reviews « ((little fat notebook))

Yuzen October 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, chocolate, eco-friendly, food, fruit snacks, green, health, lotion, mango, massage oil, moisturizer, pictures, products, review, shampoo, shaving cream, skincare, snacks, yuzen

29 April 2013

Alright, it’s time to continue this game of catch-up and go through the treats that came in the Yuzen box for October. 🙂

Yuzen is $26 per month and comes with around 5 or 6 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. Starting with this box, I began to receive them for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

collage of products included in the october 2012 yuzen box

They actually sent me two boxes since they were trying out a new packaging method and wanted my feedback.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Eco-Armour Shave with Benefits – Bergamot & Pink Grapefruit Luxurious Botanical Shave Foam: There are a lot of things I love about this product! It smells great and feels so smooth on your skin. It works really well and makes shaving such a breeze! Plus, it’s got an awesome foaming dispenser (and I love a foaming product), which also means that you can bring it with you on the plane! And did you know that you can actually put it on your razor blades to extend their life?! HOW AWESOME!

Nova Monda Cacao & Chocolate – Cacao Indio Jar Chocolate: Chocolate in a jar? Wow, the possibilities! You can eat it straight up, melt it to use as ganache or fondue or even pour over ice cream for a fantastically yummy shell. This is such a fun way to present chocolate for consumption. Definitely gets your creativity going and encourages new ways of enjoying a classic treat. Plus, it’s all ethically sourced so you can really enjoy this treat guilt-free.

red flower – plum blossom silk cream & yuzu mimosa sea algae wash: These products feel really luxurious. The lotion truly is silky and rubs on so well. It’s got a sweet, flowery scent that is lovely. The body wash is pretty silky too and it has a nice mildly citrusy smell. I really love the use of various botanical elements to create these products!

Matt’s Munchies – Mango Premium Fruit Snack: Ok, I actually don’t eat mangoes, so I did not try this snack, but my mom gobbled it right up so that’s got to be a good sign! And hey, even my cat gave it a sniff of approval… 😉 I was expecting more of a dried mango snack, so it was interesting opening the package to find cute little fruit leather squares. Definitely a nice treat to bring along anywhere and you don’t have to worry about getting your hands messy trying to rip off a piece.

JAMU Spa Organics – Island Fruits Massage, Body & Hair Oil: I’ve discovered a love for massage oils. I don’t think I ever used a massage oil before this, but the hydrating feeling in the dry winter weather was just amazing. I loved the subtle sweet scent of the oil, which wafted up here and there when applying. The one thing is that the bottle starts to get a little oily on the outside after awhile, you should be careful where you put it (and wipe it down after use).

HollyBeth Organics Luxury Skincare – Rose Geranium Face Moisturizer: This is the thickest face moisturizer I’ve ever used. Kind of waxy, almost. It felt weird at first putting something so dense on my face, but it hydrated well and kept my skin from drying out. Excellent for colder months, but I’d switch to a lighter cream for the summer months.

AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® Intensive Night Cream

laelene Posted in reviews，Tags: aveeno, cats, free stuff, influenster, opinion, pictures, products, reviews, skincare, voxbox

27 April 2013

My very first Influenster VoxBox was this lovely AVEENO Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream, which I’m loving!

influenster voxbox with aveeno positively radiant intensive night cream and eye mask

It even came with a matching eye mask! How cute and considerate.

Just a quick background: Influenster is a site where you share your opinions and get to help influence brands. They send out VoxBoxes, which are filled with FREE products that they send out based on the brands’ target audience. We, as the members of Influenster, get to try out products and give feedback to the brands. If you want more information, their About page covers it pretty well. Want to join? Just let me know and I’ll invite you! 🙂

Ok, so back to the product that has changed my nighttime routine and improved how my skin feels when I wake up. To be honest, when I first got the complimentary product to try, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to notice any results. A night cream’s just something you put on your face so it doesn’t dry, right? Well, happily, I can report that I’ve felt so great that I’ve used it every night (which is no small feat for me, since I usually forget to use skincare products).

Let’s review some facts about AVEENO Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream:

“The AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® Intensive Night Cream, formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex and vitamin B3, helps to reduce the appearance of discoloration, uneven tone and blotchiness, revealing healthier-looking skin.”

~Contains a proven concentration of ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex boosted with vitamin B3 to help visibly diminish the appearance of dullness, blotchiness and brown spots

~Oil-free, hydrating formula penetrates deep within skin’s surface while you sleep revealing an even, more radiant complexion

~In a clinical study, women saw improvement in tone and discoloration

~Gentle enough for everyday use

AVEENO Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream addresses the 5 factors of radiance (tone, dullness, brown spots, texture, blotchiness) to brighten tired and dull-looking skin.

Upon opening the night cream, I got a whiff of a really nice, subtle scent. It’s a little bit sweet and very fresh, which I love. The cream is a nice consistency that’s rich and thick but not clumpy. It smooths on really well and leaves your skin feeling softer and hydrated. When I apply it right after washing my face, I get a little warming, tingling sensation that makes me feel like the product is really working on my skin. Maybe that’s the Active Naturals Total Soy Complex doing its thing!

