating my own facial oil serum!

Ingredients:

Argan Oil for the base oil

Rosehip Seed Oil for the "extra nourishing bonus oil"

Peppermint Essential Oil (I would have loved to use Lavender or Lemongrass, but I don't have those yet)

Procedure:

Crunchy Betty recommends using a 1 fl oz jar.  Well, I didn't have any of those on hand.  What I did have was a tiny empty, clean reusable serum container, which holds .13 fl oz, but perfect for my little #DIY Experiment.  

With my smaller container, I had to improvise.  So, I filled my tiny serum bottle up 2/3 of the way with my base oil (Foxbrim's Argan Oil), topped it off with my extra nourishing bonus oil (Foxbrim's Rosehip Seed Oil), and added 2 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil.

Outcome:

FANTASTIC!!  I'm totally loving this serum!  My skin looked so much happier the next morning.  My skin tone was brighter and more even, and my skin texture was much smoother.   Now, this is definitely a nighttime only serum since its very oily. 

Verdict on Foxbrim's Rosehip Seed Oil:

Yay!

You can find Foxbrim's Rosehip Seed Oil on Amazon for $15.99 for 2 fl oz, which is a wonderful price for a high quality rosehip seed oil!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Foxbrim.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

TONING! Its not just for your muscles!

Toning is a very important step in the cleansing process that many of us are guilty of skipping.  Toning is helpful year round; this is not just a summer-time thing, ladies!  According to Dr. Hadley King, a New York City board-certified dermatologist, there are six great reasons we should be using a facial toner:

1. It removes oil and gives the appearance of smaller pores.

2. It can help restore the pH balance of your skin after cleansing.

3. It adds of a layer of protection against environmental impurities while also removing chlorines and minerals present in tap water.

4. It leaves your skin feeling refreshed and revitalized!

5. It moisturizes the skin and helps your skin stay moisturized!

6. Toners with alpha hydroxy acids listed in the ingredients can help treat ingrown hairs.

But, what kind of toners should we be looking for?  We all have different skin types!

Allure Magazine offers very helpful insights from Erin Gilbert, a New York City dermatologist, and Ruthie Harper, of the Laser and Skincare Clinic in Austin and founder of SkinShift Skin Care.  So, here's what we should be looking for in a toner:

1. Alcohol or No Alcohol?

Toners with alcohol remove excess oil and can help prevent breakouts for those with acne-prone skin.  Meanwhile, toners that hydrate the skin and prevent dryness contain ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

2. Special Ingredients?

Brightening ingredients include: orange extract and anti-oxidants such as tomato extract, bergamot, or Vitamin E & Vitamin A.

Calming ingredients that help with redness and inflammation include: chamomile and other plant-based extracts.

Salicylic Acid: can be particularly helpful for unclogging pores and preventing future breakouts.

3. When do we use what?

Wintertime & Air-Travel: look for moisturizing toners

Summertime: look for toners that unclog pores to prevent acne if you have oily or combination skin types

4. Toner instead of Moisturizer?

Only if you have extremely oily skin and its summertime.  Otherwise, make sure you use sun screen and moisturizer!

For more on great toners, stay tuned for product reviews coming up!

All type in italics is information from the website articles that are available via hotlinks within this post.

Today's Reason to Smile: A Storage Solution!

Since I started blogging and reviewing products, my apartment began overflowing with all kinds of glass bottles of serums, plastic bottles of moisturizers, bags of sea salts, and other goodies.

Hubby and I live in a one-bedroom apartment.  In order to make this small space work, we have a rule: "Something comes in, something else goes out."  Well, you know I had to side-step that rule.  So, I needed a storage solution!

I found this great retro-style, turquoise rolling cart at Ikea for the perfect price!

I have totally fallen in love with this cart.  The shelves have high enough sides to keep everything in place!  I can roll this little baby from the bathroom to my desk in the living room for videos and back.  It holds everything - makeup, skin care, bath stuff, nail stuff, etc.  

So, Today's Reason to Smile is a beautiful, useful, and frugal Retro Turquoise Cart!

The ALL NEW Tom Box and Lessons in Presentation!

Early in February I got an email from TomBox.  The subject line read, "We Know We Sucked."  Now, let's remember that TomBox & SwaagBox are basically the same company.

"Wow!" I thought to myself, "At least they're willing at admit it and try to improve.  Let's find a coupon and give them a second chance. Besides, this would be a good follow-up on the blog!"

 My Unboxing!

Products in my February TomBox (Double Makeup & Jewelry):

- Cailyn Mineral Eyeshadow Powder ($12.00)

- Cargo Liquid Eyeliner ($20.00)

- Silver Bangle (unknown, est $5.00)

- Skin&Co. Roma Sicilian Body Lotion ($10.00)

- Cool Way Boost Repair Mask ($3.75)

- Gold Bangle (unknown, est. $5.00)

- U Kotex Tampons 18ct. ($4.00)

Total Value = $59.75

Amount Paid (with $10 coupon) = $12.00

My eye makeup using items from this TomBox.

My Thoughts about TomBox:

When I first started subscribing to monthly boxes, I really wasn't sure why everyone cared so much about presentation, but now I get it.

This month's box from TomBox is the best illustration of why companies need to think very seriously about how they present their monthly subscription boxes.  Appearances and first impressions are everything.  

After a little bit of research, I know that the items in this box are a really good value. 

BUT, when I first opened the box, I had no way to know that right away!  Plus, everything arrived in an ugly, cheap, brown cardboard box without tissue paper and without a product card.  The items themselves appeared to be haphazardly tossed into the box.  As a customer, I'm not going to treat your product as valuable if the company doesn't bother to present it as valuable.

PLUS, my fragrance sample that was promised in the email promotion I received was missing.  When I contacted customer service, they explained that was last month's promotion.  Then, why did I receive this promotional email on February 3rd?  They did offer to send the sample to me if I really wanted it, but only after making the previous point.  Passive Aggressive much? 

My fragrance sample arrived this week.  I'd suggest its value at $3, but I had to work for it.  It didn't actually arrive with the box, and I had to deal with a passive aggressive email that never apologized for the mistake!

If this month's TomBox had been presented differently, and customer service had treated my missing fragrance sample situation differently, I would be very happy to pay $22 for it!  But as it is, I was barely happy that I paid the discounted price (thanks to a coupon on retailmenot.com) of $12.00.

Verdict: NOPE!

Follow-up: This is the message TomBoxes left on my Facebook post:

Tombox Thanks for the feedback. We are introducing inner packaging within the next 30 days. Regarding the perfume sample it was available to customers who reactivated their accounts. You created a new account which is why it wasn't shipped with your original box.

I am so glad that they are introducing inner packaging!  Seriously, this wasn't a bad box!  It was just poorly presented.  However, their customer service still needs a little spit-polish-and-shine as we would say back home. Apparently, the email I initially received contained incorrect information.  And even now, I'm really confused about how I didn't reactivate my account since I signed into the same account I had before to order this box.  Ugh.  Oh well.  They are still more interested in insisting that they are right about a tiny fragrance sample than trying to repair a relationship with a potential customer.  This is beyond disappointing.  I hope that others are having a better experience with them than I am!  For now, I'm done.

What are your thoughts on Tomboxes' attempt to relaunch?  I'd love to hear your opinions!