Hyaluronic Acid Serum - Skin Care Review.

I am always on the lookout for serums and creams to help maintain my "baby face" and youthful appearance. I had recently ran out of my favorite serum and havent been able to order more due to the upcoming holidays and children's wishes *sighs*. I felt like my day and night routine was pointless without some type of serum to apply. My face was beginning to feel neglected and I was beginning to have nightmares about waking up with wrinkled face! A bit overdramatic, I know but you get my point. I needed serum!

Here enters Pure Body Natural's Hyaluronic Acid Serum. I was given a chance to try out this product and it did fill the gap in my skincare routine where I needed a serum. I eagerly jumped at the chance to try out this product and to see how it compared to my beloved serum.

The serum came packaged really well and in a glass bottle with a separate pump to attach to it. The bottle claims to be 99% naturally derived and 72% organic. I am not really well versed in regards to which ingredients are considered natural and which ones are not. The smell is very strong and nearly made my eyes water just a bit but not too much to be a turnoff much. The consistency of the serum is thick causing me to have to push the pump up and down a few times to get the product to come out. I have tried another serum prior to this that was watery thin in consistency and I didnt like that. I am satisfied with this serum.

Once applied, the serum did dry quickly and it didnt leave a tacky feeling. My skin instantly soaked up the serum and there wasnt any white film residue left behind. My face was left feeling very soft and moisturized.

I will continue to use this serum until I am able to replace my original. I like the fact that it dries quickly and leaving my face feeling a bit refreshed and soft unlike some other serums that can leave your face feeling dry and tacky. This will definitely go into my skincare arsenal to help fight the war on aging!

If you would like to learn more about Pure Body Natural's Hyaluronic Acid Serum or to order, I have provided the links below:

Company website: Pure Body Naturals

To order: Pure Body Natural's on Amazon

Liztek Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Review

After my beloved BT portable speaker went out on me, I needed to find a comparable speaker that wouldn't break my bank account so close to the holiday shopping season.

I stumbled upon a promotion where I had the opportunity to try a relatively unknown BT speaker made a unknown company, Liztek. While most other consumers would pass this brand up for more well known brands, the "techie" in me couldn't resist and I jumped at the chance to try this cute speaker out and I am glad that I did!

The speaker came packed up with her sister speaker, Liztek PSS-100 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ( I will review that speaker in another blog post.). I was surprised by how compact and light the speaker is and wondered if it was capable of providing a great sound like my other BT speaker that decided to die on me.

What I love most about this speaker is the vocal instructions which is a nice touch! What I wasn't too thrilled about is the volume up/down being on the same buttons as the skip and back buttons. You'll have to hold down the button to raise the volume. If you don't press it correctly, you'll find yourself skipping a song which could be a bit irritating. However, once mastered, the issue is no longer a problem.

Another nice touch is the fact that the speaker also doubles as a speakerphone. Voice quality was superb with no static or dropped volume. It sounded as if my boyfriend was in the same room with me versus being 4 miles away.

Now on to the most important aspect which is the SOUND QUALITY! Surprisingly the little speaker has HEART. I wasnt expecting a lot of bass to be produced, but I was shocked to hear how good Drake sounded coming from the speaker. Although not as loud as my former speaker, it still is impressive and doesn't take away the quality of the sound at all. My boyfriend and I even went for a drive with the speaker in our car and it was awesome at blocking the outside noise of Chicago's streets! Nice!


Would I recommend this speaker? Yes, I would if you're looking for a nice sized speaker that can fill your room or house with music, I do believe that this is a comparable speaker to look into. If you would like to learn more, please click on the Amazon link below:

Liztek Ultra-Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Jamberry Nail Wraps and Polish...My New Obssession!

I'm so late to the nail game! After wearing my nails sans nail polish for 38 years, I happen to stumble across Jamberry Nail Wraps and was immediately intrigued! I wanted pretty designs on my nails without the hassle of going to a nail salon, dealing with toxic fumes, and not so pleasant staff.

