Organic Ceremonial Grade Green Tea Matcha Review

Organic Matcha Ceremonial Grade Green Tea Powder - $28.00

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

When it comes to tea, I love tea! I think tea is one of the best things you can possibly drink in order detox and replenish your body.

I would consider myself more of a tea drinker than coffee drink! I have tried green tea before in the past.  I mean who hasn't!  However, this was my first time trying Matcha Green Tea! This tea comes in a lovely small tin can that contains a powder in a lovely bag which is great to keep the integrity of the tea.  Normally I have tried tea in a bag form or loose leaves.  So this was interesting trying this in powder form.  The tea is very finely milled as powder tea should be.  So careful when opening up the bag and pouring it in the tin can as it will float out due to how milled then made it.  The powder is a tinish bring green color with a slight smell to it.  It isn't overpowering or unsavory to the nose.

This tea is considered grade ceremonial tea.  It contains 137x antioxidants more then regular steeped tea.  Therefore proper care was taken in picking the leaves and drying them out.  Grade tea should never have a bitter taste or look a dull green.  Since this tea was harvested and dried properly, it has a very clean crisp taste to it.  The best part about this tea is that its organic.  So you won't find any pesticides or unnatural ingredients in its formula.

The tea came with a recipe book which I gladly used. I first tried this tea, using it the normal way which was pour hot water and stirring it.  However I did add 1 tablespoon of raw sugar and a tablespoon of honey with two slices of lemon!  It was literally heaven!  The tea taste was amazing but very strong and bold.  I would suggest using a very small to taste.  Not only was this tea amazing to the palette, but it also gave me a good boost of ultimate energy after drinking it.  Now, with that being said I would suggest having your last cup before 7 pm or however your life schedule suites you in order to get a good nights sleep.  This tea is good for relaxing at night if you are already use to its energy proponents.

When you order this tea, you also receive with it a recipe book that teaches you how to make this tea in many different forms.  The recipe book is very informative and I loved learning how to use this tea in a smoothy form.

I would highly recommend this tea if you are on the market for a good organic ceremonial grade green matcha tea. 

Stay Pretty and Forever Young!

Jenny!

FTC: Though I received this product as part of an advertorial, I was not paid for this blog post and all opinions are solely my own.

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Insta Natural Cellulite Cream Review

Insta Natural Cellulite Cream - $23.75 US

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

I like to believe that the only way you can tighten skin and reduce cellulite is by drinking h20 and target exercises to your problem areas.  However with all that being said, I will admit that a little help now and then with a few good products can give you results in the look of cellulite.  While we all know (or we should) that no product or cream can get rid of cellulite, however they can help with diminishing the cottage cheese look that this nasty little thing of life leaves behind.  

I received this product about a month ago and started using it right away.  After just having my third baby four months ago and losing almost 70 pounds, trust me I needed the help! I decided to incorporate this cream along with my diet and exercise routine.   This product contains  "Organic Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Green Tea, Vitamin E and Vitamin C" to mention a few of the ingredients. 

 

I decided to use this product twice a day in the morning and nights to see results.  It had an amazing smell to it which I loved.  The texture was always great and just like the smell reminded me of Shea Butter.  I was able to rub this into my skin smoothly and quick with no problems.  It absorbed quickly into my skin with no oily residue.  I was able to get dressed quickly right after applying this.

  

Yet with all those great benefits, I did not feel that this tighten my skin.  It did hydrate my skin.  That was the amazing part.  It really left my thighs and legs feeling ever so soft and silky smooth, however it did nothing for my cellulite which was a bummer.  I have used other products from this company and they have left me with amazing results.  This product would be better used as a moisturizing cream in my opinion.

Stay Pretty and Forever Young!

Jenny

FTC: This is not a sponsored post nor was I was paid to write this blog.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

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Insta Natural Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask Review

Insta Natural 100% Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask - $24.95 US

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

I love anything that says "Dead Sea" in it's name.  So when I heard of this mud mask that contained actual dead sea mud in it, I was excited to try it out!! I have tried some before in the past and simply loved them. So I had really high hopes for this product!

