The Body Shop Satsuma Soap

I've used the shower gel and the body butter from the Satsuma line. Unfortunately the line doesn't wow me (except the reed diffuser). I paid a little over two dollars for it, it's listed at four dollars but you can usually get stuff from the body shop cheaper in their sales. Did the soap change my mind?

The Body Shop claims:

• Cleanse your skin with a moisturizing, vegetable-based soap that has a bright citrus scent to refresh and uplift the senses.
• Satsuma essential oil moisturizes skin and provides a natural citrus fragrance.
• Glycerin is a water soluble moisturizer that enriches foam and lather.

Scent:

It smells JUICY. Like a clementine orange but a wee bit artificial. I like the scent. Not love. It can double as a little bit of an air freshener because the scent lingers a little while after you take a shower. It doesn't stick to my skin though.

Lather:

Good. I think this lather better than the gel.

Cleansing Power:

No complaints here.

Drying:

Just a tad. Need a moisturizer afterwards for sure.

Any cons?

Yes, it melts so quickly. I think it's because its a glycerin soap. 

Ingredients:

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Palm Kernel Acid, Fragrance, Citrus Nobilis, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Citrus Reticulata (Satsuma) Oil, Orange 4, Iron Oxides.

 Would I buy again? Nah, I like the scent but there isn't really anything that special about it. I'de only recommend it if you really like the scent and don't mind the drying effects.

The Body Shop Almond Body Butter

I've used the Almond Shower gel with great results, so I was more than happy when it was time to crack open my Almond Body Butter. Now I only wish that I had used it in conjunction with the gel. I don't remember how much I payed but I know it was less than ten. Wait for a sale ladies!!

The Body Shop claims:

Our famous Body Butter with sweet almond oil. It is quickly absorbed and leaves normal to dry skin feeling soft and smooth.

• Hydrates
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
• Buttery texture
• Sweet almond scent

Scent:

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy. I love the scent. It's just like the gel. I don't know if it really smells like Almond because I never really took the time to actually sniff the nut. Maybe one day I will. Until then, I just think it smells very comforting with a tinge of the cherry. And it sticks around...sometimes. If I put my skin right up to my skin I can usually get a whiff of it for a few hours after I apply it. (I read a few reviews and hear it smells of marzipan, which I've never smelled)

Moisturizing?

Yup. Although I'm not exactly wowed by the results. It get's the job done. Can't complain there.

Texture:

Smooth, Light, and Buttery. I say buttery because this one is actually thick, some of the body butters are more like creams or lotions. 

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water) (Solvent/Diluent), Prunus dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil) (Emollient), Cyclomethicone (Emollient), Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) (Emollient), Glycerin (Humectant), Theobroma cacao (Cocoa Butter) (Emollient), Glyceryl Stearate (Emulsifier), PEG-100 Stearate (Surfactant), Cetearyl Alcohol (Emulsifier), Lanolin Alcohol (Stabiliser/Emollient), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Parfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben (Preservative), Propylparaben (Preservative), Xanthan Gum (Viscosity Modifier), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Coumarin (Fragrance Ingredient), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Methyl 2-Octynoate (Fragrance Ingredient), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Caramel (Colour). 

It has some good ingredients pretty high up but of course the lower you travel the more junk you find in it.

Do I recommend it? Well, yeah, I think it's my second favorite. That is after the Cocoa Butter one, which is without a doubt my fave.  If only the scent lingered a little more. Side Note: I got my hands on the Chocomania body butter!!

A Purple and Green Look

I need to do looks more regularly. The problem is that I haven't been wearing make-up as often as I do when I'm at home. And it's a shame because I've got way more makeup than I did before.

So this was my purple and green look. Not a bright look and very wearable.

 Kindly ignore those brows!! I need to get them done. Heres what I used:

Light Color from L'oreal Hip in Flashy

Urban Decay Jet Eyeshadow (Black Palette)

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Stash

Revlon ColorStay Foundation

Yankee Candle Witches Brew Small Tumbler

Stop Giving me the side-eye. YES! I know it's February, and YES I am going to review a Halloween Candle. I couldn't wait for Halloween to light this one up. I got this on clearance for three bucks! Who could pass this one up.

If it hadn't been on sale, I probably would have. It's definitely not a scent I would have ever picked on my own. When I sniffed it in the store, I could barely smell it, so I wasn't sure what it was gonna be like when I finally took it home and lit it.\

Yankee Candle describes it as:

The spicy sweet aroma of exotic patchouli casts a captivating Halloween spell. 

