Product of The Week: VoilaVe Argan Oil

VoilaVe Organics Argan Oil - $18.95 US

Recently Everything Beauty and Beyond was given a full size sample of this organic argan oil by the company VoilaVe.  To be honest, when they first contact me I was surprised as I had never heard of them.  However I have found many times that much smaller companies tend to provide better quality products.

This arrived to my house a little over two weeks ago and I was totally surprised by the size of the bottle.  It was a 4 oz size bottle which is considered massive (in my opinion) compared to the other companies that sell argan oil.  It came in a dark opaque glass bottle with a pump which was a first for me!  I actually loved the idea of the pump because it was great in not allowing unnecessary air, light or bacteria into the bottle.  This argan oil is also 100% certified Organic & ECO and USDA Certified.  So you know you are buying the real thing when you purchase this.  

When I first applied this serum, I was impressed by the texture.  This serum was so silky.  This for sure was something I have never felt before.  It didn't feel heavy weight or greasy (though we know its an oil) and adsorb really quick on to the skin.  It didn't have any rancid smell and no settlements so far have come out the bottle.  It was a yellow clearish color (if that makes sense) and wasn't runny or watery.  

I decided first to try this on my hands as a moisturizer because of the pump.  I tell you I was freaking in love with this pump.  I first applied it to my hands, arms and elbows and it really helped with the dryness with no greasy feeling left behind.  I then moved on to my face at night when it was time for night time skin care routine.  I normally use argan oil at night as my final step when I wash my face.  I loved how great it felt on my skin and no heavy or oily residue was left behind.  However I did have one issue.  Since this is a pump; I normally only use 2-3 drops of agran oil on face, neck and chest and this gave me way to much.  I had to rub the rest on my arms and elbows.  In this case I think the pump backfires by giving you more product then what you need if you plan to apply it to your face.  So try pumping it less then half way in order to get the right amount of oil you need for smaller areas of your body.  After that, I applied some more on my hair since I had just washed it in the shower.  I love the fact that it didn't leave it greasy or weighed down and really smelled and looked beautiful when blow dried my hair the next day.

To be honest I am in awe of the size of this bottle and the handy little pump it comes with.  When I first tried argan oil, it was a sample I received from my beloved Sephora from Josie Maran 100% argan oil.  However the price for that 1.5 oz bottle was outrageous and I refused to pay almost $90 for a bottle of that size let alone for a product I was unsure about.  I then went and hit the internet and found what argan oil needs to have in order to be considered 'real' and what the actual price ranges would be and trust me they were way more reasonable then Josie Maran.

So far this company has impressed me and I plan to keep using their product for all my argan oil needs!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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Adovia Mineral Lift Seurm

Adovia Mineral Lift Serum - $49.00 US

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 

Everything Beauty and Beyond was given the opportunity to review Adovia's Mineral Lift Serum.

According to their site it says:

- Achieve An Instant Lift and Anti Aging Effects on Your Skin
- Delivers Anti Wrinkle Results Over Time
- Vitamin C - Also Contains a High Concentration of Vitamin C for Anti Wrinkle Antioxidant Skin Protection
- Dead Sea Salt - Formulated with a High Concentration of Dead Sea Minerals and Salt - 21 Minerals Essential for Skin Health and Beauty
Non-Oily Moisturizer Delivers Deep Hydration and Nutrient Absorption

I really found interesting the fact that this serum has 21 minerals found in the product and that it had of course dead sea components in it.  The fact that it had Vitamin C infused in the product was a bonus as vitamin c is an antioxidant that works great in making the skin glow and radiant! (To read more about Vitamin C and its lovely effects, click here!)  They also added evening primrose oil in the mix which has great anti-inflammatory properties and works great as an emollient. 

 

The serum comes out in a white cream type form and is non greasy which is a bonus for me since I have oily skin.  I applied the serum once per day after my morning shower and it dried very fast.  I never had a greasy feeling left on my face or any residue like effect.  After a few weeks, my skin also feels a bit firmer and it did not leave my skin feeling greasy.  Adovia claims that it is an anti-age serum and while that may be true, I have not used it long enough to validate this claim. I should note that I am a 34-year-old Hispanic light-skinned woman without a single wrinkle who appears to be in her mid-twenties. Needless to say, I am not seeking a more youthful appearance however using products now to slow down any signs of aging (eventually) are always useful.  Especially ones that are formulated well and have real ingredients to make a difference in your skincare.  A lot of companies nowadays add a bunch of junk that do more harm then good.  So seeing good quality products in a bottle is worth noting. 

However, I did have one complaint.  I've been using this serum for about three weeks now and I thought I might not even get that far because about 3 days into using this product, the pump stopped working!!  But like my resourceful self I unscrewed the pump so that I could wipe some of the serum onto my hand and apply it to my face.  Hey I figure why let a good serum go to waste if I could pull a MacGyver here!  After a few more days the pump mysteriously began working again, eureka! No longer did I need to scoop out serum Bronx style. 

All in all, my only complaint is the low quality of the pump.  For the price, I would expect a pump that would function until the last drop has been used.  However, it could also be that I received a faulty pump.  I read other reviews online and didn't see anyone else having the same problem. 

I'm also currently using their Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream so stay tuned for a review of that product in the future!

Keep Smiling!

Paulette 

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.

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Adovia Dead Sea Salt Face & Body Soap

 Adovia Dead Sea Salt Face & Body Soap - $12.00 US

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Recently I was given the opportunity to review an Adovia's product called their Moisturizing Mineral Soap with Dead Sea Salt and Minerals.  Adovia uses minerals from Dead Sea salt - as well as herbs and oils from all over the world.