After stating my desire to learn more about Jamberry, I was contacted by a nice lady who offered to sell me her lot which included the heater, cuticle oil, scissors, Jamberry Smoothing Base polish and 3 half sheets of wraps. I jumped on the offer. I even ordered 2 additional half sheets off eBay to test them as well.

It just so happened that a Facebook friend of mines was a hosting an online Jamberry party with her consultant and I was invited. Needless to say, that party pretty much solidified my obsession with the pretty nail wraps! I ended up winning all but one of the prizes  (winning 3 sheets and a pedi pack) and other accessories, and ordering 7 sheets total.  My consultant was so sweet, helpful, and her enthusiasm and genuine love for the product made me decide to work with her for the long term.

Now once my Jamberry kit arrived, I was still intimidated although I've watched plenty of tutorial videos and read many online forums for tips and tricks. I excitedly chose the Navy Quartrefoil wraps as my first design. The application took me about 20 minutes which I knew I was rushing but darn it! I just had to have these wraps on my nails ASAP. My first set turned out pretty well. They only lasted about 4 or 5 days due to user error and impatience but I was determined to try again.

The second attempt, I incorporated Color Club's polish in Earth Angel into my set, using the same Jamberry's in Navy Quartrefoil on 3 fingers as accents nails as opposed to using a full set. This time it lasted much longer due to using a trick I learned involving a flat iron to seal the eips and edges. This set lasted about 9 days, but I was building up my polish supply and wanted to do something better in time for my next date with my boyfriend.

I used Jamberry's Floral Noir paired with Sally Hansen's Wild Shine Black Creme. I loved the look of both wraps and color but I knew I could do better! The wraps were fine but my polish was looking a bit beat up due to me trying to polish my nails 30 minutes before leaving to be with my boyfriend.

For my most current "Jamicure", I kept my Jamberry wraps as the same, but this  time still using Jamberry's Smoothing Base Coat, I used Wet n Wild's polish in Ebony Hates Chris, Sinful Colors in Out of This World, followed by Sally Hansen's Big Shiny Top Coat. Boom! My set came out looking even better!

I really am in love with Jamberry Nail Wraps. So much that I am going to sign up for Jamberry's monthly Stylebox as soon as the holidays pass!

Every week or every week, I will post pics of my "jamicure" and share my newfound obsession to my subscribers! If anyone would love to learn more about Jamberry Nail Wraps or may want to learn how to become a consultant with Jamberry Nail Wraps and EARN EXTRA INCOME, please click on the link below to my AWESOME consultant, Trisha Brown's webpage. She'll be happy to provide samples and answer any questions you may have:

Trisha Brown, Consultant for Jamberry Nail Wraps

Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition--Truly A Work in Progress!

I was in the market to find some hair vitamins that would aid in the nourishment and help overcome thiness after years of using relaxers. After weeks of searching and nothing out there that appealing to me, I was given the opportunity to try an one month supply sample of this Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition.

Aviva softgels are packed with essential nutrients such as biotin, folic acid, zinc, iron, Vitamin b5, etc. It is also gluten, fish, and drug free as well. The pills have a slight sweet taste to them and I found myself sucking on them a bit right before swallowing. A sweet tasting supplement? I'll take it! Also the softgels made it very easy to swallow without much effort. That's a definite plus in my book!

On the box, it clearly states that you should allow 3-6 months to see any results as far as length, strength, reduced shedding, etc. It doesn't make outrageous claims like most supplements on the market. This product seems to aim moreso at supporting the natural growth cycle with nourishment that in turn will aid in your hair's growth that can increases length, improves strength, and reduces shedding.

While only given a month sample, I wasn't expecting rapid hair growth (Aviva doesn't make such claims), HOWEVER, I noticed that my hair appears to be much thicker and it has a natural shine to it. The shedding has slowed down greatly as well. I can only imagine the results if I continue to take the supplements for a few more months!

I am quite satisfied so far with the subtle results that I am seeing. After years of chemical treatment, I'm certainly not expecting a miracle to happen overnight and also the results can vary based off your genetic disposition when it comes to your hair growth cycle.

