Soul For Real

 I was planning to do another post until I saw it was time for a music post. So here we are. Just a quick one today since I only have two songs from the group. 

Starting with Candy Rain.

This song could probably cheer anyone up. Puts me in a good mood so fast! They definitely sound a little different than the record. I think there were some voice changes between the record and the live performance. But they sound good. And they are singing live....

Most importantly they were not a one hit wonder. Every Little Thing I Do was a bop too! 

And that's all! A few grooves to make my Friday better...

Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Milky Leave in Conditioner Review

 I wish it was the weekend. It has already been a shortened week and yet still feels like it's been dragging. I kinda want to watch a movie to pass this Thursday but nothing looks interesting. Last week I watch Lilo and Stitch because I was going to watch the Live Action. It's definitely one of the better live actions and Lilo was just as cute as she is in the cartoon- made me want to adopt a six year old 😂  It's also a tear jerker. It will pull the ugly cry. 

But back to the leave in. I'm so proud of me because I've really been pretty faithful with the leave in conditioner over the past year or so. I don't think it's made a huge difference in my hair...but I'm gonna keep sticking with it. 

Sol claims:

Our leave in conditioner mist provides lightweight hydration for dry hair. It detangles, fights frizz, repairs split ends, and protects against heat damage, all in one flexible formula. Perfect to use as a priming product before heat styling or applying other styling products. No need to rinse. 

72 Hour Frizz Control 

Clinically Proven to Repair Split Ends

Up to 450 Degree Heat Protection 

Leaves Hair Healthy Looking, Silky Soft, and Deliciously Scented-Just like our iconic Cheirosa 62 Scent 

Perfect For All Types and Textures Under the Sun

Scent Profile- Pistachio, Almond, Heliotrope, Jasmine Petals, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Sandalwood

This is definitely on the pricy side for a leave in conditioner. I know I didn't pay full price..I might have paid around $20.00. And I don't think it was worth that. 

It smells like the iconic bum bum cream. I wasn't a big fan of the cream, thought it was overhyped and smelled like something from Victoria's Secret. But I did like the scent of it much more in the deodorant. But that didn't really work for me. I guess you can say I'm not the biggest fan of the line- but figured I would give it another go.

I believe this is the first "spray" leave in conditioner I've used. Though it's not really even a spray. It's like a really thin cream. Not as lightweight as one might think though. Or it might be my fault because I used too much. I wouldn't say it really builds up on my hair or weigh it down at the end of the week....I can't feel it coating my hair at all. It mostly feels like nothing but I can still tell the difference in my hair by the end of the week. It just feels a bit stiff by the end f the week.  It might also be the gel I put over top of it. 

Other than that, it doesn't really do much for my hair. Can't say it adds any substantial moisture. Nor does it help with frizz. It definitely doesn't repair split ends- nothing does that. It might help with tangles though....my hair doesn't seem to get as tangled as it normally does....but it could just be the magic of the Unbrush which I caved and finally bought. I plan to review it later but I LOVE that brush so far. 

I did want to test the heat protection but not sure if I want to straighten my hair again just yet. It is nice to have that option though.

It works well as a hair perfume...if you like the scent. I don't mind it. If you love the original bum bum cream and want that scent for your hair- this would be the way to do it. 

They do have a q&a that gives more information- like how to use it on the different hair types. For my hair type you just scrunch it in. I try to remember to focus on my ends...but usually in my rush I just do a quick rub all over. 

Almost forgot to mention packaging. Very unique and bright yellow silky feeling bottle. But beware the sprayer does get clogged every now and again. Rinsing it with warm water usually gets it unclogged and ready to go again. It was still an annoyance. Especially given this price point.

 I like that it has a few more exotic ingredients like Babacu Oil, Brazil Nut Oil, and Cupuacu Butter. It has some interesting ingredients- likely in very small amounts but at least they are there? 

Ingredients:

AQUA (WATER, EAU), ETHYLHEXYL OLIVATE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, HYDROGENATED ETHYLHEXYL OLIVATE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, CETYL ALCOHOL, PANTHENOL, HYDROLYZED RICE PROTEIN, SQUALANE, BERTHOLLETIA EXCELSA (BRAZIL NUT) SEED OIL, THEOBROMA GRANDIFLORUM (CUPUAÇU) SEED BUTTER, ORBIGNYA OLEIFERA (BABASSU) SEED OIL, ASTROCARYUM TUCUMÃ SEED BUTTER, HYDROGENATED OLIVE OIL UNSAPONIFIABLES, GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED GARDENIA FLORIDA EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, MALTODEXTRIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZYL ALCOHOL, LIMONENE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, COUMARIN

Overall, even with the the exciting butters and oils it's not a repurchase for me. I'm glad I tried something new though! 