According to their item descrption it says:

Item description:
- Infused with 100% Pure Dead Sea Salts from the Dead Sea
- Dead Sea Salt Contains over 21 Minerals Key to Skin Health and Beauty
- Deeply Moisturizing and Hydrating Soap great for Dry and Normal to Dry Skin
- Dead Sea Minerals Essential to Skin Function Contained in the Soap Include Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc and More.
- Great Value and Benefits for A Daily Moisturizing Facial Cleanser

 

 For budgetary reasons, I normally use some of the more popular drug store facial cleansers, but I've never really felt that they do a great job of cleaning my skin. I was pleasantly surprised by the mineral soap.  Normally people shy away from bar soaps due to their bad rep.  A lot of soaps contain lye which is totally horrible for your body and causes serious dryness.  Their are a few soaps out there made without lye, but their are far few and between.  Hence why body washes became so popular a few years back.  You were able to put in skin softening ingredients without the harsh chemicals needed and clean and condition the skin at the same time.

However this soap was really surprising.  It isn't harsh and contains more natural ingredients than the slew of unreadable chemical names that you'll find on the box of any cleanser at your local drug store. The soap didn't lather as much, but that is given the fact that it lacks all those unnatural ingredients needed in order to get that result.  My skin does feel a bit cleaner than normal and combined with a face exfoliator it's even better.  Also it leaves your skin feeling hydrate since its all natural so you don't get the tight skin feeling that you normal have after using soap on your face or body.  In addition, it's great for washing away make up residue that may have gotten left over by your makeup remover.  I would say this soap is really gentle to use everyday and the fact that it's natural really makes it noteworthy.   

Adovia so far has surprised me with their all natural products by really giving me wonderful results!

Keep Smiling!

Paulette

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.

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Ageless Derma Retinol and Vitamin K Eye Cream!

 

 Ageless Derma Retinol and Vitamin K Eye Cream-$59 US

Some people believe that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If that be true, its best then that you take care of your eyes so that it doesn't seem like curtains are falling upon them. One of the most neglected area are the eyes. The older we get, the first signs of aging and wrinkles for many appear here. 

One day while surfing the net for a good retinol eye cream, I read that retinol mixed with vitamin K produces great results for the eye area.  Furthermore, I came upon a published study that was done in the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo that showed out of the 57 participants that were recruited for the study, after 8 weeks of using a certain eye cream twice a day;  81% of participants claimed that they had a visible difference to the bruises, wrinkles, dark under eye circles and puffiness around their eyes.

While doing my research, I came across a company called Ageless Derma that was offering an eye cream that not only had retinol (0.1%) but also peptides and vitamins C, E and K (2%).  Prior to finding this company, I had read when using an eye cream with retinol, one should also use vitamin K to help moisturize the eye plus it helps with bruising and swelling (dark under eye circles).  This eye cream has the essentials for the eyes to combat against wrinkles. And while we know nothing can stop you from aging (don't buy that hype), however it can help you by looking good in diminishing the look of wrinkles as you get older.   

What I liked about this eye cream so much was that first, it was produced based on a real study that was performed and published.  Second, the company has also added in vitamin C and E plus peptides to enhances its effect on the eyes.  Also, they nailed it with putting the formula in an air tight pump bottle.  What a lot of companies fail to see is that when you put retinol or antioxidants in a jar or open containers, they will become ineffective very quickly (if not by the time you take it home from the store) because all these antioxidants oxidize themselves when exposed to light and air.  Hence why these products should come in an air tight dark or opaque pump when you buy them. 

Retinol, (which is the purest form of Vitamin A) helps the skin to regenerate itself from deep within by building and resorting collagen. It improves the cellular function of skin that is aged and photo-damaged due to UV exposure.  With Vitamin K, studies founded in the American Academy of Dermatology in 2003 that applying vitamin K to the eyes, works to reduce dark under eye circles. 

So you might be asking now, "what is all this extra stuff in the bottle about?" Well, lets break it down.  Peptides help to produce and stimulate collagen to help with wrinkles.  Vitamin E is an antioxidant that repairs skin damaged from free radicals cell damage that in many cases are caused by UV rays from sun exposure! Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps fights free radicals damage. Moreover, Ageless Derma justifies these extra added ingredients according to clinical studies reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.  It stated that creams that contain Vitamin K, retinol, Vitamins C and E placed on the eye area were effective for those who suffer from dark circles and wrinkles.

Because this cream is formulated properly, I did not having any dryness, peeling or redness. My eyes never stung, felt sensitive or burned.  Now I will admit, the product says to use it 2-3 times a week at night.  However at my old age of 33 I tend to sometimes not read things properly and I was using it every night.  Nonetheless I had no adverse side effects at all.  The cream comes out in a yellow color and literally half a pump does both my eyes.  A full pump was a waste of cream for me and trust me I have big eyes! 

However, if you plan to use this product, there are somethings you need to know.

1. Only use this product at NIGHT! Since this product contains retinol, exposing it to sunlight renders it ineffective.  So only put it on at night right before going to bed.  If you want further information about retinol and how to properly use it, then click here.

2.  YOU MUST USE SUNSCREEN!! When going out during the day regardless of the weather always wear it!  Even though this product is for the eyes, not using sunscreen and exposing yourself to the sun will cause your skin to burn.  Furthermore you will damage your skin and render the cream ineffective.  Don't be crazy here, and pay attention to this.  Make sure to get sunscreen that has Broad Spectrum Protection UVB/UVA SPF 30 and up.  If you want to learn more about how not using sunscreen damages your skin, then click here and then click above (in case you haven't) about how to properly use retinol.