While the price of Aviva Hair Growth is more expensive than some of the other brands on the market, it is well worth the price if you go in not expecting overnight results. Nourishment from within can take some time and Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition can make the end result so worth it.





For more information, please click the following links:

Aviva Advanced Hair Nutrition

Amazon

BirchBox November Edition

I'm so behind on my monthly beauty subs! My schedule has been so hectic with me moving and working. With the holidays approaching at full speed, I fear things will get worse unless I get some organization in my life!

OK, enough ranting about that. Let's get down to this month's beauty box courtesy of Birchbox who I just have to mention was super late this month due to my first box going MIA. My replacement finally arrived today and I am not impressed by any means.

Birchbox: $10 monthly. Ships in the US and limited areas internationally.





Honeycomb ChocoPads (Full-size, $1)

What the hell? I specifically indicated that I wanted NO SNACKS on my profile and Birchbox's hardheaded tail decides to send me one anyway. The reason? They wanted to try something different for their subscribers. Ummm, if I say I don't want to try snacks, don't put me on the list to be a guinea pig for them. Sure, it was tasty and I enjoyed it but it was all done with an attitude due to the fact that something more desirable could have been sent in its place. Verdict: Thumbs down.






Tocca Cream DA Mano, Bianca (Full size, $10)

This lotion has a nice scent and made from Green tea and lemon but it smells of roses to me. I am unsure of the thickness or consistency of the product since I am in no huge rush to open it. I have so many bottles and tubes of lotion for my ashy hands, I just don't need to add to the collection even if the harsh weather is upon me and my hands. I'll probably trade this for whatever.
Verdict: Thumbs down





Lauren Mercier Supreme Mascara (Full-size $25)

I swear on Jesus's sandals if another beauty sub send me one more mascara, I am going to scream! Is mascara the holy grail of makeup or something? I have so many right now and my two favorites are Urban Decay's Perversion and Teeez Cosmetics Desert Metals mascara. Plus, I have so many unopened mascaras in my beauty arsenal, including the 3D fiber mascaras! Enough already!
Verdict: Thumbs down





Amika Nourishing Mask (Full size, $28)

This was my "pick a sample" item. It smells divine but too damn bad it's too a little sample! I mean, what can I use this on? My pubic area? I have thick hair and the contents in this tube will probably be enough to cover one half of my hair. Nonetheless, I am curious about so I will use this as soon as my argan oil hair mask runs out.
Verdict: Undecided





Dr. Brandt pores no more vacuum cleanser (Full-size, $45)

Hmmm, for some odd reason, Birchbox is trying to play matchmaker with my pores and dr. Brandt. I don't have any enlarged pores or blackheads so I wish they would stop sending me pore issue items and dr. Brandt products. It does have a nice scent but I don't see myself using this anytime soon. Hey, Birchbox, if you want to hook me up, hook me up with some lipstick or better yet, a man! Oops! I have one of those so I'll have to go with the lipstick.
Verdict: Thumbs down





Harvey Prince Petaly Noir (Full size, $55)
Thanks Birchbox for yet another perfume sample. Harvey Prince perfumes are slowly growing on me and this sample vial is no exception. The combination of jasmine, vanilla and orchid scents are heavenly. I plan on wearing this tonight to intoxicate my boyfriend's senses, get lucky, and by that I mean at least four rounds of "awesomeness"! Ahem, don't ask me to elaborate, you pervs! Wait...Hold up! That ninja just canceled on me! I'm wearing it for someone else then!
Verdict: Thumbs up





Lauren Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (Full size, $43)

This was meant to be a bonus and I almost missed this since it was under the tissue paper. Wow, bonus foil. Don't I feel special. Yea, this is going in the "Never gonna use" pile. Thanks
Verdict: Thumbs down

Well, this box has been less than impressive compared to the other less than impressive Birchboxes that I have received. But what they miss in sample options for me, they make up with their point system. members earn 10 points for each completed product feedback survey (look for the feedback icon on every product detail page). Only products sampled through Birchbox are eligible for feedback points. Also, every 100 points equal $10 in credit that you can use in the Birchbox shop to purchase overly expensive items like Harvey Prince products and whatnot. Me, I'm saving for an overly priced Mia Clarisonic. Woohoo!