Voluspa Sparkling Cuvee Classic Candle Refill Review

 It's late May and we are still in candle season. My apartment is still pretty cool surprisingly so I keep a candle burning. I am burning through my Voluspa candle refills and after this one, only one more! I love the idea of the these. You can just keep and clean out one of their candles and pop this in to refill it. It saves glass..I don't have to constantly recycle glass jars. I can just clean it out and re-use it. It saves money since the refill is $24.00 and the classic candle is  now $34.00. I wonder if they went up? I could have sworn it was cheaper. I bought mine on sale so it wasn't more than $17.00 at least. 

Voluspa claims:

Fragrance Family: Citrus / Fruity

Pop a bottle of Voluspa’s finest blend, it’s time to celebrate! A mix of beautiful aromatic complexity, Sparkling Cuvée opens with vivacious fruit tones of Sparkling Wine, Pomelo and Red Currant. The effervescence of Sparkling Wine is the heart of the celebration, with bubbles cascading to the surface, dancing and mingling with juicy Nectarine and Bulgarian Rose Petals. A velvety, smooth finish of Woody Oak serves as the perfect stage for this aromatic affair. Raise a glass of Sparkling Cuvée, your olfactory aperitif for every unforgettable occasion.

Notes of Sparkling Wine, Pomelo, Woody Oak & Rose Petals

Curb your olfactive appetite for your flourishing fragrance addiction. Invite an additional 60 hours of your beloved 9oz Voluspa fragrance without the frills. After your candles final flame, go straight to the source, simply drop in the coconut wax Candle Refill. We’ve pioneered a candle refill that leaves no trace. Our custom designed refill cups are made from 3 simple ingredients: starch, fibers and water— making it 100% biodegradable. Outer Packaging is 100% recyclable.

I didn't have high hopes for this one because the last refill candle I bought really didn't have much throw. I was almost ready to write them off. This one kinda redeemed them for me. It has throw. Not the strongest throw- but decent. It drifts out the room I have it lit and into the hallway. Noticeable- but not overpowering. I don't think I would buy this size for a wide open space though or a large room. 

Now as for the scent- I really like it! It really does smell like a fruity, sweet, bubbly, sparkling wine. it even smells a bit effervescent. I don't know how they do it, but they did it. The only other fragrance I can think of that perfectly captures a fruity wine scent would be the Lush Golden Wonder Bath Bomb.  If you like that, you would like this. 

Voluspa candles can be very hit or miss. I've tried quite a few of the scents at this point. What I like most about them is how clean burning they are. They are a coconut wax blend and as long as I take care of the wick- they burn super cleanly and very evenly as long as it isn't too cold! 

Major points to them for creating a completely recyclable and biodegradable refill. 

If you like fruity scents that are on the lighter side- I would recommend it! 

Ham Bean Soup and Orange Marmalade

 A very boring cooking week for me. It's like that sometimes. I want to get these posted so maybe I can move onto something more exciting....

I should have skipped this Ham Bean soup recipe. I don't eat Ham. And I didn't want to the mixed beans. I shoulda grabbed them though. Variety of beans means a variety or nutrients, vitamins, minerals etc. Next time. I really did change a lot so what I made doesn't even resemble the original recipe. I'm glad it came up though because I feel like I binged meat and unhealthy food last week...so this plate kinda makes up for some of it. Served with asparagus.

Then I made orange marmalade. I'm in the breakfast part of the Unofficial Harry Potter cookbook...so I have a lot of breakfast posts coming up. I've made jelly about three times...first time making marmalade. It's slightly bitter...and a bit gritty. Not a bad taste though and seems to be getting better as it sits. I don't know what I'm going to do with so much marmalade. Might have to make some sort of citrus glaze for a chicken. Or plan on having a lot of toast. I had mine with crumpets (also from the HP cookbook) eggs, and sausage. Oh almost forgot I sliced up a dragonfruit. The most flavorless fruit ever. But every now and again I buy it to give it another try. 

And that's all! 

Danessa Myricks Freedom Palette: Pastel Dreams Edition (Swatches on Dark Skin)

 I was one of the people that ordered this palette as soon as it dropped. I want all the colorful palettes Danessa drops. I missed out on the Lightwork 3 and 4 and regret it strongly to this day. I would just assume I had something similar in the collection already..and I was wrong. They are so sparkly and duo-chrome and shifty...so when this palette dropped I added to my card and checked it out. I had a reward on the site so I did get a little money off...yay for customer loyalty rewards.