3. Since this product also uses vitamin C you still need to use sunscreen.  Though vitamin C is excellent to defend against free radical cell damage, nonetheless it goes hand in hand with sunscreen in order to work properly.  If you want to learn more about how vitamin C works and its great advantages, then click here. 

Clarins Sunscreen Stick For Sun-Sensitive Areas SPF 30 High Protection UVB/UVA - $26

Since applying sunscreen around the eyes one must be careful to not irritate the eyes, I would recommend buying Clarins Sunscreen Stick For Sun-Sensitive Areas SPF 30 High Protection UVB/UVA.  This stick is great to glide right over your whole eye area including the eye lids, inner corner and underneath the eyes in order to protect them from the sun while you use Ageless Derma Retinol and Vit K Eye Cream.  Part of making sure a product works is making sure you are not doing something else to render it ineffective.  So if you are going to buy this product, then make sure you buy some form of sunscreen that is safe around the eyes that offers you Broad Spectrum Protection UVB/UVA SPF 30 and up.

Ageless Derma Retinol and Vitamin K Eye Cream is a for sure winner for me and I plan to continue using it!

Keep Smiling!

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How to Start Your Mornings Off Right!

Mornings are rough.  Trust me I know.  They are rough because millions of people are affected by it everyday.  It takes a toll on us all and for many of us therapy might be needed.  I believe its a syndrome that affects everyone and for many in a very negative way.  So negative that for many even their personality is affected all day long. I have dubbed it the "getting out of bed.....everyday" syndrome!

So now that we are done with the theatrics lets get to the point.  How you wake up in the morning and the attitude that you personify during this time will set the pace for the rest of your day.  I heard that old saying growing up "well it looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed". Truth is no matter what side of the bed you wake up on, what really sets your tone for the day is your mind set from early morning.  I hear a lot of people say "well I'm not a morning person".  This saying really bothers me, because unless you start your days at 12pm and beyond, then we all are morning people as we usually wake up somewhere in the morning hours.  Part of having a healthy day and beautiful outlook on life is setting your tone of mind from the moment you open your eyes.  Remember beauty is a state of mind.  No amount of makeup you wear or clothes you buy will make you feel beautiful if deep downside you are really struggling with who you are.  Sadly, for many these issues start from the moment they open up their eyes.  So here are some tips on how you can achieve a beautiful mind set and turn around your outlook if you are affected by this "syndrome" and are not a morning person.

1. Mediate/Pray/Mindfulness

I will admit I am guilty of not being mindful in the mornings on many occasions.  I am part of that group of people who first reach for their phones, laptops, tablets and what not in order to check their emails and see what is going on the world.  However I have had to take a step back many times and first check on what is going on with me before I can even start to examine the world.  When you wake up in the mornings, don't reach for all your electronic gadgets first.  Truth is whether you check your emails now or five minutes from now; not much will change.  When you wake up in the mornings and before you take your first step try centering yourself.  Whether that be a small 3-5 minutes of mediation, prayer or being mindful of your feelings, sensations, body, and surroundings.  The goal is to catch your bearings before you start your day so you can set your tone for a beautiful mind set that day. 

2. Yoga/Stretch  

Believe it or not, practicing yoga or stretching in the mornings has been found to help follow blood to your body parts, improve posture and help with achy muscles.  However if none of these appeals to you, it helps you at least to get out of bed. If you take a few minutes when you wake up in the mornings to stretch or practice yoga you can actually incorporate point number one and two together!  Part of practicing yoga and/or stretching is again just being mindful of your body and yourself.

2. Hygiene 

I know many people do not shower in the mornings instead at night.  However a morning shower can really help you wake up and feel so much better about yourself.  It also gets your body clean from all the sweating that occurs as you sleep.  It helps to invigorate our senses as the water falls on our body and for many they take this time to reflect while in the shower.  So you can basically do step one and three while in the shower.  Just remember to brush your teeth while you are at it.  Nothing says "good morning" like fresh clean minty breath!

3. Eat Breakfast

Many of us are guilty of skipping breakfast in the morning which is bad.  However many of also eat horribly in the morning which is just as bad as skipping breakfast.  When planning your most important meal of the day, skip on high crabs or fatty food and instead go with low crabs, low sugar and whole grains.  Try having fruits with yogurt, oats and grains with fruit, eggs with chicken or turkey bacon and other health options that are not loaded with sugar.  Fruit smoothies, freshly squeezed juice and juicing is another health option.  Eating breakfast is very important not only for your body but for your state of mind.  If you go starving to work, in my experience I have noticed on how this affects my mental state of mind for the rest of the day. So plan your breakfast meals ahead of time so that way you won't be rushing in the mornings wondering what to eat.

4. Getting Dress

Regardless of what your fashion sense is, you should always feel happy in what you wear.  Don't use clothes to hide yourself and don't wear makeup in order to pretend to be somebody you are not.  Makeup; while it can hide our facial imperfections, it can never mask how we truly feel about ourselves  deep down inside.  Furthermore, while clothes can make you look fatter or skinner, it can never change your real shape.  Use clothes and makeup as a way to accent who you are and not what you are pretending to be.  The point of getting dress in the mornings is to allow the world to see you for who you are and how you represent yourself.  I hear many girls say, "I don't wear makeup because I am to lazy to do it".  Wear makeup because you want to and not because you feel like you have too. However don't use the excuse of not wearing makeup because you are lazy.  We still brush our teeth and shower everyday in spite of being lazy.  So don't skim on yourself because your are lazy.  Instead use your time wisely so you achieve the look you are going for whether that be makeup free or not.  Nobody no matter how smart or pretty you are looks good as a hot mess.  It doesn't represent you as as a person fairly and its not a good look to sport.  Looking like you just rolled out of bed is not a look....period.

