Blinc Eyeshadow Primer Review

Summer is on its way. Which means- I need an eyeshadow primer. My eyelids eat eyeshadow. Even in the winter. But especially in the heat. I don't even think my makeup would last two hours without one. Concealer can work in a pinch- but I prefer a dedicated primer. I lost my last primer. it has to be somewhere in my apartment but for the life of me, I cannot find it. 

So I ordered this. I haven't seen this brand much...but I think I remember they made a tubing mascara back in the day. I'm too lazy to look it up now...so  we will go with that. 

Blinc claims: 

A CLEAN, VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, and ORGANIC translucent eyeshadow primer that creates a seamless, blurred canvas for all-day crease-free, smudge-proof, and fade-resistant wear while improving skin health and appearance.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT:

• Flawless Base: Fills surface imperfections for a smooth, blurred canvas that intensifies shadows and liners.
  
• Ultra-Longwearing: Keeps eyeshadow and liner in place all day without creasing, smudging, or fading.
  
• Pro-Age Skincare Benefits: Improves firmness, elasticity, and smoothness while brightening the delicate eye area.
  
• Lightweight Comfort: A breathable formula that feels weightless and comfortable for all-day wear.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

• Pro-Age Peptides: Enhance skin firmness, elasticity, and smoothness over time.
  
• Vitamin E: Provides antioxidant protection and hydration.
  
• Alaria Esculenta Extract: A natural marine ingredient that nourishes and revitalizes skin, promoting a youthful glow.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT:

• Clean Beauty Innovation: VEGAN, ORGANIC, GLUTEN-FREE, and formulated without harsh chemicals, delivering performance without compromise.
  
• Multi-Tasking Performance: Combines makeup primer benefits with skincare properties for healthier, younger-looking skin.
  
• Seamless, Skin-Friendly Wear: Perfect for those seeking minimalist, skin-conscious products that enhance both beauty and care.
  
• Made in USA

It comes in nice packaging. A nice box and is packaged kinda like a lip gloss. I like it. 

I don't ask a lot from my primers. I just want it to make my eyeshadow last all day. Maybe add a little vibrance to my colors. Make everything a little more pigmented. And be truly translucent.

I cannot stand a primer that claims to be translucent but dries looking a bit ashy and you can see it if I don't cover it completely. I think that is just a problem I have since my skin is a deeper color. But this does not do that. And I'm so happy it does not! 

I don't have any complaints with it. Except maybe it's a bit more on the pricier side. But overall, it's a solid product. 

Ingredients: 

Isododecane, Talc, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Triethylhexanoin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Trihydroxystearin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride ,Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40 Stearate, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylene Carbonate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate,Alaria Esculenta Extract, Tribehenin, Ceramide NG, PEG-10 Phytosterol, Lactic Acid, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, May Contain/Peut Contenir(+/-): Mica CI 77019, Bismuth Oxychloride CI 77163, Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491,CI 77499)

I would buy it again if I needed a primer and didn't always need to always try something new. If I ever made a ranking of primers, this would make the list- probably more towards to the top. 

Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal and Fresh Tomato Sauce

 You know what I realized this week? Without my weird rotation that has me constantly cycling through recipes, I would have no idea what to make for dinner every week. It would get boring really fast because I think I would just make quick basics. Or just my favorites that are my go to anyway when I don't have enough dinner recipes to try in the week. 

Anyway...got two basic recipes this week.

Gingerbread baked oatmeal doesn't sound so bad. And I was super on board because I tried baked oatmeal for the first time a few weeks ago and became a little obsessed with that recipe. Won't happen with this version. I think it's just way too heavy on the molasses. And I'm picky about my Gingerbread flavors. So this ok. But I would never make this particular recipe again. I struggled eating the whole pan. 

Next up...I have been craving some spaghetti for a few weeks now. It's just a really basic tomato sauce. It's a nice recipe to show you how to make tomato sauce from actual tomatoes in the Vitamix. But it's too basic. I need some balsamic vinegar, or jalapeños. Or a ton of Romano or Parmesan cheese.  It's not my favorite but it's edible. I'll stick to just creating my own....

And now I have made myself hungry- time to go make dinner....

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!