There are six shades and probably four of them are close enough to other colors I have in my stash. The brown doesn't seem completely unique but I haven't tried it only my lids yet. I could be wrong. The pastel blue green and orchid are close enough to some shades I have from Sugarpill. I think these may be easier to build and more pigmented though. I'm excited for the neutral topper shade. I don't have anything neutral and wanted something to go with bronze/brown looks so I guess that's it! 

The pink duo chrome is very similar to the Serenity shade in the Lightwork 6. It might be slightly darker and this one doesn't shift as green.  But they were close enough that it is a bit disappointing to me. If you don't have that one,  it will be new to you. And lastly the green sparkly shade. Very unique...and I still can't really decide what color it is. It will be fun matching it with looks because it's so unique. 

Changes the look for the whole palette! 

I love that it can pop into the larger palette and you can switch/rearrange shades as you want. They are all magnetic so very easy to pop right out and travel with them. 

The special shades are pretty translucent. They are more like toppers. And probably a bit less intimidating for those that don't wear color on the lids much. I live for a bold, colorful shadow look so that's not me! 

First shade is Moondust- it's very translucent. I can't say I'm very impressed with it, I need to play with it more. Seems a bit boring but maybe it can add something special to a bronze/brown look. I'll update once I try it. 

Pink Quartz- I wish she did a more purple shifty shade. It's too similar to the pink Serenity in the Lightwork 6 IMO. 

Galaxy Dream- This one is very unique. At least to my small collection.I'm excited to play with it and see what it matches with best. It looks turquoise full on and has some orange shift to it. 

Aqua Dream- What a pretty color! I can't wait to put it all over my lids. It has really great pigmentation and comes out as a true pastel. 

Pink Mirage- It is a pretty orchid shade. I did wear it the other day...probably paired it with all the wrong colors but it wasn't as bright as I thought it would be. It seemed more muted? I think I might prefer the shade from Sugarpill but I do need to test it more. 

Gilded Dream- This shade reminds me of my beloved Salted Caramel from years back in the OG Too Faced palette. It might be more terracotta though. I'm most curious on what this will look like on but haven't quite tried it yet. 

And there we have it! I don't think it's going to be my favorite palette of the ones I have from Danessa...but I like it and I am  excited to experiment with it.

NYX Vivid Rich Mechanical Liner in Amber Stunner Review

 I just finished a batch of orange marmalade. Never made it before and it was pretty easy. I'm waiting to see if it sets up like it's supposed to...but I don't see myself making it again anytime in the near future. In the meantime, let's talk liner. 

NYX claims:

The Vivid Rich Mechanical Eye Pencil vault is finally unlocked! Hurry! Grab the richest matte, shimmer & metallic shades! From Spicy Pearl to Amber Stunner, these razor-sharp retractable eyeliners will be your prized gems for the richest eye look ever! 12, 1-swipe vivid rich shades, loaded with creamy gem-tone pigments in a mechanical twist up format. Vivid Rich Mechanical Liner looks made easy! Mix & match precious gem retractable liners or go monochrome!

Select your shade and glide on gem-tone mechanical eyeliner along your upper lash line to create an easy eye makeup look. Or, extend the line past your outer corners for a bold, dramatic wing (you can add eyeshadow for extra oomph).

Made in Germany

Not too long ago I project panned all my liners...so I needed to replace what I used up. I have three liners in my collection now. I want to use this one up and replace it..it's almost gone so I figured I had better review it before it's completely used up.

I don't like it. I had a feeling I wouldn't like it because gold type liners just don't do it for me. They are always streaky and chunky. As this one is. Even when they are high end. I had one that was much lighter from Make Up Forever and it had the same issues.

Also..it loves to break. I've probably used most of it up by accidentally breaking pieces off. Whoops. 

I've only really come up with few ways to wear it. Sometimes it's ok with a darker liner more towards the inner corner. And I have liked with a more golden multi-chrome on the lid and this in the waterline.

But still I don't love this pencil and want to use it up to get it out the collection. I have a navy liner in the same line that I like a lot better. It's not amazing...but it's better than this one. I've been using it a lot so will probably review it later at some point.

Overall, it's a skip for me.

The S.O.S Band

 My Moms favorite band- The S.O.S Band. A big part of what makes me love, love, love 80's music. 

I have quite a few favorites so we might be here for awhile. 

Let's get started.

