Neom Uplifting Hand Balm in Wild Mint and Mandarin Review

 I'm really supposed to be having a way more productive Sunday than I have been having. I have been marathoning the Toy Story movies. Toy Story is my childhood. I have seen the first one about a billion times. No joke. I've seen the second one a handful of times- and the third twice now. I thought the 3rd one would make a great ending to the series. But I was open to the fourth one- which I thought was hot garbage. The journey of the movie was cute at times but I abhorred the ending. I mean, I really hated it. I hated it so much I went on the Internet to find out if others felt the same way..I looked up who was responsible for the movie so I could avoid watching their movies ever again. But now that I want to watch the first movie I decided to watch them all and I still HATE the fourth one just as much as the first time I watched it. Now after this post I'm gonna start five. I don't have high hopes...

But anyway-- hand cream. It's dry hand/lip season so I have the hand creams and lip balms on deck. 

Neom claims: 

An uplifting experience in the palm of your hand. Nourishing with rich cocoa butter, softening with skin-loving shea butter and expertly blended to help lift your mood.t

Smells like crisp fresh air with a hint of sweetness – juicy and joyful. - Alice du Parcq, fragrance expert

• Wild mint & mandarin plus 4 other essential oils
• 92% felt they had soft, hydrated & nourished hands*
• TSA-friendly. Perfect for vacation or a wellbeing boost on-the-go.
• 30ml (1.01 fl oz) / 100% natural fragrances

*Consumer research trial involving 65 people.

Neom is a UK brand- I tend to be really like UK brands. This one is a more natural brand- scented with Essential Oils. I had one of their candles before...and also some of their lotion. I don't love the brand- don't hate it. But I'm open to trying more. 

The idea of an aromatherapy scent in a hand cream appeals to me. This is your typical mint/citrus offering. It's not a unique combination to me. But pleasant enough. You get just enough of the citrus with a hint of the mint. Actually I think it's majority mint. It's pleasant enough but definitely smells like essential oils and has an underlying scent that all Neom seems to have. I like it. But at the same time- it's nothing to write home about.

The hand cream itself is on the heavier side. I tried to use it where I use the tiniest amount- but I don't like it like that. I find this balm works best when I use a generous amount. It takes a little while to sink in but when it does my hands look and feel really soft and hydrated. 

It definitely is a balm as opposed to a lotion/cream.

You don't get much for your money. I went back to look it up and I got this one one sale for $7.50. Which I think it a better price for it than the listed price of $12.00. Which is pretty pricey for just 1 ounce of product.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water, Eau), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Glycerin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sucrose Stearate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum (Fragrance)*, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Coco-Glucoside, Citric Acid, Coconut Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citral, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Sodium Phytate, Geraniol, Linalool, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glucose, Alcohol. *Made with 100% natural essential oils including spearmint, peppermint and mandarin

Overall, I wasn't so impressed with it that I would recommend it nor buy it again except to try other scents. 

And now I'm off to start Toy Story 5.

Troop

It's already that time for a quick music post. 

Starting with All I Do Is Think Of You. I grew up with Troops version of the song and was absolutely shocked when I heard it was originally done by the Jacksons. I love both versions though and Troop definitely did the song justice. They didn't really change it up much...but it- much like the OG- is a classic.

Why are the views so low on this? Maybe it's radio staple and we don't watch the music video? Actually I find most of their songs have lower views on youtube. Crazy

The Dancing is taking me out- all that was not necessary on a song like this. They also probable aren't the strongest live performers.  They seem like they need just a little more practice. 

Most importantly- they weren't a one hit wonder. There is one other song in the playlist. I usually forget about this song until I play it again. It definitely fits the vibe of their songs. 

Solid group. They have a few other really nice songs to just chill out to  but I always only share my faves. 

Zucchini Pineapple Bread and Teriyaki Salmon

 I had an easy week in the kitchen. Which is always a nice break from the times where I have to spend hours in the kitchen. Sometimes the effort is really worth it though. 

I have made tons and tons of zucchini bread recipes. Years and years ago. It's one of my favorite quick breads to make. You can't taste the zucchini- but it's there making everything a little healthier. I didn't follow directions completely on this one.It's a Vitamix recipe and I just didn't think it was necessary to blend everything up because I like the see in the ingredients. And I didn't want a "green" bread. This was also my first zucchini bread recipe that uses pineapple chunks- and I'm a fan. I also switched out the almonds for walnuts because that's what I have on hand. I wish I took a picture of the inside. The only thing I would change is adding less sugar. I didn't just shy of 2/3 of a cup and could have definitely use less. But overall, it was good. One of my favorite quick breads I have ever made. 

Then I made Teriyaki salmon. The original recipe calls for a different type of fish which I'm not sure where to find- so I just subbed Salmon. And pan fried it and glazed it with the sauce. It was very good. I don't know if the sauce was necessarily Teriyaki but it was better than anything you would get in a bottle. Then I just made zucchini as a side and dinner was served. I wish it looked better on the plate- it was good though...

And that's all! 

Kirk's 100% Premium Coconut Oil Castile Soap Review

 

It's a cold, rainy, and windy day...way to start the holiday weekend. I was going to go outside for a bit- but not in this weather so I figured I would knock out a post or two. I always keep a more affordable bar soap around and sometimes when I want to save my liquid hand soap- I use it on my hands. Or I use it to wash my makeup brushes. 

Kirk's claims:

We're proud to provide your family with high-quality cleansing products at an exceptional value. Our products are all clinically tested under dermatologist supervision and certified non-irritating and safe for sensitive skin. Our plant-based fragrance-free bar soap creates a gentle and creamy lather, even in hard water, leaving skin feeling soft and healthy.