I try to follow these four easy steps in order to achieve a beautiful mind set everyday.  At times I fail and miserably.  However I always remind myself that there is always tomorrow to start over again and beauty continues to be a state of mind!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana  

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June's Spotlight of The Month!

Bella & Bear Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler - $17.99 US

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial.

When Bella & Bear contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their eyelash curler, I was totally in!  I was actually so in, that I even bought one of these lovely gadgets for my sister and mailed it to her so that she could try it out as well!  You see I had the same eyelash curler for years.  However about 6 months ago it broke and so did my beautiful curled eyelashes with it. I went out and bought a Revlon one, however it really didn't do anything for me and I found myself having to use it a few times before my eyelashes would even curl.  I looked into other ones, but I refuse to pay more than $20 a curler and some of the good ones were going for $50 and up!!  Yeah no!!

When this arrived to my house, it the first thing I noticed was the lovely packaging.  The box was just beautiful and awesome.  It actually reminded me of the 1950's look.  Inside I found a curler that seemed very sturdy and durable.  I decided to read the description online about the product and it said:

What Makes The Eye And Mighty The Curler You Need?

✓ No pinch no pain curling
✓ Non slip handle
✓ Ergonomic design, to get every lash
✓ The Eye & Mighty eyelash curler lifts and curls like no other eyelash tool. You will know that you have found "the one"
✓ The spring loaded handle means you get a lot more lift with less pressure, say goodbye to straight lashes and hello to sexy curvy eyelashes!

This Product Is So Easy To Use

✓ With eyes wide open, position the lash curler at the base of your lashes
✓ Gently squeeze and hold for 10 seconds
✓ For added drama add 1 coat of mascara for a pretty daytime look
✓ 2 coats for a dramatic look
Voila, curly, dramatic lashes!

FREE Beauty Ebook

As a thank you to our customers, you get our Bella & Bear Beauty Secrets ebook Details in the box or go to BellaandBear.com

Guarantee

If you don't completely fall in love with Eye & Mighty then Please Contact Us For A Full Refund!

Well with all this info how could you go wrong!  So after reading this I was sold!  I decided to go ahead and use this curler the same night I received it AFTER I had finished washing my face and taking my makeup off because I just couldn't wait to try it out.  I applied to my freshly clean eyelashes and was just amazed on how little pressure you needed to curler your lashes.  The curler seemed to sit high on the hinge on the device and therefore you didn't need to press down so hard in order to get it to work.    This never pinched my eyelid and it never slipped out of my hand either.  I didn't feel the need to press down so hard that I my eyelashes felt like they were being cut off.  Only very gentle pressure was needed to get it to work.  I noticed automatically on just how quick it curled my lashes.

I decided to use it again a few days later when I had to go to work.  I first curled my lashes, applied mascara primer and then applied my mascara.  My eyelashes looked amazing!  The curl held all day with very little effort and my lashes just looked longer then usual.

What I loved about this curler is that it sits high which means it lifts your eyelash curl even higher.  It fits perfectly in my fingers and is very comfortable to use.  I love the design, color and shape of the curler and would highly recommend it!  

Paulette's Review

Like my sister, I also had a Revlon eyelash curler that I've used off and on for the last few years.  I've never been big into eyelash curlers so I never took the time to find a really good one.  Well low and behold, Bella & Bear Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler walked into my life a couple of weeks ago and I haven't looked back since.  From the first day I used it my eyelashes were perfectly curled.  I then applied mascara and the curl held all day long.  The curler looks sturdy and well designed.  I haven't been this excited about a new product in a while and I hope to keep using it for some time to come. 

There you it, two reviews for the "curl" of one!   :-)

Keep Smiling!

Dayana & Paulette

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.

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May Favorites!

I know, I know I am pretty late posting this! However I have a good reason! I moved the month of May and really spent a lot of time fixing up the new house and hardly any time shopping.  However as you can see, I did manage to squeeze some shopping in!

Bella & Bear High and Mighty Eyelash Curler - $15.99 US

I have a love hate relationship with eyelash curlers.  Nonetheless, I refuse to put mascara on without this tool.  However I have to say, out of all the eyelash curlers I have ever tried this one truly amazed me.  I curled my lashes with and without mascara and the curl held all day long.  It didn't pinch my skin or eyelid and truly just left me with a prefect lifted eyelash.  I just love this curler! 

Adovia Mineral Balsam Dead Sea Salt Deep Hair Conditioner - $18.75 US

I was very curious about this item as I have never tried dead sea salt for the hair anything.  This thing smelled amazing and my hair literally looked and felt better then ever.  I have to say I was completely impressed.  It really made my hair shiny and just felt like silk when I ran my fingers through it.   I let my hair air dry then I flat ironed it and truly my hair was still looking awesome.  My dry ends didn't look horrible and my hair didn't feel oily or greasy.  This conditioner really helped in making my dandruff less flaky.  I would highly recommend this conditioner for anyone who is looking to use dead sea salt for their hair. 

Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask - $29.44 US

I just love dead sea mud masks!  So when I got a chance to try this one, I was over the moon! This mask is awesome! It made my pores smaller and felt amazing on my face. It dried to a dark green color and wasn't concrete hard.  It washed off easily and with no real residue left behind.  It left my face feeling so baby soft that I couldn't stop touching it the next day!  The jar clearly says to only use once a week which is a bummer as I would love to use this 2-3 times a week.  However I plan to use this weekly till it runs out and according to their website you have about 30 plus facials you can get can out of this jar!  That is basically more then half a year if used weekly!

Baby Foot - $25.00 US

If you have dry, nasty cracked Velcro Syndrome feet, then you need this product.  This comes with two little booties inside that you place on feet for 1-2 hours.  It is filled with AHA which helps to exfoliate the skin on your feet.  This will make your feet peel anywhere from 3-5 days later up to two weeks later!  I tell you, I have never had feet so soft after using this product! My feet literally were baby soft!

Sabon Lavender Body Oil - $20.00 US 

I just love the smell of lavender like you wouldn't believe.  It just gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside every time I smell it.  One day while watching Youtube I heard of this company called Sabon. I googled them and realized that they had this lovely lavender body oil and I really just needed to try it.  However they don't ship to Canada! Never fear, I got it shipped to my sister in NYC who mailed it to me. OMG I am in love! I wear this almost everyday after my shower and my body feels so soft and amazing and I smell like lavender for hours! I totally recommend this company!

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Shimmer Dust - Aurora - $39.00 US

I love facial highlighter.  I wear it everyday!  So when I heard you could get shimmer dust for your body as well I was literally over the moon!  Hey I figured if I could look like a disco ball all around then why not!  Tarina Tarantino has these lovely shimmer dust powders that come in three different colors.  You simply spray it on like you would perfume and it last all day long!  I love the way it makes me look and it has a slight lovely smell to it!  I bought mine from Hautelook however you can also buy it off their website!

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Hydra B5 Masque Advanced Formula +

Hydra B5 Masque Advanced Formula + - $31.85 US

Cosmetic Skin Solutions is a company that I have used before in the past and love.  I currently use their Retinol 1% and in the past I have used their Vitamin C + E with Ferulic Acid.  I have blogged about both these products before in my Retinol and Vitamin C posts. Upon surfing their site recently, I noticed that they came out with a new product called Hydra B5 Masque Advanced Formula +.  So I decided to read up on it.  According to the site it says:

"Ideal for dry, cracked, dehydrated, and stressed skin, this intensely hydrating vitamin B5 masque is essential to restoring the skin’s optimal moisture balance by combining naturally occurring humectants to bind moisture, and to improve form and function of the skin.

This highly concentrated vitamin B5 masque supplies high amounts of hyaluronic acid (1%) to replenish depleted moisture levels associated with skin conditions listed. Hyaluronic acid is the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF) responsible for tissue hydration and immediate water attracting and binding attributes. Ideal for all skin types."

Now for those who have no clue what hyaluronic acid is, allow me to elaborate.  Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is found naturally in the human body and seen in high dosages in babies.   Ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin?  Well its because of the hyaluronic acid in their system.  Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this beautiful effect.  Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it.  However as we get older we loss a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll.  Hyaluronic Acid  plumps and moisturizes skin as well as it helps to heal and comfort it when its suffered damage.  Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps by retaining moisture in the skin and creating a cushion like effect to help plump out the lines as we age.   So once I realized that it has HA in it, I decided to order it. 

I recently have been dealing with a skin rash that broke out on my face and all over my neck for over a month now.  No one knows what caused it or why it won't leave.  When I finally got myself over to the doctor (one month later) I realized that the rash left me with dry skin on my face and it was pretty bad.  I was actually bleeding in certain parts of my face.  I used my Clarisonic as often as I could to buff away the dry skin cells but nothing worked.  I then used my Argan oil and Passionfruit oil (Maracuja) but still the dryness would not leave.  I starting using once a week a dead sea mud mask (click here for that review) that helped with the dryness, however you could only apply once a week and you had to wash it off after 10-15 minutes.  I started shopping around for a face cream/masque that would help with this issue at night.  However everything kept coming up short or whatever I did try made it worse.  So when I saw that CSS came out with this product, I decided to investigate the ingredients and give it a shot.  I mean the rash literally left me looking like I had suffered burns to my face and neck, so really how much worse could it get.

The product arrived to my house on Tuesday.  When bedtime came, though I will admit I was scared as all high hell to try anything new at this point, I gave it a shot.  I have used CSS and they have NEVER let me down so I went for it.  So far I have used this product two nights in a row and OMG what a difference!!  I was amazed as to what my face felt like when I woke up the next morning. It was literally so soft that I could not stop touching it! My skin felt supple, plumpy and ever so soft.   It literally looked hydrated.  I haven't been able to wear makeup because of this rash, yet my skin looks amazing without any on at the moment.  This masque has literally made a massive difference on my face.  It didn't cause further irritant or dryness and basically just worked with my facially issues at the moment.   

Another reason why I love this product so much is because it has NO fragrance dyes or perfume in it. All that stuff really messes with your skin. Its a clear gel like consistency that goes on super smooth and leaves no film or sticky feeling behind.  All you need is one small squirt as it really goes along way.  Since it is a gel like based it spreads very well with very little needed.  

I honestly am in love.  I just adore CSS because of the amazing products they put out.  Plus they ship to Canada which is fabulous and a must need for the cold harsh weather in the winter.  They are very similar to the company skinceuticals.  However CSS has way better pricing that is more reasonable which is what keeps me coming back.  They have great products, affordable pricing and package quality.  