When it comes to Dead Sea Mud anything I am always very careful on reading the labels. I once tried one that eucalyptus oil in it, and it burned my face.  So when a mud mask says all natural I always check to see what ingredients they are putting into it.  According to this ingredient list, this product contains "Pure Dead Sea Mud, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Hickory Bark Extract, Organic Calendula Oil, Filtered Water, Xanthan Gum."  So far so good for me, so I proceeded in trying this mask on one day at home during my "in home day spa" days when I need a little pick me up and winding from the weeks work day!

I absolutely LOVE LOVE this product. The Dead Sea Mud Mask was easy to use, dried quickly, and was easy to rinse off.  It has no smell, so there’s no lingering odor.  It's 99% all natural as 99% of the ingredients have some sort of natural substance in them which help to detoxify your skin. You can actually feel your skin being cleaned and detoxified as you use this as part of your normal skincare routine.

I have been using this product for about a month now; after using this product at the start for a week, I could feel my pores open up and the weight of any oils and make up lifted off of my skin!  Since I wear makeup often, it's important for me to use a product that will not only clean and condition my skin from all the makeup and normal skin oils and residue, but that it also cleans out my pores and detoxes my face.

I could see a difference in my skin; It was tighter, smoother and brighter. I definitely will  keep this product as a part of my beauty regimen.  Now a side note! Since this product is 99% all natural, its best you keep it in the fridge.  I have noticed with dead sea mud masks that all natural; since they lack preservatives (which is good) they tend to go bad quickly if left out on a shelf and especially in your bathroom counter.  So make sure to keep this in a cold place like your fridge for a long shelf life.  Also, it gives you a great cooling effect when right out the fridge and placed on your skin!

Stay Pretty and Forever Young!

Jenny!

FTC: This is not a sponsored post nor was I paid in return to write this review.  All opinions are solely my own. 

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Tips for Surviving the Holidays!

Five tips to survive the holiday season!!

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EnvyDerm Eyelash Enhancement and Conditioning Volume Mascara & Lip Volumizing Conditioning Plumper Review!

Back in the summer, I was contacted by a company called EnvyDerm and asked to review their liquid eyeliner. Click here for that review!  I found that product to be one of the most impressive eyeliners I have ever used!  After that, the company asked me to review their mascara and lip plumper lip gloss!

EnvyDerm  Eyelash Enhancement and Conditioning Volume Mascara - $29.00 US

Now when it comes to mascara I normally only use waterproof because I hate it when it smudges underneath my eye or runs down my face.  I can't remember the last time I used non waterproof mascara to be honest.  I also can't remember the last time I didn't use a L'Oreal brand of mascara.  To be honest, I am very picky and cheap when it comes to mascara. I refuse to pay crazy prices for mascara when I know that a drugstore brand like L'Oreal can work just as well if not better.  However this mascara totally amazed me!  

What strikes me about this mascara is a few of its features!  First its an all vegan product and no animal products are used in its creation.  Second its certified Halal.  So for those with religious views who don't like using animal products in their cosmetics, then this will for sure work for you.  They also do not test on animals either.  So all the cute bunnies and puppies of the world are safe here!

This mascara claims to condition your lashes while producing volume and of course adding length.   I have to say, this mascara did not dry to a rock hard status or look.  My lashes actually felt soft after application but were not wet.  They didn't crumble, flake or smudge and held up well all day long.  This did give volume and good length.  I would of preferred more, however with the length it more then made up for what I needed.  

Though this mascara is not waterproof, however it had exceptional hold.  My curl lasted all day, no running of the mascara underneath my eye and no issues with smudging when I yawned or when my eyes got watery.  I was actually shocked on how well this mascara held up all day without any issues.  I have to say this has got to be the best non waterproof mascara I have tried, EVER, and let me tell you I hardly if ever give non waterproof mascara a chance!

EnvyDerm Lip Volumizing Conditioning Plumper - $23.00 US

I have tried lip plumpers before and hated them.  I hated them because they tend to dry out your lips, chap them and cause them to sting like a bee.  I have shy away from them for years because of the devastating affects I have seen them cause on people's lips including my own!  So when EnvyDerm asked me to try out this product as well I was as hesitant as I was with the mascara.  However I always say "in the name of beauty we do it all!"

