Safeguard Bar Soap Review

 I like to try all the classic soaps. I've tried many already- so next up was Safeguard. It's another brand that launched in the 60's. So it's been around for a few decades. Likely not the same as what was sold back then. Everything changes for the worst. 

Safeguard claims: 

• Eliminates 99% of bacteria. Help retain your skin's natural moisture help leave skin feeling naturally healthy - not tight & dry
• 
  

I got mine in a four pack. And I really wish I could have found a two pack instead. Because I don't like this soap. At all. The website is confusing because what I have is the "beige" version of the soap. They really could have named it anything and went with "beige". Hmm. Anyway, all I see is an Aloe version. I don't think this has been discontinued though? 

Anyway, the first bar I thought I really liked it. I don't know what happened by the second bar- but I started to hate the scent. It smells terrible. But it smells like it really is trying to smell amazing and just fails. It has that "cheap" soap scent. It's just really off-putting and I shrivel up my nose whenever I smell it. It kinda smells similar to a Dial soap. But Dial smells much better.

I wouldn't really buy it again because the scent is so bad. 

Other than the terrible scent it's a decent soap. Not very drying but I can get patches of ash after using it.. It seems to clean well. And it's one of the "deodorant" soaps. Which I wouldn't go for normally...they usually use ingredients that tend to not be so great for the skin. Or maybe I'm thinking anti--bacterial soaps. 

Ingredients: 

SODIUM PALMATE, SODIUM PALM KERNELATE, WATER, GLYCERIN, FRAGRANCE, PALM KERNEL ACID, SODIUM CHLORIDE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, TETRASODIUM ETIDRONATE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, YELLOW 10, RED 4, GREEN 5

It was cool to try. I love trying things that have been sold a long time- and this has been around for decades. It's also sold in many countries all over the world. But overall, I really didn't like it. Would never purchase it again. I would rather have almost any other soap. 

I always find the commercials/ads interesting so I'll share a few here: 

Teddy Pendergrass

I'm excited about this music post because I love me some Teddy Pendergrass. He has some classic, classics that I am sure I will still be bumping too when I am in my 80's. Timeless music.

Starting with Close The Door. I love this one. They still play this one on the oldies stations. The music video was as exciting as it could have been. I just looked this song up and realized it was on the Nutty Professor..he was singing it to his food/microwave. I haven't seen that movie in forever...I should give it another watch this weekend.

Next song I think it a bit less known. I certainly slept on it for years and didn't really find it until I listened to his full discography. 

Next up, some feel good music. Signs that you play and step into an instant good mood. Love this one! 

This song is a continuation of Close The Door. Close the Door, Turn off the Lights.  That tickles me.  I think for a long time I thought they were the same song while knowing they weren't.  My favorite part- Rub me Down with some oils bayyybyyy.  Next song on this playlist should be Sexual Healing by Marvin.  I should burn myself a CD. Oh and then Fire and Desire by Rick James and Teena Marie. Hmm. Anyway, this song is FIRE. And I love it. 

Next up, Come Go With Me. I hear the Stylistics in this song...at the very beginning. So I start singing that in the beginning. Then I start thinking of the Nelly and Jaheim song. I heard all those before this jam. I love this song though, love at first listen. You can tell it came off the same album as Turn of the Lights. 

Doesn't the beginning of this song remind you of some Barry White? And maybe Quincy Jones. Is Love TKO his biggest hit? Looks like it on youtube. I'm kinda surprised. This one is a classic and I think heavily sampled. Or it samples. I don't know which but I can see why. 

And last song- Feel The Fire. One of my top ten/top five duet songs. This pairing was magic. I wish they did another song together.

One of my favorite artist for sure. These are must have songs for me.  Required listening.

Project Pan #51

 America's Next Top Model seems to be dominating my feed. I used to watch it faithfully for the first few seasons. It was must see TV. Only now am I realizing how toxic that show was. I don't think I'm going to watch the documentary that just came out...a part of me is curious but then again with all the shorts and think pieces on it...I think I can skip it.

In the meantime, I'm still working on my project pan and I have finally finished one eyeshadow. And threw out another. So I'm down two shadows already for the 2026 year. The goal is to finish five. I don't normally chuck shades unless they are truly awful, in this case it was a matte with glitter that overstayed its welcome. And I finished Hoodoo in my Vice palette. It was a nice purple- and unique in the collection but I was tired of it..and don't think I'll miss it now that it's gone. 