And let me tell ya, I LOVE IT! It's definitely one that you have to be in the mood for. I don't really know patchouli scents like that (I've only used a HEMP body butter that was Patchouli scented) but as I become familiar with the scent, I like it. It's different. And the scent throw is fabulous, especially for the size.

It's earthy and when I light this candle I think of a scary night, maybe a graveyard of freshly dug earth. I know it sounds bad, but it really isn't. It's just so dark and mysterious smelling. I have it lit right now and my imagination is running away with me. In fact, this is what this candle makes me think of.

So in conclusion, it is the PERFECT Halloween scent. Unfortunately it will probably be burnt up by then. If you see in definitely give it a sniff.

BIC Soleil Triple Blade For Woman Sensitive Skin

So I only got this because it was 23 cents!! I couldn't afford to not get it. It was orginally $2.23 but I had a coupon for two dollars off. Savings like that could make my whole week. It's a good thing I did get these too because I left my Venus one at home. Going four months without shaving is just a little bit much for me. Can you imagine?

BIC claims:
Soleil™ just made women's shaving hotter! Triple-blade technology that will deliver a smooth, close shave. Lube strip that provides soothing Aloe and Vitamin E moisturizers for softer skin. Curvy, non-slip handle that allows for an easy grip in the shower or bath. Stylish design. Four vibrant sun-toned color


What I like about these:

They are ORANGE! My favorite color 

They work..OK

The Grip

What I don't like about these:

My skin hurts a little after using them

Those strips are only effective for the first shave

My skin is extra dry after using these (it takes days to recover)

Could fit a little into my hand

So would I buy again? Nope. Not unless they are on sale. But I'm stuck with them until I go back home.

Olay Age Defying Fa

I'm 23 and I bought an age-defying cleanser. Not because I'm aging (visibly) but because it was only three dollars and some change. Never underestimate the power of a sale. That and I usually like Olay products.

With that being said, this really wasn't for me.

Olay claims:

Reveals fresher, radiant skin.

• Cleanses by gently lifting away dirt, oil and make-up.
• Renews and Reveals by gently lifting away dull, dry skin to start reducing the signs of aging.  Leaves skin noticeably soft and smooth the minute you cleanse.

Scent:

I really like the scent. It smells like how I want my facial cleanser to smell, like a pretty clean smell. And it lingers too, so my face smells pretty good for a while. (nothing like having your face smell good)

Moisturization:

So this is where this product kind of left me down. I thought it would make my face feel pretty moisturized. I mean, it is anti-aging. But my skin just felt kind of...dry. 

Texture:

Surprise Surprise. It has..exfoliation. It's very gentle though. I don't really think it makes to much of a difference though. 

Radiant skin?

No, in fact I think my face looks dull and dry. Maybe a little better when the weather starts to warm up.

Ingredients:

Water, PPG 15 Stearyl Ether, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Distearlydimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Oxidized Polyethylene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth 21, Behenyl Alcohol, PPG 30, Steareth 2, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA

Recommend:

Surprisingly no, which is kind of surprising since I typically like Olay products. Well, the two that I tried. Maybe it would work better if I were a little older? Oh yeah, and the ingredients..suck.

How to Fix a Tunneling Candle

I think I'm just unlucky. All of my candles tunnel, no matter what. It could be because my room is always cold.

But I have found a way to fix it! And it's cheap. Now you can get a Yankee candle Illuma-Lid, I've heard it works basically the same way. But for me the whole foil thing was cheaper and it will fit all candles.

So all you need is foil and scissors.

So take a piece of foil like so:

Fold it until you are left with a square the size of two notecards (this depends on the candle size but this size generally works for most candles)

Cut a hole into one:

Cover this over the flame (making sure that the flame does not have contact with the foil. )

And then you should have a melt pool that looks similar to this. Not tunneling!! This works to insualate the heat so that you can have an even melt pool and not waste any of the wax. I usually let the candle melt across and then remove the foil.

Happy Candle Burning!!

Recipes: Zucchini Tomato Toss

I was so skeptical when I saw this recipe. Raw Zucchini? I don't have much luck when it comes to Raw vegetables. And most Zucchini recipes are a hit or miss.

I'm proud to say this was a...HIT. It was good. The tomatoes were the best part. The dressing was the next best. The flavors were just great. I think the vinegar does it's part to cook the veggies. I'm a big fan. And well know that raw veggies are ridiculously good for you.

From allrecipes.com

YUM.