The company had asked me with color I wanted to try and I said anything in a nude color, however I received this in a red!  I never wear red! Ever! Period!  Reason is because I like my makeup to be concentrated on my eyes instead of my lips.  I don't believe in playing up both at the same time! I think in my opinion its to much!  However for the sake of beauty you do it right!  So I made sure to give myself a very neutral eye and applied this plumper first by itself and then over a nude lipstick.  

First thing I noticed about this plumper was its amazing smell!  I couldn't stop sniffing it.  It has a wonderful peppermint smell that just awakened the senses!  Then I noticed that lip plumper had a love sheer/sheen finish with a bit of shimmer to it which total made me fall in love with it.  It does have a slightly and I mean slightly tingling feeling when applied to the lips.  However I had no burning or peeling sensation.  My lips were not left chapped or dry and everyone who saw this lip plumper on me commented on how great my lips looked not to mention that the color really worked well with my fair complexion!  Who knew!! 

I would totally recommend this lip plumper if you are looking into trying one out but don't want to invest in all the side effects that come with lip plumpers in general!

Check out my Youtube video below on this product!! Tell me what you think!



Keep Smiling!
Dayana

FTC: I Received this product for review as part of an advertorial, however I was not paid nor is this a sponsored post!

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Bella and Bear "The Pluckers" Professional Tweezer Set Review

Bella and Bear "The Pluckers" Professional Tweezer Set - $25.00 US

I received this product of part of an advertorial. 

When it comes to eyebrows, I am obsessed with having perfectly shaped brows.  What a lot of men and women fail to see is that eyebrows really shape your face.  Unkempt eyebrows make your face look messy and off.  It also makes you look unprofessional.  I have seen before and after pictures of men and women having their eyebrows shaped and the massive difference it made was unbelievable.

Eyebrows are a very personal thing and how you shape them is up to you.  However with that being said, you should also shape your eyebrows according to your face and eye shape.  Having to thick or thin eyebrows will also throw your whole look right off regardless on how hot you think you look.  Part of having nicely groomed eyebrows is not only knowing the right shape but also using the right tools.

For the last three to four years I have been using a set of tweezerman tweezers that I bought at Sephora.  However I have noticed lately that they weren't as sharp as before and I found it wasn't catching a lot of my hairs on the first try.  And while these tweezers were made as two sided tweezers, I still had problems often with plucking some hairs.  So when Bella and Bear asked me if I was interested in trying out their tweezer set that came with not just one but three different tweezer styles, I jumped at the chance!

If you have ever tried any Bell & Bear products, first thing you notice is their amazing 1960s look on all their packaging.  It is really something worth noting.  I just love the colors and designs they use throughout all their products.  Another thing you notice is that all their products are made to deal with some sort of hair issue. Whether it be eyelashes, eyebrows, facial hair or the hair on your head, they have something for every part of your "hairy" body!

When these tweezers arrived to my house I was so excited to use them that I couldn't wait.  However a few days before I had already cleaned up my eyebrows so I actually didn't have anything to work with.  I had to wait almost three weeks for something to appear.  However when it finally did, I went to action.  First I got out all my tools that I us to pluck my eyebrows with.  I got out my two sided mirror, my small hair scissors and my spoolie to comb my eyebrows with.  And of course, I got my new Bella and Bear tweezers for the main action!

My eyebrows grow in all different directions and in different thickness, so normally one set of tweezers can't do it all for me.  Since the Bella and Bear set came with three different tweezers, I was able to pluck my eyebrows in less amount of time and with less hassle then normal.  I first took the slanted tweezers and used those to grab all the hairs that grow in the middle of my two eyebrows.  I then grabbed the flat tweezers and used them to pluck all the hairs that grow on the top of my eyebrows.  The ones that grow on top of my eyebrows grow fairly close to the skin and at times are hard to grab because of this.  These flat tweezers work great in that area!  I then used the same tweezers to pluck all the hairs that grow on my eyebrow bone.  Those hairs are easy to grab because they grow fairly long and thick.  Finally, I moved on to the hairs that grow in the space where my eyebrows are shaped.  For those I used the precision tweezers due to their pointed tip. This pointed tip was amazing as it helped to grab ONLY the hair that I was trying to pluck instead of grabbing the surrounding hairs and leaving me with gaps which has happened before with other tweezers.