Most people liked my box but eh, i was not happy with the snack, more mascara and pore stuff. Birchbox, leave this here babyface alone! Here's hoping December will be a better month for me.

Want to sign up? Use my link:
https://www.birchbox.com/invite/g64kk

Colon Cleanse by Hera Prime Review

Retail Value: $17.97 (60 caplets)

My diet sucks. Literally. I've tried eating right but not only is the good stuff expensive (why does 12 doughnuts costs less than a bag of grapes, I don't know), but it's boring. That's how I use to think until, ahem, going to the bathroom became a chore.

Sparing you the dirty details, when it seems as if constipation was about to win this long, dry battle and split me to no end, I decided to try detoxing. Along with my cucumber and lemon water, I decided to give Colon Cleanse by HeraPrime a try.

According to the directions, 2 pills taken twice per day should help aid the cleansing:

Day one: Nothing
Day two: Nope
Day three: Wtf? Am I that backed up?
Day four: Surprise!!!

I liked that when it did began to work, it was gentle and didn't make me feel as if I had to run to the bathroom and there no stomach cramps associated with digesting the pills. I do feel a little bit energized and I don't feel as sluggish as before.

If you're looking for a quick turnaround, these may not be the right pills for you. However, I liked the fact that it took a bit for the ahem, elimination process to start and now I'm more regular instead of "going" every three days.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

CushionCare Memory Foam Seat

Retail value: $48.99 (Black Friday sale price)

About three weeks ago, I slid down 13 steps leading from my bedroom and landed HARD on my butt on the landing. Man, words cant express the excruciating pain I was in! To top it off, I have a job where I am required to sit for long periods of time! There was no pillow, blanket, cushion in my home that could help soften the blow and pain I felt when sitting and getting up! I dreaded the simple task of sitting in a chair or getting in my car. 

When the opportunity to review this product for in exchange for a honest review, I jumped at the chance! I submitted my petition for this cushion and prayed that I would be accepted and I was!

The cushion came packaged securely and wrapped in plastic with a nice welcome card. The seat itself is nice and firm and the cut out provided much needed relief from the pain of my tailbone due to the constant pressure of the seat of my chair. It allowed my injury to heal without constant pressure on the bruising.

I am no longer in pain, yet I still use this cushion to this day. It is still firm and it actually helps my posture as well. I'm glad I didn't settle for one of those standard donut pillows as suggested. This seat is a godsend! 

You can view and order CushionCare from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I9753UI

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Instanatural Dead Sea Mud Mask Review

Retail value: $25.94 (16oz jar)
I ashamed at the age of 38, I am now starting to think about facial skincare. All of my life I've had a babyface and looked much younger in appearance and I think I want to continue to do so!

From serums, creams, moisturizers, etc. I have taken a nosedive into preserving my youthful appearance for as long as I can. I have yet to to try any facial mask, so when given the opportunity to try Instanatural's Dead Sea Mud Mask, I had to jump at the chance since I am a huge fan of their products.


The jar is huge and the amount of product for the price is reasonable ( and I am a cheapskate). With weekly use, I can easily see this product lasting at least six months if not longer. The consistency of mask is nice and thick and it only required one scoop for me to spread the desired thin layer onto my face (avoiding the eye and lip area) as instructed.


Once applied and as it began to dry, the tightening effect that took place was nothing short of amazing! It pulled so tightly on my skin, I could barely move my lips and I loved it! I let it sit for 15 minutes, then reluctantly rinsed the mask of with warm water, following up with the other products I use in my skincare routine. Here is the result after ONE USE...


No filter! I loved this mask so much that after much nagging and convincing, my boyfriend gave it a try and he also fell in love with it! He also had the audacity to suggest that I give him weekly facials now. Ummm, not with my mask, I won't!
Seriously, this mask even trumps a well known and much pricier mud mask that I tried just a week prior to receiving this product! Instanatural wins again in the skincare department!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

About

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Vitamin C Serum by Day by Day Beauty Review

Retail Value: $19.50, 1 FL OZ.