I'm going to replace it with another purple in my collection. Not that I want to pan yet another purple. But this shade is old, old and I think I can use it up quickly. I almost want to keep it.it's the perfect smoky purple without being too dark when I use it with a fixing spray. And the glitter in it is very pretty too. I think I'll be able to use it 1-2x a week until it's finally gone...

Still working on using up my Laura Mercier Powder. I don't think this will make it to the end of the year. I keep changing my estimate...but it seems to be going rather quickly lately. I think that's because with the current foundation I am using it has to be set or it's too shiny. 

I finished up my Nars Tinted moisturizer. And now that it is gone-  I miss it! I have a new foundation I will be reviewing in the next couple of months though and might possibly add it in here if it doesn't work with my skin.

I figured I would add a few more products to shake it up

Bioderma Micellar Water. I use this more often anyway because most mascara is hard to get off otherwise. Even so...this has lasted forever. I'm going to focus on using it up so I can try some new things.

Eden's Garden Goodnight Essential Oil- I use this a few times a week- but mostly forget about it. It's been flitting around my collection for years and is just past time for me to use it. 

And lastly- ORS Color Blast in Dragon Fruit. I'm thinking I'll use it next week and try to work it in more regularly until it's finally gone because I want to try other color waxes but I need to use up more of what I have.

And that's all for now! I might not update until Candied Violet has been used up...hopefully sooner rather than later.

Gente The Ipanema Scrub Review

I'm seriously contemplating watching all of Bridgerton Season 4 again even though I just watched it. I love it that much. I want to pay more attention to the Mondrich family. They have always been a favorite of mine but I feel like in this last season even more so. I just don't want Lady Danbury to have to take a step back in order to let them shine. But let me stop chattering on about Bridgerton and let's talk scrubs.

It's been a little while since I have bought a standalone scrub. Although this is more a soap/scrub hybrid.

Gente claims:

Gentle exfoliation meets deep nourishment for radiant, revitalized skin

Expertly crafted to provide a perfect blend of gentle exfoliation and deep nourishment, leaving your skin smooth, glowing, and revitalized.

Key Benefits:

• Rice Exfoliator: Harness the natural power of rice exfoliation to gently slough away dead skin cells, revealing soft, smooth, and radiant skin without stripping your skin's natural oils.
• Cocoa-Rich Formula: Infused with nourishing cocoa, this soap hydrates and moisturizes, leaving your skin feeling silky and refreshed after every wash.
• Seaweed Extract: Enriched with seaweed extract to help reduce the appearance of skin bumps and smooth uneven texture, giving your skin a flawless, even look.
• Lymphatic Drainage Support: The gentle exfoliation stimulates lymphatic circulation, promoting a healthier appearance and boosting skin vitality.
• Made in Brazil: Carefully crafted with love in Brazil, this soap brings a touch of luxury to your daily skincare routine.
• Minimizes Dryness: Our hydrating formula locks in moisture, reducing dryness and leaving your skin feeling soft, supple, and nourished.
• All-Natural Formula: Made with all-natural ingredients, free from harsh chemicals, and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

This is a new to me brand. With the popularity of the Sol De Janeiro line (not made in Brazil), I really wanted to try out a brand that was. But most aren't easily accessible. Until I saw this on sale at Nordstrom. I bought it for around $12. Which is still pricey but not as high as some of the brands they typically sell. The only other product I have tried beside the Sol line that was inspired by Brazil was the Lush Sandstone soap.  So I was happy to see this.

We'll talk the name first- every time I see it I hear this song in my head. 

You are only supposed to use it a few times a week. It is pretty gentle as a scrub. The scrubby bits are pretty fine. I think it gives a decent scrub- nothing too harsh. It's also a soap so it lathers up nicely. I don't think it makes your skin as hydrated and smooth as a traditional scrub with the oils and butters- it can actually leave my skin a bit parched actually but that's nothing a little oil or lotion can't solve. 

One of my favorite things about it- a scrub with no plastic packaging. The only other brand I've tried that makes plastic free scrubs is Lush. This particular product even reminds me a bit of Lush Buffy-if Buffy were a soap scrub type- especially as far as scent goes. If you are looking a really hydrating scrub I would recommend that. I think this might be better for oily skin or people that hate an oily scrub. 

It is a very nice scent. It makes me think of an outdoor shower with a view of a bright, sunshine, breezy beach. Makes me wish that's where I was instead of just in my boring bathroom.  I really enjoy the scent.

It rinses clean and I don't find bits of scrub lingering in crevices like some other scrubs tend to do. 