After I was done, I noticed my eyebrows were perfectly shaped with no missing hairs or unwanted hairs left behind.  Another perk about these tweezers is that they come in a cute case that allows you to store all three of them which makes it great for traveling.  

I would highly recommend these tweezers if you are looking for a set of tweezers that fix all your eyebrow needs!

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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50 Things to Know About Make-Up and Fashion Book Review

50 Things to Know About Make-Up and Fashion - Kindle $2.95 US

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

I love reading books about fashion and makeup.  After spending 11 years in school to be a psychotherapist, reading anything BUT text books is a welcomed invite!  Especially those that help enhance your physical beauty!  One of the reasons why I love beauty books is because you get to learn from professionals without having to pay a hefty price. 

I was recently asked to review the book "50 Things to Know About Make-Up and Fashion" by Mehreen Khan.  This book is a great and easy read and comes in a kindle version.  It gives you 50 makeup tips in beauty and fashion that are laid out in point form.  Underneath each heading is a small paragraph about the topic.  It covers issues from makeup, beauty, fashion, skincare and hair.   Throughout the book you also see quotes from famous makeup artist and fashion designers which are really inspirational.  

I really liked their section on makeup because it had practical information that one can use in everyday life.  This books gives you information about makeup, how to apply it what colors would flatter your skin tone. However if you are looking to find tricks on like how to apply and get that perfect eyeshadow application or on contouring and highlighting, then this is not the book for you.  

This book is based on the basic premises of makeup, period. It can guide you with picking the right colors for your face and what will and won't work for you.  As well as what type of clothing will flatter your body. If you are new to makeup and fashion, then this book will give you the foundation of what you need in order to remain classy and stylish.  

 The 50 points in this book are very educational and provide much common sense.  For someone like me who has a good understanding of makeup, I was able to agree with 49 points.  There was one point however, that I couldn't agree with and it was in regard to foundation application.  The book stated the best way to apply it is with your fingers.  I completely disagree with this point. If you use or have ever used a stippling brush you would know what a massive difference these makeup foundation brushes give you versus simply using your fingers.  Using your fingers to apply foundation is finger painting as I call it.  My stippling brush always gives me a flawless look that my fingers have NEVER been able to do.  Moreover, my foundation brush can get into any area of my face with no problem.  These brushes are able to buff in your makeup in such a manner that it looks like you have nothing on.  I would never touch my face to apply my makeup.  I am completely anal about keeping everything sanitized to avoid a breakout. 

Nonetheless, besides that one point the rest was information that I already use and completely agree with.  If you are new to makeup and/or need an informative base to start with, then this book is certainly for you!

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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Julep Buff Lip Scrub & Julep Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment

Julep Buff Lip Scrub & Julep Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment

(Affiliated links attached)

I have been a Julep Maven Member since the Summer.  I heard about this company through a friend and was excited about joining.  I always wanted to join a mailbox subscription service for beauty products, but I couldn't see myself parting with my cold hard cash on just sample size products which is what you get with many of these subscription services.  However when I heard about Julep and that I could customize my own box, I jumped at the chance.  Now, while I do love Julep, I will admit since the company is growing there have been some serious issues that I have encountered with them on every Julep Maven order.   Nonetheless the company has always been diligent in correcting these issues!  So there customer service is something really worth bragging about!

 Part of being a Julep Maven Member (MM) is that you also can get add on products for like dirty cheap.  So once you customize your box for the month; on the way to checking out you can add on full size products and pay way less than half the price.  On one of these check out points, I decided to add on the Julep Buff Lip Scrub and the Julep Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment.  Since its winter and my lips are dry as the Sahara, I decided to try a lip scrub and see it they lived up to the hype.  Moreover I LOVE Julep's Luxe line. Anything from this line is just freaking awesome and worth checking out!

Julep Buff Lip Scrub - $20.00 ($16.00 MM)
    

Being a Julep member I got this lip scrub and lip conditioner as part of their Lip Love add on for $12.00! So basically $6 dollars a product! Sweet deal if you ask me if you compare it to their normal prices!