"'A co-worker shared this flavorful medley of tomatoes and zucchini with me many years ago,' recalls Jan Clark of Salt Lake City, Utah. 'It's a wonderful way to use up garden produce in the summer when it's plentiful.'"

Ingredients

• 4 cups thinly sliced zucchini
• 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 3/4 cup white wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 dash pepper

Directions

1. In a serving bowl, combine the zucchini, tomatoes and onions. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the remaining ingredients; shake well. Pour over zucchini mixture and toss gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with a slotted spoon.

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Creamy Body Wash

I was so excited to get my hands on this! I LOVE the body butter and the body scrub so loving this would be a given...right?

The Body Shop claims:

This soap-free body wash contains real cocoa butter. It moisturises as it cleanses.

• Moisturising
• Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
• Sweet cocoa scent

Wrong.

Scent:
A big reason for me loving the others in this range was the scent. I absolutely loved the scent of the other products I tried. And they did a good job of keeping my skin in good condition.A big reason why I don't like this is the scent. It doesn't smell like the others at all, it's a mix between smelling like a baby wipe and something spicy. Not good. And it lingers on my hands all day.

Moisturization:
For some reason all the creamy ones dry my skin a tad bit more than the gels. Another no go.

Consistency:
The lather is aight. It disappears wat to quickly making it so I have to use more than normal.

Ingredients:
Aqua (Water) (Solvent/Diluent), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Surfactant), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower Seed Oil) (Emollient), PEG-5 Cocamide (Surfactant), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Surfactant), Coco-Glucoside (Surfactant), Glycine soja (Soybean Oil) (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), Sodium Cocoa Butter Amphoacetate (Hair-Conditioning Agent), Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer (Viscosity Modifier), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Sodium Hydroxide (pH Adjuster), Glycerin (Humectant), Parfum (Fragrance), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), GBoeraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Amyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Hydroxycitronellal (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Benzoate (Solvent), Isoeugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Cinnamyl Alcohol (Fragrance Ingredient), Farnesol (Fragrance Ingredient), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Eugenol (Fragrance Ingredient), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Benzyl Cinnamate (Fragrance Ingredient), CI 15985 (Colour), CI 19140 (Colour).

Recommendation:
Nope. Not at all. If they made it a tad more moisturizing and changed the scent..then yeah. Until then no. Has anyone checked out the new chocomania line? I'm dying to get my hands on The Body Butter.

A Valentines Day Look

Well, this Valentine's Day, I don't have a Valentine. *sad face.

But that's OK, I still came up with a look.

I used the Radiant Red gloss that I reviewed not to long along is the perfect lip color for Valentines Day!!

 Products Used:
MAC Mystery Eyeshadow (purple-gray brown)
Light Color from L'oreal Hip Color in Flashy
Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Warm Caramel and Cappaccino
Urban Decay 24.7 Liner Black

And That's it!!

Yankee Candle Cranberry Chutney

I bought this candle at the same time that I bought the Orange Dreamsicle one. I got that one for fifteen and this one for five. Can't be mad at the price.

Yankee Candle says:
Fresh cranberries, orange zest, rosemary, raisins, and a touch of golden honey.

Umm,forget that description, all my nose smells is Cranberry Juice. Yes, it is indeed a cranberry juice heaven.

I LOVE this scent. And the throw is pretty awesome for this little candle. I wish I had the big jar.
This particular candle get's 40-50 hours of burn time. And the first burn I got it to burn out to the edges without the foil trick. (I'll do a post on the later).

The only thing is that it makes me crave cranberry juice something serious.

How refreshing does that look?

And it reminds me of cranberry sauce. I LOVE cranberry sauce. Actually I think I love anything cranberry. I've got to try making some cranberry sauce one day.

The only problem I had was that it smokes a little. But the scent is so amazing I don't care.

I'm gonna be sad when this one burns up.

My New Favorite Artist:Adele

Oh. My. God. I LOVE Adele. The first time I heard her songs was on the radio. I kept hearing "Rolling in the Deep". And the more I heard it the more I loved it. It was an immediate download for my IPOD. I would put the song on repeat and just belt the words out.

Then I heard "Chasing Pavements". Which was form her old album. I was heated that I hadn't heard it before. Anyway this advanced to me downloading her two albums in the wee hours of the morning. This past Christmas break I would blast her music every chance I got.

I LOVE every single one of her songs. Except Maybe two. And I love that she is a thicker woman. She used to be heavier but she looks GREAT at her current weight. Go Miss Adele. Anyway, she is up for so many Grammies this year, and I will be watching.