Ingredients:

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Chloride, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Silica (From Rice Husk / Oryza Sativa L), Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Pca, Hypnea MusciformisExtract, Ci 77891, Tocopherol, Linalool, D-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Botryocladia Occidentalis Extract, Sorbitol, Potassium Sorbate.

Overall, I like it. Glad I got to try a new brand and I'm glad it's a Brazilian brand- actually made in Brazil! 

Chiddingly Hot Pot, Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce, and Peanut Butter Cupcakes

 Figured I should also knock out a food post since I have three things I most recently made.

Starting with something I had never heard of- Chiddingly Hot Pot. I guess it's a dish hailing from Sussex, England. I've heard of a lot of food from the UK. I changed a few things...I couldn't find red potatoes so I just made mashed potatoes as the topping. Kinda like you would do with a Shepherds pie. I also cooked down the onions in a little beer. It's interesting. Not bad. Just interesting. The additional of vinegar and olive oil gives it a really tangy flavor. It definitely tastes better as leftovers once the flavors get to know each other. Not sure I would make it again- but it was nice to try. 

Next up...a creamy tomato basil pesto sauce. Another sauce made from tomatoes. I didn't make too many changes to this- except using tomato paste instead of sun dried tomatoes. Sun dried tomatoes go off to quickly. This was very easy and mainly hands off. I also simmered the sauce for awhile because that's just something I always do. I love that addition of the mascarpone cheese- which is something I have never added to my sauce. It makes everything very creamy. I also really liked the kick from the chipotle. It wasn't too spicy- just perfect really.  I would make it again. I ate it plain the first day and then the next couple of time I made it with some chicken.

And last up- Peanut Butter cupcakes. I don't think I have had Peanut Butter cupcakes before. The batter for this was great- the actual baked cupcake was meh. But maybe it needs to sit a day. I also made chocolate ganache for the first time. I used the cheapest chocolate bar I could find- not sure if that affected it. But the ganache was just OK. If they taste better tomorrow, I will come back and update. But today they were just- meh. 

I could have done a better job of icing it but my piping bag broke. 

PF Candle Co. No. 04 Teakwood and Tobacco Candle Review

I started and finished Bridgerton Season 04 Part 2 yesterday.  It was good. I wasn't too sure about this season because I'm not a fan of Francesca's story- wasn't a fan of the book and not a big fan of the changes. But as a side story- I didn't mind it. I love any adaptation of Cinderella so I did really enjoy Sophie/Benedicts story although it is definitely not my favorite adaptation of Cinderella.

Anyway...time to review a candle. I have a few I need to just burn the last little bit up so I can move it out of the collection and make room for more. I really liked the first candle I tried from the brand- so I was more than ready some new scents. 

PF Candle claims:

The one that started it all. Some call it the boyfriend scent, we call it the O.G. Leather, teak, orange.

TOP

orange, leather

MID

black tea, pepper, tobacco leaf

BASE

sandalwood, teak, patchouli, musk, amber

• 100% SOY WAX: Our best-selling 7.2 oz Standard Size. Also available in a stronger 12.5 oz size.
• 40–50 HOUR BURNTIME: Atmospheric scent that never overpowers.
• SIGNATURE PACKAGING: Amber glass jar, kraft paper label, and a brass lid.
• MADE IN CA: Poured in Los Angeles by our team.

The most popular teakwood scent is probably the Bath and Body Works scent. There are better teakwood scents. That one is overwhelming. I've never owned it but I have smelled it before. This candle is not overwhelming. PF makes candles for those sensitive to scent. So you get a very light scent. Nothing that will induce a headache or haunt you in your dreams. .

But I do wish it was stronger.

I really enjoyed this scent though. It just smells like a cozy, slightly more masculine living room. Maybe with brown leather couches and an earthy/moody green paint. I guess there is tobacco. I don't know exactly what teakwood smells like.  

One thing I don't love about the brand is that the candles are pretty much unscented until you burn at least 1/3 of it. It's like the scent is hidden underneath or something.

It takes a while to get going. Some candles you can smell as soon as you get a wax pool, this really needs the time to build up in the room. 

It's a soy candle. 100% Soy Wax. I like soy wax better than blends as I think they are healthier and they definitely burn cleaner. No sooting or smoking.

I like the packaging. It comes in brown glass packaging. I think it's pretty unique. You don't have many packaged quite the same. 

I do really like it and have enjoyed it for the most part. I do wish the entire candle came across as scented. And I also wish it was stronger. I would only recommend it to those that like an extremely light throw. I might buy it again- but only on sale.