Since my lips are dry all winter long, I wanted to try a lip scrub and see if it could help with my chapped lips.  However disclosure, since I was about 13 years old, I have always brushed my lips with a tooth brush every time after brushing my teeth.  I learned this from a dentist after reading an article on how to do away with chapped lips.  While brushing them does do a way with the dead skin cells that causes the skin chapping, it still doesn't help with dryness.

This product comes in a long white plastic tube.  Its a twist tube that you turn at the bottom several times on the first use in order to get the product to dispense.  Once it comes out, it dispenses some scrubbing like crystals that you apply on your lips.  However while the crystals help to scrub the skin, its actually the dofa tip applicator that does all the work.  The dofa applicator (sponge head) is actually stiff and not soft at all.  Normally dofa tips are flexible and smooth.  This one is stiff in order to help scrub and exfoliate the skin.  However, while it is stiff it does not hurt or damage the delicate skin of the lips at all!  After you are doing scrubbing your lips with the dofa applicator, you simply wipe off the product with a tissue or towel.  

I normally do this at night before bed while doing other things.  Since there is no mess incurred, you can walk around the house gently scrubbing your lips with this handy too! I really like this scrub because of the stiff dofa applicator and crystals.  I feel like you get two benefits in one!

Julep Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment - $24.00 ($19.20 MM)

I love this lip conditioner! It smells like Shea Butter coming right out of the tub.  It conditions your lips and feels great.  I always wear this after using my Julep Buff Lip Scrub.  This has an amazing metal cool tip applicator that feels great on your lips.  However with that being said, metal tip applicators don't offer anymore benefits then that; feeling cool on your lips.  In order for anything cold to help with inflammation and promote circulation, it has to reach a certain temperature that you can only get in a fridge and has to be held to your lips (or that section of the body) for at least 5-10 minutes while staying cold.  So when you see these metal tips on eye or lip products just know there isn't much benefit to them.  

However what this product contains in ingredients is where the benefits come in!  This product is enriched with Shea Butter, Hydrogenated Olive Oil,  Jojoba Esters and seed wax to name a few.  I only use this lip conditioner at night before bed.  Once I am done scrubbing with my buff lip scrub.  When I wake up in the morning, my lips are conditioned and feel great.  I don't have that much dryness throughout the day and my lips stay soft and chapped free!   This lip conditioner really smells like shea butter and worth trying out!  It glides on your lips very smooth and creamy and doesn't leave any residue afterwards.  I honestly look forward to using this lip conditioner at night.  

Julep Maven Membership!

   

In order to cash in on Julep's great deals, click on the picture link below to become a Julep Maven member. You get your first box for free! All you pay is $3.99 for shipping regardless if you live in Canada or the USA!

Once you become a Julep Maven Member, you get a customize box that you design!  If for some reason you are not feeling the box of the month or nothing you want to change it up with, you can always skip that month without having to cancel your membership or pay a thing!

Another great deal is that with every monthly Julep Maven Box that you buy, you get Jules points that you can use towards buying items in their store either during their secret store sell (which is opened once a month on the first of every month) or towards your next Julep Maven Box or add on products.   You need to have the exact amount of points required to buy in order to use them. 

Lastly, You get massive discounts throughout the month on different products for Julep Maven Members. As well you get in on the extra discount codes offer which is even less then the Maven Membership prices! I recently bought an eyeshadow palette and clean slate polish corrector pen for 50% on both items! Thank you Cyber Monday!

 

Keep Smiling!

Dayana
 

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Blank Canvas Cosmetics F30 Sculpt Brush

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F30 Sculpt Brush - $28.24 CDN

As you all know by now, I am completely in love with BCC!  I mean I love this company so much that I think I literally blog about them every month.  Obsessed much?! Maybe!  But who cares when my makeup is always on point!  

I have written about their must have makeup brushes (click here for that review).  I have also written about their HD multicolor face brush collection (click here for that review).  I have also dazzled about their 15 piece makeup brush set which was my first (big) purchase from them and what started my whole addiction! (Click here for that review as well!)  Needless to say I own just about every brush they have and every few months they come out with something new! 