If you need extra moisture for your skin, this is it and truly worth the dollar value without all the unnecessary bells and whistles aka facial irritants that you find in other products! 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Product of The Week: Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum

Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum - $29.95 US 

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

First let me start by saying I LOVE anything that Poppy Austin makes. So when Poppy Austin contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to try out their Vitamin C serum I literally almost cried. And I am not saying that because they sent me a free bottle of Vitamin C.  Before I was even contacted by them I was already using their Argan Oil for my face and hair and loved it!! I love them because 1. They sell the real deal. Their products (vitamin C and Argan Oil) are all natural with nothing added or taken away.  2. The dollar amount for the size of product you get is amazing!  Their Argan oil for example is priced at $29.00 US versus their competitor which is $85 US for a much smaller bottle! Ok back to the Vitamin C review here!

One thing that I love about this product is that it contains Hyaluronic Acid.  Now I know a bunch of you out there use face serums and creams and have absolutely no clue what you are putting on your face. tsk tsk! You should ALWAYS read the back of the packaging label and google what the main ingredients are before applying it on your face.  Things like witch hazel, alochol, parabens, fragrances and perfume should never be applied to face or found in your facial products.  This are all signs of potential irritants for your skin.

So when I saw that Poppy Austin Vitamin C serum also had hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil I knew I had to try it.  When it arrived to my house I started using it every morning after my skincare routine but before I applied my sunscreen and makeup.  I have to say my skin looks and feels amazing.  I noticed that I was getting fine lines forming on the top of my forehead (gasp!!) and was trying desperately to get rid of them.  When I started using this product, I noticed that they diminished a bit and really looked less noticeable.  While we all know that nothing you do (expect a face lift) will get rid of lines and wrinkles, however there are things we can use like hyaluronic acid that can really help to mask them.  And yes this works like any other product; if you stop using it then your lines will 're-appear'.  So lets talk about the ingredients.  

Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the human body and seen tremendously in babies.   Ever wondered why babies and small children always look like they have beautiful supple plumpy skin?  Well its because of hyaluronic acid.  Its a major component of skin tissue that give babies this effect.  Skin in general holds about fifty percent of your body’s hyaluronic acid in it.  However as we get older we loss a lot of it and thus aging takes it toll.  Hyaluronic Acid  plumps and moisturizes skin as well as it helps to heal and comfort it when its damaged. Hyaluronic Acid also prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming and helps the skin by retaining moisture and creating a cushion to help plump them out as we age.

Another thing that I love about this product as stated earlier is that it contains jojoba oil.  Jojoba oil is actually not an oil but a wax ester.  Because it is a wax ester it is hypothesized that jojoba oil is very comparable to human skin oil which manipulates the skin into thinking it has produced enough and balances out oil production.  Thus helping to give you only the added oil you need for your face and stopping the over production of sebum.  It is also not an antioxidant so it won't expire or go bad in a few months.  It is stable in that regard.  It also adsorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave it sticky, greasy or just plain nasty. 

Finally, the seller for me here was the Vitamin C.  Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is used to protect and help the face from wrinkles, sun damage, signs of aging, dark spots and brighten your complexion amongst other great benefits. Vitamin C can also help to prevent or treat hyperigmentation, defend against free radicals and brighten your skin. However with all the advantages of vitamin C, the only draw back is that because it is an antioxidant, it oxidizes itself very quickly and once this happens, it is no longer good. You will be able to tell by the color when this happens to your product. It normally starts off clear and then turns yellow.   

Poppy Austin has created an awesome youtube which clearly explains this products and the benefits of it.  Check out their Vitamin C Serum video on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87qfKFHZmIQ.  However, you can also click below and watch directly from this blog!  In any case, it is extremely informative on what to look for when buy vitamin C serum and/or hyaluronic acid!!

Based on all these amazing properties is while I love love this product.  That and the product comes in a serum form in a dark bottle with a droplet in order to help it for oxidizing and bacteria.  Once Vitamin C hits air and light it starts to breakdown, so its good to see that Poppy Austin nailed it by packaging it correctly!

One final note.  When using Vitamin C; though it works great to protect you against sun and free radical cell damage, you MUST wear sunscreen everyday.  Vitamin C makes you skin very sensitive to sun rays. So make sure you are using an SPF 30 and up that is UVA/UVB Board Spectrum protection.  If not, then you will eventually get a "lovely" red sunburn effect look which for sure will hurt.  So keep this mind when using ANY Vitamin C.  Feel free to click here on my blog all about vitamin  C and how to properly care for your skin when using this product.

Lastly (and I swear this time) Vitamin C can be used by men and women.  So go ahead guys...give it a try! You won't regret it!

I just love Poppy Austin and plan to try out more of their products! 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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.

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Review of the Week: Adovia Mineral Balsam Dead Sea Salt Deep Hair Conditioner

Adovia Mineral Balsam Dead Sea Salt Deep Hair Conditioner - $18.75 US

 Lately since the weather has finally just started getting warm, I have been getting into dead sea salt/mud everything.  So when Adovia contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to try out their Adovia Mineral Balsam Dead Sea Salt Deep Hair Conditioner you know I was thrilled.  I am very passionate about good quality hair and skincare products.  Truth is while God (and my credit card and husband) know that I have a draw full of inexpensive and luxury price makeup items, nonetheless when it comes to my hair and skincare, only the BEST touches those two places.