With my favorite- Weekend Girl. Speaking of the weekend- I'm so glad it's a three day weekend. We had quite a long stretch without one and I am saving my time off for vacation. But back to the song- this song is ALWAYS stuck in my head. And I'm legit a weekend girl. I should definitely make it a point to have some fun on the weekdays though. Idk why there aren't any good, live clips of this on youtube. 

Next up, Just the Way You Like it. This one of those songs that I heard as a kid and never paid the lyrics any mind. Listened more as an adult- and why is this a main chic anthem? I mean, I guess it's better than being the side chic. I still jam to this though. 

Moving right along we have Tell Me If You Still Care. Another classic.

 

Then we have another one for the main chic playlist. Another one I listened to as a kid and loved and then as an adult was like...girl what? "I don't care what you do to them, just be good to me". Couldn't be me. But I love this song regardless.

Broken Promises is one of their 90's songs. So the vibe is a little different. But I do like it and it is in my 90's playlist. The singer reminds of the one the ladies that sang on the Tyler Perry plays...I'm not sure what her name was but she could sang. 

Back to the Hits- Take Your Time. I wish the quality was better. But this is a jam! 

Then we have The Finest. This might be my fave after Weekend Girl. This whole album was amazing. 

Continuing with the hits from the Sand of Time album- Borrowed Love. 

Of course, we have the title track. This is a little slowed down. But still has that SOS Band sound. Their songs are so recognizable to me. 

Last song..No lies. 

And that's it. One of my favorite groups from the 80's. Check them out! 

Royal and Langnickel Omnia BOM-37 Highlighter Brush Review

 

I'm so excited for tomorrow-. I ordered Danessa Myricks latest palette along with the old Lightwork V  palette and it's here! Just gotta pick it up. I really can't wait. I need a fast forward button..

In the meantime- I have a highlighter brush I want to review. Even though I'm not into highlighter- I love to buy highlighter brushes. I don't know what my problem is. Actually, I'm hoping that now that I acknowledged it's a problem- I'll fix the problem. I guess we shall see. 

Omnia claims:

Get the perfect diffused glow or apply a subtle hint of blush with this uniquely shaped face brush. The plush hair flares out at the top for perfect coverage and the natural fibers can pick up and deposit even micro shimmers with ease.

OMNIA® GOLD is the next-generation of professional makeup brushes. Each brush uses only the finest quality natural hair. This hair is meticulously selected and incredibly soft while still maintaining the density needed to pick up and deposit product with accuracy and precision. Every brush is handcrafted to perfection, creating the finest brush possible, exceeding all expectations.

I am running out of Omnia Brushes to review. And I don't plan on picking up more. Maybe unless they go on deep discount. I don't like the gold handle color nor the material. It's that "sticky, grippy" feeling material which I have really come to hate. It never ages well. And it's worn off a few of my brushes and I haven't had them long enough for them to be doing that. Not to mention, I expect more from a "pro" brand. 

I don't have the brushes and they look fine for the most part- if you buy them on sale you can't beat the price.

But this is one I do wish I didn't buy.

It doesn't pick up highlighter the way I want it to. I don't know if it's because I use it mainly with MAC Gold Deposit but it picks up random sparkles and then you place it on or brush it on and it just goes on very scattered.  Everything is scattered and it's hard to see the effect. I think this brush just doesn't offer the control that I want.

The bristles are very soft though. I love the way it feels. And the bristles fan out. I think I prefer a brush that tapers to a point or tapers in rather than this shape for highlighter. It's the control thing. This might be a great brush to use with a different texture of highlighter and if I find it to be so, I'll definitely come back and update. 

I've tried it for powder and blush and always felt I had brushes that can do the job better. 

It's not my favorite brush. You could probably say I really don't like it much. If it disappeared from my collection I wouldn't be sad about it. 

Irish Spring Aloe Mist Deep Moisture Deodorant Soap Review

 I think shrink-flation has gotten to these bars. I could have sworn they were bigger...but looking at the one I reviewed before it was also the same size. But then again...maybe I'm remembering the bar from years ago. I like the smell of Irish Spring so I don't mind trying all the iterations. It's just a really nice clean and fresh scent and it reminds me of going to my grandmas house cause she always had a tone of it- even though she mostly used Dove. It's  mainly marketed to men- but it can definitely be used by women. 