OK, I may be a little biased when it comes to reviewing this product; mainly because of two reasons:

1. It was made by a company based in my home state ( Illinois).

2. The color of the bottle is my favorite color, blue. Also, the quality of the glass  bottle wasn't spared any expense.

Enough of that. I call this the "The Little Bottle That Could". Though I'm not a huge fan of the thin consistency of the liquid ( It is a bit thinner and runny compared to previous tested serums), that doesn't stop this small bottles effect.





I have been using this bottle for about 1.5 months and not consistently either. Even with my laziness, I can still see results! My skin looks refreshed,   healthier, and no longer appears drab and dull. The area around my eyes are soft and I can't keep my hands off of my face! I can imagine how this product will truly work if I stop being lazy and use it more consistently!

While the price is a bit off putting, I am glad to know I have this product in my arsenal of skincare products!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Instanatural Pore Tightening Vitamin C Facial Toner

Retail Value: $17.75, 4. FL OZ bottle

I was in the market looking for a toner to complete my skincare regimen and  was given the opportunity to try this product out.

Shipping was fast (As usual being a Prime customer) and I was eager to open up the box and try out this toner.

My first impression once I had the bottle in my hand, was that I wished the wording on the label was black. White wording against yellow/orange background made reading the ingredients and directions a bit hard for me to read.






I was a bit surprised to see the toner in a spray bottle that dispels a fine mist. Most toners sold in stores are packaged in open cap bottles where you have to pour the toner onto a cotton pad or ball. I was a bit apprehensive about spraying my face with this especially when I tried it out initially. After a couple of uses, I adjusted to it and I actually like it packaged in a spray bottle. Being clumsy, at least I won't have to worry about spilling the contents should I ever knock the bottle over while in my tiny bathroom.

I don't know why I expected this toner to have a citrus smell to it. Maybe because the color of the label reminds me of oranges and lemons (Go figure).
I can't think of anything to compare the smell of the toner to. One thing is for certain and that is the toner doesn't have a heavy fragrance to it which is a great thing. While the scent of the toner isn't unpleasant nor does the scent lingers, it just smells different. Almost medicinal in a sense.

As for the results after using this toner, I will definitely say that I am impressed with how it works. My skin does feel tighter without a drying effect and although I've never had any issues with enlarged pores, my pores seem to look as if they have diminished a bit more in appearance.

As a new person to starting her first skincare regimen, I can't say how this toner compares to other well known brands that are currently on the market especially with the retail price, but I will say that I am quite satisfied with the results of this toner. Will I purchase  another bottle? I'm very price conscious and I don't see myself shelling out $20 for a toner, but at least this products does what it states on the bottle!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Naturalico Cellulite Cream with Retinol & Caffeine

Retail Value: $19.99

I had yet another opportunity to try and review another cellulite cream and rate its effectiveness on the drawn out war of cellulite reduction.

Once again, the smell of the cream was a bit strong for my sensitive nose. While the scent didn't linger, the first whiff will surely catch your attention!





The product's consistency is very cream and a bit runny. It also left a slight sticky/tacky feeling on my hands, causing me to have wash my hands immediately after applying the cream.

I have been using this cream for about 3 weeks and while I'm not anxious to say if it is working, one could incorporate this product into a lifestyle where fitness and healthier eating is the main focus.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream

Retail Value: $19.99

I have always been a bit curious about how effective these cellulite creams actually are. So when given a chance to try a couple out, I was quick to accept the offer.

First thing, I noticed about Body Merry's Cellulite Gel-cream was the smell. It came off a wee bit strong but after 2 minutes it no longer bothered me.





The consistency of the product was more jelly like than cream. At first I was worried about whether or not this product would leave my skin and especially my hands with this sticky and tacky feeling as another product I have tried. Surprisingly, my skin and hands weren't sticky, but it left both skin and hands feeling soft!

I have been using this cream for about 2 weeks straight and while I am not quick to say it's "A miracle in a jar", one could very well incorporate it into a healthy fitness and diet routine.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.