I was very curious about this item as I have never tried dead sea salt for the hair anything.  So I read up on the product first like I always do.  According to their item description this product is: 

Made with Real Dead Sea Salt - 100% Pure and Genuine for an infusion of 21 Minerals Essential to Proper Skin and Hair Function.

Leaves Hair Looking Hydrated, Healthy and Silky.

Helps to Reduce the appearance of Dandruff and Dry, Flaky Scalp.

Aloe Vera Deeply Nourishes the Scalp and Hair - Hydrating it from Within.

Dead Sea Salt contains more than 21 skin and hair rebuilding minerals such as magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc and potassium.

Awesome SOLD!

So first thing I did when this arrived to my house was use it right away...of course.  The product comes in a nice decent bottle that is very easy to hold in your hand while wet. It had a seal in the inside that you had to remove before using which I liked.  It dispenses easily with no problem and has a lovely scent and texture to it.

I decided to apply it the way I normally do.  I put it in my hair the night before and slept on it.  I then woke up the next day, showered and washed it out of my hair. I normally first shampoo and then re-condition my hair again.  The product really goes a long way so you don't need tons of this conditioner in hand in order to get it through your hair.  

I tell you, people must of thought I was a hair "junkie" literally because I was sniffing my hair all day long and for the next two days.  This thing smelled amazing and my hair literally looked and felt better then ever.  I have to say I was completely impressed.  It was really made my hair shiny and just felt like silk when I ran my fingers through it.   I let my hair air dry then I flat ironed it and truly my hair was still looking awesome.  My dry ends didn't look horrible and my hair didn't feel oily or greasy.  I have dandruff that I get every time I have a baby and normally last about a year.  My last baby was born eight months ago and I am still dealing with this issues.  Nonetheless this conditioner really helped in making it less flaky.  

I would highly recommend this conditioner for anyone who is looking to use dead sea salt for their hair.  I saw that they also had a dead sea mud shampoo with I am itchy try! I will probably buy it soon! 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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.

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May's Spotlight of The Month!

MOR Essentials Neroli Clementine Salt & Sugar Body Scrub - $22 US

I recently went to Winners on the weekend in order to look for a dress for a charity event I was invited to.  However after looking for an hour and not finding any dress, I decided to hit the beauty section and see what they had.  Upon walking through the bath and body section, I saw this beautiful body scrub jar.  There were three more of its kind in different scents.  What I loved about this jar was the packaging and design.  It really reminded me of Old Hollywood!  After reading the back of the jar, I realized that this was a salt and sugar scrub mixed all into one with a beautiful scent.  It was on sale for $12 CDN when it normally retails for $22 US!  SOLD!

I went home and googled the brand as I realized that I had NEVER heard of this company.  They are an Australian company who believe in putting mostly natural ingredients in their products.  They reminded me of the American based company Sabon who are in the same type of business with more or less the same business philosophy.  If you search their website you realize that they make bath and body products plus some lip products as well.  They are currently not selling their products online, but you can find them in certain stores.  I realized that in Canada the only place that sold them was Winners.   
    
My favorite time of the day is bath time!  I shower twice a day! I need to smell clean and fresh everyday all day long! However by the time I came home and went to bed, I decided to use the body scrub in the morning in order to see how the scent lasted throughout the day.  As soon as morning broke I was in the shower.  I first washed my face and hair and then grab this scrub.  When I opened it up, I realized that all the oils were at the top and the sugar and salt were at the bottom and needed to be mixed.  I tried mixing it with my fingers but it was really hard and needed to be broken up in order to mix with the oils.  Nonetheless after a few seconds, the salt and sugar loosened and I was able to mix the whole jar.  I grabbed a small handful and scrubbed my whole body down with it.  I love the scent that was coming from the scrub.  The scrub felt so soft and smooth on my skin and the oils were very luxurious yet not to slippery.  My whole body really felt nice and soft.  

After I got out the shower, I didn't apply cream in order to see how well the oils in the scrub hydrated my skin.  I pat dried myself and got dress.  I was able to smell this scrub on me for a good two to three hours afterwards.  As the day went on, I noticed that my skin felt nice but cream would of made it felt better.  This scrub also comes with a body butter cream in the same scent which I plan to pick up on my next visit to Winners.

This body scrub is amazing and worth trying out.  It comes in many other scents to suit just about every nose.  Nothing like finding hidden gems at Winners!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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Product of The Week: Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Pure & Essential Minerals Dead Sea Mud Mask - $29.44 US

I love mud anything!  Really I do!  As a little girl I use to play with the boys and make mud pies.  When I grew up I stopped playing with the little boys and started playing with the big boys known as "Spas" and never looked back.  I have had mud facials before in my past and loved them.  I always wanted to have a mud bath, however said matter has not happened yet!  Nonetheless when Pure & Essential Minerals contacted everything Beauty and Beyond to review their Dead Sea Mud Mask, I was game! I was so excited that I could hardly contain myself and counted the nights away till it came.  I know, a bit dramatic but did I tell you I love mud?!

When the package arrived I was quite shocked on how big the jar was.  It came in a nice plastic jar with a plastic wrap around it for protection.  It was really easy to open and close.  It smelled like eucalyptus and fresh mint.  I was really taken by the smell.  The texture seemed very spongy and soft.  The color was a dark green.  I was really excepting it to look like dirty old mud.  But then again who would actually put that crap on their face if it looked like the type of mud that kids played in after it rained and cars drive through after a snowstorm?!