Back in the spring/summer they came with their F30 Sculpt brush for contouring.  I was so excited that I couldn't wait to order it.  However it seemed always out of stock because of the other crazy in love fanatics like me who seem to live on the BCC website.  They were always one mouse click ahead of me!  Nonetheless, I decided to let the hot brush cool for a bit before I nabbed one.  So in November I finally got my chance! When this arrived to my house I didn't know what to do with it.  I was dying to use it right away, but you always need to wash your brushes before breaking them in.  So it took about a week before I got around to washing it, letting it dry and putting it to good use!

I highlight and contour my face every time I wear makeup.  I can't remember the last time I didn't.  BCC was the first company I used to do highlighting and contour with, with their 6 Contour and Highlight Palette (click here for that review).  However, I like cream products better because I feel they work well on my skin.  Nonetheless, my BCC palette is never to far out of reach because I can still use it to set my contouring and highlighting with.

I normally contour my face with my Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer.  In order to bronze, I was using my F21 HD Angled Contour Brush which works awesome on getting those nice angles on your face.  However, once I saw the F30 Sculpt Brush, I knew I had to try it. 

The F30 brush is very sturdy.  It comes with a nice wide handle for great precision work.  The head is made in a rectangular shape with dense but soft bristles which allows you to contour perfectly right underneath and along your jaw bone area, on the hollows of your cheeks and around your forehead.  blending is easy as long you use the brush in an upward motion and then front and back on your cheekbones and forehead to reduce harsh lines.  If you use a downward motion, you will get bronzer in areas of your face that will not look flattering.  I haven't tried it this on nose, as my nose is small and the brush seemed to big for that area.   Another thing to keep in mind, the bristles of this brush are very black.  So when I first stuck this brush right into my Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzer, I didn't think it picked up enough product and did it a few more times.  Needless to say my contouring was very dark.  This brush with one swipe; even if you don't see it, it picks up more than enough product.  So go easy on the swiping to avoid looking like you spend way to much time in the sun on a winter morning.  Remember you can always add more contouring, but its harder to take it away.

The important thing to remember about this brush is to maintain control in order to get the bronzer and contouring lines you are looking for.  This product is really a professional brush hands down.  I would recommend if you haven't ever contoured before, that you first start out with the F21 HD Angled Contour Brush in order to learn this technique.  Once you have mastered contouring, then for sure move up to this F30 in order to get that precised sculpted look.  This F30 brush is beautiful and truly does what its name states it does, but its no joke.  It even took me a few tries to understand this brush and realize that it wasn't like my F21 brush or an other contouring brush for that matter.  While it did the same work, but again I had to learn the mechanics (if I can say that) of the brush in order to truly see its great effects. 

However side note, if you have a small face I would not recommend the F30 brush.  This brush works great for those with medium to large faces.  Individuals with small faces will struggle to keep bronzers off areas it shouldn't be on their face.  For small faces the F21 HD Angled Contour Brush works great because its easier to manipulate in areas that larger brush struggles to get in while still giving you the same exact results.  And this is why I love this company!  They have made brushes that work for all face shapes and sizes in order to reap the benefits all in the same way!  So for sure check this F30 brush out if you are interested in getting that beautiful and classic sculpted contouring look on your face! 

I just ordered some new brushes that I will review this month once they come in!  Yes I know, to think I thought I had them all.  BCC, you keep me on my toes!!

Keep Smiling!

Dayana 

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Insta Natural Argan Oil Hair Mask Review

Insta Natural Argan Oil Hair Mask - $17.95

Nothing says beautiful like nice shiny healthy hair!  Trust me I should know.  Or at least I knew until last year when I decided to get the bright idea of dyeing my hair!!  After almost a year of dyeing my hair a brownish/reddish color, I gave up and went back to my natural black/brown hair color.  However I have noticed that the natural shine that I normally had in my hair no longer existed due to the dyeing aspect.  Nonetheless, when Insta Natural asked me if I was interested in reviewing their Argan Oil Hair Mask, needless to say I jumped at the chance without showing to much embarrassing enthusiasm.  

My hair comes all way down to mid waist.  So its longer, really long.  I get my ends cut every 3-4 months, however with the constant blow drying, straightening and curling, it does a number to my hair.  And now that its the cold winter season, my hair could for sure use a lot of help!  Moreover, I wash my hair every other day, max every three days depending on the weather and state of my hair.  I also don't use shampoos or conditioners with sulfates in them.  After I cut this ingredient out of my haircare products, I noticed a serious difference in my hair.