Irish Spring claims:

Count on Irish Spring Aloe Mist Bar Soap to leave your skin feeling clean. Our deodorant bar soap for men is made with a 98% naturally derived formula that keeps you fresh for 12 hours and is suitable for all skin types. For deeply moisturized skin, Irish Spring Aloe Mist Bar Soap helps attract and lock in moisture. Our soap bar can be used as a hand soap or face wash. This bar soap is suitable for all skin types, including normal, oily, and dry skin, ensuring a gentle yet effective cleanse. It is also paraben, phthalate, and gluten free. Add some adventure to your everyday life with the entire Irish Spring line of body washes and bar soaps for men.

 

Benefits:

• Deodorant Soap: 12 hour fresh deodorant soap that leaves you feeling clean, fresh, and confident throughout the day
• Versatile Use: Irish Spring bar soap has a sudsy lather and can be used as a hand soap or a face wash
• Natural Ingredients: 98% naturally derived formula, gluten free, paraben free, and formulated without phthalates
• Sustainably Packaged: Carton made from 90% recycled paperboard, 60% post-consumer content
• Soothing and Refreshing Scent: That cool outdoor Freshness? We’re bringing it to the palm of your hand

Made in Mexico

I've tried the green version and the blue version-but never the light green Aloe version. Surprisingly I think this one smells better than the original clean I bought a few years ago. This just smells fresher and cleaner to me. I would pick this one over the original every single day. It is still a very strong smell though so beware.

Lathers well, rinses clean, and doesn't dry my skin. I wouldn't say I get the deep moisture they are claiming but it didn't leave my skin parched and crispy.

It's lighter in color than the OG bar and seems to have better ingredients. 

The one I bought came in a set of three. I usually use one in the shower and keep the rest to use on my makeup brushes or for hand-washing when I feel like skipping a liquid soap. It's not that great for hand washing though- I don't like the way my hands feel after using this a few times. 

The ingredients aren't bad. It has some decent stuff in it like linseed oil, milk protein, and aloe (of course). I was expecting it to have zero good for the skin additives. They are probably only present in small amounts though...but better to have them than not. It does claim to be a deodorant bar but I don't see any ingredient that would make that claim- not that I am complaining. I don't think those ingredients were great for the skin anyway and a lot of them have been phased out.

Ingredients:

Laurate/Linoleate/Oleate/Palmitate, Water/Eau, Glycerin, Fragrance/Parfum, Sodium Chloride, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Iron Oxides, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake

Checking the reviews on the website- it seems this soap underwent a change. I don't know what it smelled like before when it was just called Aloe so I can't tell you if the original version really was that much better.  From what I read it was a milder scent- which I can see why some would prefer that. I just know I think this one is a decent soap for those that like the Irish Spring scent. Maybe in another two years I'll get my hands on the Moisture Blast version. 

Beef BBQ Sandwiches and Banana Mocha Cake

 Time for a quick food post. I'm in a rush. Kinda.

Starting with a Vitamix Recipe for BBQ Beef sandwiches. This was ridiculously easy. You just throw the BBQ sauce ingredients into the blender- blend. Then dump in a crock pot with a seared chuck roast. It was OK. The BBQ sauce is very basic and I usually prefer something way more spicy/sweet. This was just your basic BBQ sauce. So it won't be my go to. I did like the cole slaw though. I just used pre-shred veggies because I didn't feel like figuring out what to do with the rest of a huge cabbage... Served with Sweet Potato Fries. 

Then it was time to make dessert. I made a Banana Mocha cake. I was scared it was going to taste like banana bread but it came out as a cake. The espresso didn't really make a big difference in the cake but it did in the icing. I didn't do ganache. I just free-styled a chocolate icing spiked with espresso. It came out great! It was a great cake overall. Not my favorite flavor- not sure I would make it again but I did really enjoy it. This is my 2nd cake of the year- my goal is to make four cakes.  I think the next cake I make will be a red velvet cake for Juneteenth. 

Poppy and Pout Marshmallow Creme Lip Balm Review

 Meant to do this review yesterday- the only excuse I have is I was busy watching The Last of Us and then got lazy. This season still isn't good at all to me. I read that they are splitting the season up and I think I am just going to give up watching after this season.  Is there one more episode? I don't see how they can justify breaking up the season... The only thing I like about it is how much it reminds me of playing the game....

But lip balm..not as crucial in the summer/spring months as the winter but still needed. Especially if you have big lips like me.  I bought this as an add on a few months ago. Definitely on the pricier side, but I think it's worth it! 

Poppy and Pout claims:

If you’re looking for something a little more on the sweet side, our Marshmallow Creme Lip Balm is for you! It’s the perfect way to hydrate your lips and will leave you feeling sugary sweet. 