It took me almost two weeks before I could use this because I ended up breaking out in a serious rash on my face from allergies to the point that my skin was cracked and bleeding.  After two weeks of torture, the rash has subsided a lot but it left me with nasty dry patchy skin as it healed.  Once I felt that my face was safe to "experiment" on with, I went for it.  

I first washed my faced with my Paula's Choice cleanser.  After washing it and using my Clarisonic, I pat my face dry and applied the Dead Sea Mud Mask.  10 seconds later my face felt like it was on fire!  I swear to God I thought I was going to scream and wash it off immediately.  However I decided to wait it out for a good two minutes.  During this time of intense hell fire burning, I imagined what the flames of hell felt like and decided it was as good as time as ever to say my prayers for the evening and repent of my sins...you know...just in case...

However with all that being said, I can't say if it was product or the fact that my face was still sensitive and healing from the hell of a rash that I had.  Nonetheless as all brave soldiers I push on and after 2-3 minutes the hell burning flames stop.  I decided during the 10-15 minutes that I had the mask on, to google the net to see if anyone else had the same kerosene burn like sensation and realized that no, no, it really was just me and my face getting over the rash.  I probably should of waited another week or two before applying it.  However to late now, eh!?   

Once the burning sensation stopped (after 2-3 mins) and the 10-15 minutes had passed I washed it off.  The mask dried to a dark green color and wasn't concrete hard.  It washed off easily and with no real residue left behind.  I noticed automatically on how soft my face felt. I was actually quite shocked out my head. I have tried other mud masks before and they have ALWAYS left my face feeling Sahara dry to the point that it felt like it was going to crack.  However not this time.  This time my face felt soft, hydrated, moisturized and just plain amazing.  I applied my Paula's Choice toner and Poppy Austin Argan oil and went to bed.  

When I woke up the next morning, it was like angels were singing in my bathroom.  The parts of my face that were healing from the rash that were left with dry scaly skin actually looked better and in some areas were gone altogether.  I was amazed..let me say that again..I WAS AMAZED on how well my skin looked.  The parts of my face that had the dry scaly patches, I was applying creams and oils mornings, afternoons and nights in order to hydrate the skin and nothing was working.  Due to this, I haven't worn make-up in almost 3 weeks because you can see the nasty dryness through the foundation.  However this just totally amazed me on how the dryness was gone in many parts of my face.  I'll be honest I still haven't worn make up (and I won't till next week) nonetheless my skin looks freaking awesome and almost back to its original condition before the biblical plaque came over and took a hold of my face.  This also made the blackheads on my nose look better and came out easier when I used my extraction tool and Paula's Choice BHA 9.  This Dead Sea Mud Mask really helped to get those nasty suckers out!

I did read online from some users that since this product is all natural it can spoil and it was advised to place in the fridge for longer shelf life.  Also, it would feel cool on your face when applied!  

The jar clearly says to only use once a week which is a bummer as I would love to use this 2-3 times a week.  However I plan to use this weekly till it runs out and according to their website you have about 30 plus facials you can get can out of this jar!  That is basically more then half a year if used weekly!

I love this product and would for sure recommend it!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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.

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Review of The Week: Organic Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment Mask!

Pure & Essential Minerals Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment - $15.99 US 

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.  

Recently, Pure & Essential Minerals contacted everything Beautiful and Beyond to review their Organic Morocco Argan Oil Hair Treatment Mask!

I love Argan oil anything as long as it pure and organic.  I currently use Poppy Austin's Argan Oil for my face and just love it.  So when I realized that I was going to be able to review this product, I was just gleaming with delight. 

When I received the package, I noticed that the jar was very small. I thought it was going to be your average run of mill size jar where all special conditioners come in.  Nonetheless, they say "good things come in small packages" so I figure I not judge it by its size.  This jar has organic and natural ingredients in it that make up the conditioner which really caught my eye.  This company is also part of the 100% pure fair trade which states "Our organic Moroccan Argan oil is sourced from Berber women's co-operatives in the Argan region of Morocco. Your purchase directly benefits these women's cooperatives, who receive fair trade prices for their hand-crafted 100% pure Argan oil."

The product has a nice smell to it that is not to strong.  The conditioner inside is not to thick but not watery either.  Its a smooth creamy texture that feels nice on your hands.  I applied to my hair with no big fuss.  Normally when conditioners are thick, they are hard to comb through your hair, however this was awesome!  I even put it on my scalp to see if it would help with my dandruff.   When it comes to specialized conditioners, I normally apply them to my hair the night before in order to get the real benefits.  Truth is, if you apply a conditioner in the shower for 2-3 minutes and then wash it out, you are really just pouring money down the drain. 

I was working from home the day I decided to try this product out.  So I woke up early and applied it to my hair and left it on for about 2 hours.  I then washed it out, shampooed and conditioned again.  I allowed it to air dry for about an hour before I used my flat iron.  

The first thing I noticed was that this left a slight lovely smell to my hair.  The second thing I noticed was just how soft and shiny my hair really was.  I normally have wavy to curly hair.  However for manageability reasons, I flat iron it so that its combable.  The third thing I noticed was that even when curly it left my hair feeling hydrated.  Lastly, when I was flat ironing it, it was quick and easy and my hair felt light weight and not greasy or weighed down.  My hair had good body and just felt oh so smooth!  I couldn't stop touching it!!  I noticed that for every time I used this hair mask, I achieved the same results on my hair.  I have to say I was really impressed by this conditioner.    

I have to say, though I hate the fact that this conditioner comes in a very small jar, however I do plan to purchase this product once it runs out (which will probably be pretty soon).    

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

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.

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