When this mask first arrived to my house I notice that it had a nice creamy texture and the color was a beige color.  It was very creamy but not very thick or thin either.  It was just right.  It had a shea butter smell to it which I loved.  I just love ANYTHING with Shea Butter!  The directions stated to apply it to your hair after you shampoo and towel dry it.  It stated to leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then wash it out.  I decided if I was going to run around the house with this in my hair, I might as well put on a face mask to add to the whole home day spa!

After leaving it on for about 20 minutes (what! I lost track of time eating) I washed it out in my tub.  First thing I noticed was the amazing smell it left in my hair.  I am crazy about always having great smelling hair.  This really did the trick there for me!  Now, one thing did happen that I am not sure if it was the hair mask or the fact that I had just dyed my hair one week back; after washing the hair mask out, my hair was hard and difficult to comb through.  However with that being said, I know shortly after one dyes their hair, their hair tends to be stiff until a large amount of the hair dye comes out during regular washing.  So I did have to put a leave in spray conditioner to get the comb through.  However once my hair was air dried enough for me to blow dry; I have no words.  My hair literally was shiny, felt thicker, smelled great and my ends looked conditioned.   The dryness to my hair was gone and the ends didn't feel brittle.

I honestly plan to continuing using this mask once a week.  I am amazed at the results and the state this left my hair in.  I had no greasy feeling after and it washed out without any major scrubbing to the scalp.  I have no nasty residue left in my hair, just beautiful shiny hair!

I would honestly recommend this hair mask if you are looking for something that comes in a nice large jar, can give you results and don't want to blow the bank.    

Keep Smiling!

Dayana

I received this product as part of an advertorial in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. 

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Body Merry Retinol Surge Moisturizer Review

Body Merry Retinol Surge Moisturizer - $20.99

I received this product as part of an advertorial. 

I was recently contacted by Body Merry to try out and review their Retinol Surge Moisturizer.  This facial cream contains 2.5% retinol, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E + B5, green tea; plus other great ingredients.  

I am a straight up beauty junkie and have tons of makeup and face creams lying around my bathroom counter.  However I get bored quickly.  While I understand that it takes time to see results, but I also can tell when something is not working or will cause issues to my sensitive skin.   The fact that this contains 2.5 retinol concerned me.  However in the name of beauty we try it all!! This cream came in perfect timing since the winter weather season is upon us.  However depending where you live, depends on how bad this dreadful cold winter causes damage to your skin.   I have been using this moisturizer for about 2-3 weeks and I must say I have seen some improvement.   

The cream comes in a plastic bottle with no see-through panel which is important.  Since retinol is Vitamin A in a less concentrated form (vs. retinoids), air and light cause it to break down.   Another plus point is that it comes in a pump form which is great to allow minimal air into the bottle and eliminates bacteria getting in from our hands.   I love anything pump form because I get the amount of product I need without the mess.  However what really sold me on this moisturizer (as if the other stuff I mentioned wasn't as awesome) is that its thicker than your average moisturizers, especially for this time of the year when your skin needs all the reinforcement it can get. 

After using this cream I noticed that my face feels softer and didn't feel dried out with this horrid winter weather!  My skin felt and looked more plumped out and very smooth.  I had no peeling or burning sensation that comes with using retinol.  It dried quickly so I was able to apply my makeup right after and it did not have a strong smell either. 

 It also works well if you layer a serums on your face before using this to get that extra punch.  Vitamin C serums works great to give retinol an added punch.  (Click here to read more about the added benefits of vitamin C).  However with all being said, when using any sort of retinol products you MUST use a sunscreen.  Retinol just like Vitamin C makes your face more sensitive to the sun.   If you are using any of these products and not protecting your face with sunscreen, you 1. are causing greater damage to your face 2. will actually get a sunburn and 3. will make any skin issue you have worse. 

 Fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and so on are also causes by sun exposure and not just aging or acne.   If you don't use a sunscreen that offers broadband protection (UVA and UVB) then don't buy this or anything else as you are just wasting your money and constantly will be reversing the work that these products are meant to do on your skin.  

Over all I was happy with the product and would recommend it to my beauties.

Stay Pretty & Forever Young!

Jenny

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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