Our natural lip balm formula is as smooth as can be. Each cardboard tube is filled from the bottom to the top with lip hydrating goodness. Once you’re done, make sure to recycle; our ingredients come straight from Mother Earth, and we like to give right back!

Net Weight 0.30 oz / 8.5gHandmade in Idaho, USA

They have more unique sounding scents but for some reason I was really feeling Marshmallow at the time. I don't think I've ever had a marshmallow balm. I was really just expecting some variation of vanilla but it is reminiscent of Marshmallows.....I think it could be more marshmallow-y but at least it's not just a basic vanilla.

It doesn't have a taste. Not even a hint of sweet. Which is fine. Less likely to just sit there licking it off..

It's also pretty hydrating. I don't feel like it dries my lips nor do I feel dependent on it. 

The only issue I have is the packaging. It's cardboard so it's easy to recycle. Yay for more earth friendly. But I can't get it up and down because you push it up and no matter how hard I pushed I couldn't get it back down.  I've been keeping it covered. But definitely couldn't travel with it. It's a home lip balm for me. The packaging wouldn't keep me from buying again but it is kinda annoying.

It get's bonus points for being completely natural.

Ingredients:

Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower)Oil**, Natural Flavor Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)**

Overall, I like it. I want to get my hands on the other scents especially the Pomegranate Peach and the Blue Razaloo balm. They are on the pricey side but I like them and would recommend if you are ok with the packaging.

Bonita Fierce Elote Candle Review

I'm waiting for my chuck roast to come to room temperature so I can get started searing it for BBQ sandwhiches. I probably should have started it hours ago and I really don't have any excuse for why I didn't. So I'll probably be eating really, really late today. Ah well.

In the meantime...a candle review. This is a very unique candle scent..which is why I bought it. I love trying different and unique scents.

Bonita Fierce claims: 

This is for the ones who are rushing out of the house–bata de casa and miss-matched chanclas on–to make sure they don’t miss el elotero. You know who you are!

This mouthwatering candle is the home fragrance embodiment of the elotesyou love–picoso, sabroso and oh-so-sweet corn. Light this candle to dwell in the delicious aromas of buttery corn and warming red bell pepper–all balanced out with a taste of honey. And, just like the food itself, you’ll get that can’t-stop kick of spicy green chili and chili oil (del que pica) that keeps you wanting more.

Luckily, unlike a cup of elotes, this candle is gonna last longer than five minutes.

Mood: Mexican Street Corn Candle
Notes:

 

Buttery Bread, Corn, Red Bell Pepper, Honey, Green Chili, Chili Oil

8.5 oz in a 13 oz reusable glass vessel with a 50-60 hour burn time.

Made in USA

 Bonita Fierce is a Mexican owned brand. In this economy it is important to support a wide variety of brands and I do especially like to support smaller brands when I can. I bought this candle from Nordstrom on sale. I don't think I would have purchased otherwise...and that's mostly because of the scent.

I like the packaging of the candle, comes in a nice gift-able box. Presentation is just nice overall. 

I didn't realize it at the time but the wick is a wood wick. I don't think I've ever bought a wood wick candle- so I was excited to see this. It burns very well, evenly, doesn't smoke. And at times you can hear it crackling. It's not loud but it's there and it can be kinda nice if you like that kinda thing. I think I'm a fan of wool wicks- although I will still mainly stick to traditional because that's how most brands come.

Now as for the scent-  Mexican Street Corn. I've actually never had it. So I can't tell you how accurate it is. But I do need to try some. Maybe I'll make some over the summer when corn is in season. 

So I'll have to describe the scent without being able to accurately compare. When I first got it and it was unlit I could smell cilantro, veggies...and cinnamon. Craft store cinnamon which is a note I was not expecting and don't like at all.  Luckily when it's lit you don't smell cinnamon. But it is a very odd smell for a candle. Which was to be expected. It kinda smells like cheese cornbread? With chili oil and a lotta butter. 

Definitely a very unique candle and oddly reminds me of a Bath and Body Works type of scent...without being a scent they would do. That's the vibe I get. 

With that being said it's a very specific kind of candle. Like a novelty candle that was fun to experience.

I do think the quality was nice and I would definitely be interested in trying their other scents- Spanish Moss and Marigold sound the most interesting to me . I am glad I branched out and tried such a unique scent though...and if you ever wanted an Elote scented candle- this would be a good one to grab. 

Solomon Burke

Ending my Friday with a music post. 

Of course I know this song because someone sampled it. I can't remember who now...but this song is criminally underrated. I love how he's hollering at his teardrops to get out his eyes...😁

Song is a bop! 