Like I said I love her all her songs but these are my FAVORITE FAVORITES. (what does that even mean?) Some of her songs speak directly to my heart, no bad lyrics here!

Set Fire to The Rain

Chasing Pavements

Right as Rain

My Same

He Won't Go

Rumour Has It

Someone Like You

One and Only

Rolling in The Deep

Hometown Glory

Cold Shoulder

Tired

If you haven't heard her music, well, what are you waiting for? Definitely check out her live performances on youtube.com. She's amazing.

The Body Shop Ice Blue Shampoo

Ugh. Another Body shop review. I know, I know. It's probably time for me to start buying from other brands. I think I will. Finish my stash and move on to another brand. Any who, I'm off topic. I bought this for four euro. It's one of those "back in the day" products that they brought temporarily.  I give them props for the name though.

The Body Shop claims:

A beauty classic returns. Our iconic blue shampoo is an instant pick-me-up for lacklustre hair. It contains invigorating menthol.

Scent:
Um, it smells like Tea Tree line of products from Trader Joe's. Maybe this one is a bit more "menthol-pepperminty. Those that love those minty smells would really enjoy it. Me/ I could take it or leave it. It doesn't linger though. Which is a bit dissapointing. I love catching whiffs of my shampoo throughout the day.

Stripping?
Surprisingly. No. My hair feels sort of squeaky clean, but defintely not dry. And not a tangled mess either. I was kind of expecting my hair to be a little tangled and was quite surprised to find that it wasn't.

Lather:
Lost of nice thick lather from the icy blue gel! Yay!

Does it tingle?
I must have really thick scalp skin (eww), because I didn't get the tingly feeling on my scalp. I could feel it more on my facial skin though.

Ingredients:
Water (Solvent/Diluent), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Surfactant), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Surfactant), Sodium Chloride (Viscosity Modifier), PEG-5 Cocamide (Surfactant), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Menthol (Fragrance/Cooling Agent), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Benzyl Salicylate (Fragrance Ingredient), Fragrance (Fragrance), Benzophenone-4 (Sunscreen agent, Ultraviolet Light Absorber), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Citronellol (Fragrance Ingredient), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Violet 2 (Colour), Blue 1 (Colour)....




Overall: 

I would give it a seven out of ten. It does what it's supposed to. But it doesn't have that extra oomph to get me super-excited. And there isn't a mtching conditioner!! Have you tried it?

Black Radiance Radiant Lip Gloss in Radiant Red

Without knowing it I had finished all the Illusions Lip Gloss. And now it's time for the Radiant line!! So how do I like it?

 Black Radiance claims:
A color-intense gloss that shimmers with sparkles of diamonds. Wear these superb colors alone or over 
a favorite lipliner pencil for longer wear. Your lips will be the center of attention with their shimmering and oh-so-kissable finish. Radiance claims:


Scent:
My lip glosses must smell good. And usually black radiance lip glosses can smell pretty funky. But not this one. It smells like artificial cherries. In a good way. In the past I've had some of their glosses go funky after a while so make sure to use it in a timely manner.

What's it look like?
Well, another surprise. This one has a brush instead of the usual doe foot applicator (is that what it's called). I like the new brush better.

Color:
It's nice and pigmented. It's definitely a darker shade of red, and not at all intimidating to wear out. I recommend it for those that maybe aren't ready for a full on red and want something a little subtle.

Would I recommend?

Yeah, it's not a bad buy and $2.99. I can't wait to get my hands on more.

Burt's Bees Acai Berry

I bought this in a two pack. The other one was the mango one that I reviewed not too long ago. I paid about $1.50 for it.

Burt Bee's Claims:

Super fruit meet stunning lips. We tapped the power-packed Açaí berry for a healthy infusion of Vitamins A, C, D, and E, antioxidants and moisturizing Omega Oils. The result? A 100% natural lip balm born to beautify and revitalize your lovely lips. 

• Provides a healthy infusion of Vitamins A, C, D, and E, antioxidants and Omega Oils• Sweet tropical flavor

Scent:
The scent was the deal breaker for me. It smells like Flintstone's vitamins. I hate that smell. The only vitamins I like eating are the Flintstone gummies. I don't like taking that trip down memory lane every time I want to get a little moisture on my lips.

Moisturization:
It's Ok. It doesn't have any long term benefits. I use it, and then not too long after I need to reapply.


Would I repurchase?
No the scent is horrible.