Woman  and Family Owned

Made in America

This soap was created in New York and the brand has been around since 1839- which makes it one of the oldest soap brands in America. I've tried Cstile soaps before I don't think I've used one based entirely on Coconut Oil. I like Coconut Oil soaps- but they tend to be drying. 

Which this one is. I was using it to wash my hands and it makes my hands feel dry and flaky. Hand cream or some type of lotion after is not an option. Because of that I opted to not try it as a facial bar. Or in the shower. Well..mostly I didn't try it i the shower because it's unscented and I don't like unscented soaps in the shower. It's boring.

Otherwise it lathers nicely, rinses clean. 

But it's on the softer side and tends soften up considerably. It also melts away quite quickly so it's definitely not like a triple milled or hard bar. You definitely cannot leave it sitting in water or it will melt away. 

It kinda reminds me of a more natural alternative to something like Ivory. 

Ingredients: 

Sodium cocoate, water, glycerin, sodium chloride, sodium gluconate.

Overall, I might pick up the other varieties just to try out. But I don't see myself picking this particular on up again. It might be good for those that are truly sensitive to fragrance and just want simple natural ingredients. 

Mac 137 Brush Review

 I just ordered myself some cookie cutters- in case I wanted to make some Christmas cookies this year. I have always wanted to do it..but laziness and I haven't had the tools. I bought a few Halloween ones and a decent sized pack of Christmas ones. Maybe this will be the year I make some. I even bought a few Halloween things- mostly dishes. I think each year I'm gonna give myself a budget and slowly build some holiday items to feel a bit more festive. 

But back to the review. I really thought I have reviewed this brush years ago. Then I was going through my collection- and nope. I did not. 

I bought this when MAC was slowly changing to all synthetic brushes. I prefer my brushes to be non-synthetic. Mainly because I am sick and tired of absolutely everything being made of plastic. I don't need plastic brushes. But I should thank MAC because once the brushes went synthetic, I stopped wanting to collect them all. 

These days you can still get the brush- it's just synthetic. 

MAC claims:

An ultra-soft tapered blending powder brush for a light dusting of any powder.

I can already tell you I have had it for years and I don't usually reach for it. I mostly stick to my favorites and then occasionally force myself to rotate other brushes in. 

I think this brush is more useful to those that are heavy handed and need to use a lighter hand in application. Have you ever seen the bronzer helmet look where someone applies so much bronzer in the wrong shade and it ends up looking like a helmet or dirt on their face? I very much dislike that look. Bronzer should just make you look sun-kissed without looking like a patch of makeup. But yeah..this brush helps with heavy handedness. Or maybe you have products that are a bit too pigmented. Mainly because the brushes are a bit more floppy than others and it doesn't pick up too much. I don't have that problem. I think mostly because my skin is pigmented and melanated and it's harder for me to apply too much. 

It works ok for bronzing/blush/ maybe a really light dusting of powder. But it's never been my go to or one I think of grabbing. I was looking for a video I remember seeing of the brush from MAC where they used it for highlight. I tried it with highlight and I didn't particularly like it. But maybe it's a skill thing. And I don't wear much highlight anyway....

It's a very unique shape and I don't really have anything too similar to it. Maybe only the Royal and Langnickel Omnia Highlighter brush. 

Overall, it really isn't a must have in my collection- but maybe iI'll run into a bronzer or a blush one day where it becomes the go to. I'm not mad that it's in my collection..I just very much so prefer other brushes over it. 

Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Body Wash Review

 I wasn't sure if I was going to watch- but I'm kinda happy I did. I'm a big fan of the original show- and I did go to "Hillman" University. It really was a walk down memory lane and some memories I had long forgotten about came flooding back. Also..I'm really happy that we have another show highlighting HBCU's and hopefully the show can do what the original did back then and get more youth interested in attending. Also...I very much so enjoyed the handsome men in the show. Although...well I won't finish that thought.

Let's talk Shower Gel.

Molton Brown claims:

Our original iconic shower gel, vibrantly filled with uplifting notes of fresh orange, blossoming neroli and enduring musk.

I almost forgot that Molton was a brand I really wanted to revisit. I really enjoyed the scents I tried before and when I saw the sampler kit- it was an immediate add to cart and check out. This particular set gives me 10 to try- or 7 since I have used three of them before but I'm happy to have them again.

I recently wanted to treat myself to a nice hand wash so I ordered the Orange and Bergamot Hand soap. I LOVE IT. So I was really excited to test out the shower gel version.

They definitely smell different- but I still really like them both. The scent is literally orange and bergamot. The orange note is so nice because it smells like authentic orange. So many orange scents tend to be candy-like. I like those too- but I love how authentic this is. Then there is the bergamot. I've gone through a few bottles of Bergamot essential oil and the middle/base note is real and authentic bergamot. It's a very calming, uplifting and relaxing scent. I really, really enjoyed it..every last drop. And I would definitely purchase a full size one day- after I finish the sample set and also try out some of the other scents. The Tea Ceremony and Rose Dune scent are especially tempting to me. 

The scent is a medium strength. If I use enough it will linger around the bathroom. I kinda wish it was just a bit stronger though.. 

But it lathers nicely, doesn't dry my skin, and rinses clean. 

It has a lot of ingredients in it- shower gels usually do. It does have actual orange peel oil in it..always nice to see.

Ingredients: 

Water / Aqua / Eau, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limonene, Fragrance / Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Coco-Glucoside, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Polyquaternium-7, Laureth-7 Citrate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Eugenol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Ppg-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate.

If I ever opened up a bed and breakfast- this scent is what I would choose to stock the bathrooms with. At least as the daytime scent. I would probably stock Lush Sleepy as the PM shower gel.  Idk why I think that- I would never open up an actual bed n breakfast but it's fun to imagine.