All The Cleaning Things Part Three

 Back again to review some household essentials. I probably like trying new cleaning things almost as much as I like trying new make up. Odd.

 

Joy Dishsoap- This was the dish soap my family bought when I was growing up....but they stopped buying it. Not sure why. Apparently they bought it because it was cheap. I remember washing dishes with it in middle school. It really doesn't have much lemon scent...if you smell it directly from the bottle it does. But I don't smell anything when washing dishes. Which can be good because that means no particular scent will stick to the dishes. I like it better than all the Ajax dish soap I tried before this one. It works decently. It's not very concentrated but I don't feel it's as watery as some other dish soaps. It's OK for DIY cleaners and ok overall.  That's the bottle I remember...

Palmolive Ultra Anti-Bacterial Soap- We stay going through dish soap around here...I thought I didn't like Palmolive but it is so much better than all the Ajax I was using and has a nice citrus scent. I wouldn't say it's like a true orange but it does smell very juicy and good. It also cleans dishes pretty well and isn't watered down. So it seems to last. It does OK in DIY cleaner mixes too! Dawn is still the best but this can work in a pinch. And it doesn't mess up my hands!

Gain Honey Berry Hula Dishwashing Liquid

This has a nice smell- kinda like anything blue marketed at kids. Kids shampoo, soap etc. The scent isn't strong and I don't notice it too much when washing dishes. I do really like the original Gain scent though, especially the laundry detergent. It falls under the same company as Dawn but isn't anywhere near as good as Dawn. It is watered down like Ajax so the bubbles don't last. I am going through this family size bottle pretty quickly. And it doesn't clean off grease very well. Wouldn't buy this again.

I'm looking for an earth friendly alternative to all the sponges and Scrub Daddy/Mommy sponges-although at least the Scrub Mommy's last ages when used for cleaning. In the meantime, thought I would give these a go. These are actually pretty good and seem to be lasting me just as long if not longer than the Scrunge- which was my preferred sponge before. I think I like these slightly more, the scrubby part doesn't just wear off in bits and pieces. They are made in Canada.

Fabuloso

There was a point as a kid where my Mom always had a bottle of this. I thought this was supposed to be an actual representation of Lavender. I hate this scent. I really do. I wonder if the other scents are as bad as this? I know some people really love it though! Anyway...I never liked it as a kid because it never really seemed to clean. I mostly used it to clean my own bathroom and it just didn't get off the stubborn soap scum. Same thing for the bottom of my shower. It doesn't get clean. Nor the shower doors- they get all streaky. It does do well in the sink. But that's not hard to clean. I refuse to use it in the kitchen- nor would I do all my floors with it because I don't want to scent hanging around. So I mostly use it to clean the toilet. It does ok with that. I was kinda surprised the bottle states not to spray it and before I read that I did make a few spray bottles out of it. But I guess inhaling it isn't good. I've seen people simmer this on the stove which is pure insanity and probably toxic. Yikes! Anyway, I might try another scent but the Lavender is not for me. It is very strong though so it will overtake any stinky odors hanging about.

Hero Clean Laundry Detergent Scent 1 (Juniper)

I have this because I found it in my garage. My Dad left it here...I'm guessing he never used it. Probably bought it to use to wash his car cleaning stuff. I thought I read this brand was veteran owned but I can't seem to find that anywhere. It is a detergent for men. But scents don't linger in clothes too long anyway. But I don't like the scent. And I don't like the scent left on my clothes when I sniff either. Leaves clothes a little stiff too when I line dry them. But it seems to clean pretty well. Still not something I would buy again. 

Ajax

Such an old school product. I love watching old commercials so I definitely watched quite a few for these. It works...and it works well. And things will get extra clean because it has bleach. I like it on the sink, in the toilet. And surprisingly really like it on a glass cooktop. You can use it on pots and pans- I haven't tried it that way. Maybe I'll give it a go on my cast iron. It's really easy to clean and I don't have issues with the bleach splashing around. Rinses clean. Only thing I wasn't a fan of it on was the shower doors because it didn't quite rinse clean without streaks. It does turn blue as you scrub for some reason. I don't get the point of that...but OK. I like it. Would buy it again, especially as a cost effective toilet bowl scrub. 

Dr. Beckman Magic Leaves in Floral Fresh

These are a cool concept...but they don't work. Only use these if you want your clothes to come out the the wash smelling how they went in. I will probably use the rest to throw in with a different detergent that actually works....Not even good for a hand washing clothes.

Febreze AIR Gain Original Scen/Febreze Amethyst Blossom

I used a lot of Febreze in college in my dorm room...haven't bought one of their air fresheners in years. Usually I throw something together with my essential oils. But this is nice to have around. I like the Gain scent and it comes in a lot of products these days .It's just the best laundry scent.  

I also bought a Febreze fabric spray as well. Just to use on the couch, curtains etc. I like the Amethyst scent. It's the equivalent of a Downy scent- although I don't know which. I would buy it again. I have made my own fabric spray from essential oils and that works well too....but sometimes it's nice to not have to mix something up. 

Palmolive Aloe and Citrus Dish Soap

I like Palmolive. But this seems like a product you buy for the scent- except I don't like the scent much. It reminds me a freshly remodeled bathroom. It smells like grout. Not bad- but not that nice either. It cleans dishes decently well though and doesn't tear up my hands. 

That's all! So many cleaning things I've test out...and no doubt in a few months I'll be back with a bunch more stuff! 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion Review

 Sitting here sleepy as all get out but I did say I would do one more post. I was too lazy to get up and get what I really wanted to review...so I just grabbed what was in arms reach. I am slowly making my way through trying out some of the most iconic beauty products...and this was on the list. I probably should have bought the gel- because that would suit my oily/combo skin better. Especially with summer coming...but I wanted to try the product that started the "dramatically different" line. 

Clinique claims: 

Dermatologist-developed lotion is Clinique’s #1 face moisturizer. Silky, fast-absorbing moisturizing lotion with pure urea and pure glycerin rapidly strengthens the skin barrier. 

Dermatologist tested. Allergy tested. 100% fragrance free. 

8-Hour Hydration

Our daily moisturizer for face delivers 8-hour hydration + soothing moisture for skin in need of comfort.

Hydrates to soften, smooth, and improve.

Replenishes skin’s oil-water balance for healthy skin.

Skin-Strengthening Formula

Helps strengthen skin’s own moisture barrier so more moisture stays in.

Formula

Silky lotion slips on easily, absorbs quickly.

Suitable for Post-Procedure Skin

Suitable to use as soon as one day post a non-ablative laser procedure.* 

*Shown to be safe for use following a non-ablative laser treatment in a 14-day clinical usage test.

Strengthens the skin barrier. 
In just 2 hours, this face lotion significantly improves skin barrier repair by 21%.*
*Clinical testing on 21 women.

Boosts skin’s moisture. 
Instantly boosts skin’s moisture by 119%.

Dramatically different. That's a bold claim. 

I can tell you I didn't notice anything dramatically different about it.  I wanted to see if I could find a deep dive so find out when this cream came out...I found nothing.I do know this is a popular product and probably a best seller for the brand- at least at some point. 

For those really into skincare- this lotion can seem a bit outdated. But it's been around this long and someone is loyal to it....

It is a yellow lotion- just like any other lotion you might find. I really didn't find anything different about the texture, application, or wear. Maybe it should be called "dramatically average." 

It is meant for dry skin. I don't have dry skin and it can definitely be a bit heavy. Especially now that it's warming up. It gives my skin too much glow and grease. So I guess I would call it moisturizing. My skin is certainly never dry nor do I need to reapply with this. 

I wanted to test it under makeup...which I did. Just to see if I could use it as a primer. And not really. It's just too greasy looking on me. It does better when I set with powder but I don't love how my makeup sits on top of it. I feel like the oil breaks through the makeup after a short time and I am back where I started. If you have dry skin- it may work better for you. 

Looking at the ingredients I was scared it was going to break me out. But no breakouts! 

Also almost forgot to mention the scent. No added fragrance but it smells like something based on mineral oil/petroleum. Which it is.

It does have coloring in it to make it yellow. Reminds me of the Kiehls Creme De Corps and makes me wonder why higher end loves to color a lotion yellow....

I don't notice any other benefits from this lotion. It doesn't make many promises except 8 hours of moisture though. 

I'm not impressed with the ingredients...I tend to like a more natural oil or natural ingredients when I am looking to moisturize my skin.

Ingredients: 

 Ingredients: Water\Aqua\Eau, Mineral Oil\Paraffinum Liquidum\Huile Minérale, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil, Urea, Lanolin Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D'Orge, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 6 (Ci 15985), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), Red 33 (Ci 17200) <ILN39477>

It's not bad. But it's not great. I probably should have bought the gel version...and maybe one day I'll try it. But this is not a repurchase for me. It does come in a multitude of sizes- even a sample/travel size. I do like that because if you don't like it, you aren't stuck with a huge bottle.