I’m really fascinated by this product because it’s the first time I’ve seen a skincare product with soy as an active ingredient. I’ve heard of the health benefits from consuming soy and soy products, but I hadn’t ever considered it for skincare. In my search to learn more about it, I found an article from LiveStrong detailing how soy is great for combination skin (hey that’s me!) and evening out skin tone. There’s even a portion about reversing skin damage, which touches on blotchiness and discoloration. Totally lines up with what the AVEENO Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream is meant to do for us!

The morning after my first night using my new night cream, I was surprised at how refreshed my skin felt! Usually my face feels grimy or oily in the morning, but the night cream worked some magic to prevent that from happening. Since it’s oil-free, it is great for oily skin and not only does it not make your skin feel more greasy, it somehow manages to reduce the oil your face produces. Amazing! Overall I do feel like my skin has improved and my appearance is more radiant, though I suck at pinpointing exactly what improved. I’d love to say my skin tone and texture improved, but truthfully, I don’t even know what that means. All I can say is that my skin feels much better in the mornings now and that’s all that matters. 😛 Also, I love how the tub will last me a really long time too – I’ve used it every night and barely made a dent!

If you want to get in on the conversation about AVEENO Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream, just jump on your favorite social media channel and use #RadiantWithAVEENO, or search for it to see what others are saying.

applying aveeno positively radiant night cream with cat

I apply Aveeno Positively Radiant Night Cream “war paint” to battle dullness as my cat Missy shows me how positively radiant she is. 🙂

Blissmobox: Fair Trade Favorites II

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blissmobox, chocolate, coffee, eco-friendly, food, green, health, lip balm, pictures, products, review, shea butter, snack bar, snacks, soap

19 April 2013

Another belated review, but Blissmo sometimes offers old boxes up so hopefully this will come in useful! The options were Pantry Picks, Fair Trade Favorites II, or Skin ‘n’ Hair Care (which I had gotten in a previous month).

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for september's blissmobox: pantry picks, fair trade favorites ii, or skin 'n' hair care

The three choices for the September blissmobox.

This was my September 2012 box and I chose the Fair Trade Favorites option since their original Fair Trade box seemed to have been well-received, plus I totally wanted to discover more Fair Trade products!

Hand in Hand shea butter soap, Orange Blossom – I thought this was totally adorable and amazing! The packaging is really nice and I’d never heard of shea butter soap before, so that was intriguing. These are made in Vermont from vegetable-based ingredients – they’re biodegradable and cruelty-free! This is one of those brands that gives a product each time one is sold (like Tom’s shoes or other similar buy a soap give a soap brands). The orange blossom scent sounded amazing, but I found that it was too light for my liking. It almost felt like a scentless soap, so this is being used in the kitchen since I like fresher smells when washing my hands there.

Eli’s Earth bars, Dream Big – This lovely bar was just fasntastic. Yummy, yummy! I gobbled it right up and wanted more, which is funny because I’m not really a fan of peanuts or peanut butter. Yet, the way they made this was very tasty without being overly “peanuty” so it’s an excellent treat to have in lieu of Snickers/Milky Way/Mars Bars sort of junk food. Plus, they support children in need and who doesn’t want to help children?

Akoma Skincare raw shea butter, Shea Million – I was pretty excited when I saw this. I hear shea butter and I think all kinds of wonderful things. However, since this is a raw shea butter with no scent, I got to really smell shea and I found I don’t really like it. I love how it melts with your body heat, which is pretty fun. I’m saving this to either gift to someone or use for when my hands need some extra loving.

Green Mountain Coffee grinds, Signature Vermont Country Blend – I personally do not drink coffee, but I was still glad to see this because my future brother-in-law is pretty obsessed and I knew he could appreciate a nice blend. I gave it to him for his birthday and heard back not long after that it was very tasty! If his discerning taste buds give the stamp of approval, I’m sure most coffee-lovers out there would enjoy it too.

EcoLips Organic Hemp lip balm, Vanilla – I’ve gotta say, I’m not sure how I feel about hemp. In middle school it was like a buzz word for drugs or something, but then by college I saw getting those hemp bracelets without qualms. Why is there a bit of a negative connotation around that word? I mean hemp itself isn’t anything bad, right? I was a little hesitant to try this since I didn’t want to numb my lips or something (no idea why I would think that). It’s really just like any other lip balm though, with a nice sweet vanilla scent and it glides on quite well.

LÄRABAR fruit & nut bar, Chocolate Chip Brownie & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough – Oh my, these are dense! I thought the small size would not be enough, but just one piece and I was feeling full. They sure to pack it in there! Both flavors were quite good and if I worked out, I’d totally be stocking up on these to eat after a workout. For now my life is too sedentary to need a “power bar” sort of thing like this.

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

Ultra hydrated hair

laelene Posted in reviews，Tags: conditioner, garnier, hair care, hair treatment, hydra recharge, pictures, products, review, shampoo

03 April 2013

When I first got this set of Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge shampoo, conditioner, and “moisture-plenish” treatment to try for free, I didn’t think much of it. I was pretty excited to get them as part of a BzzAgent campaign, but I figured it’d just be a nice way to replenish my hair care supply. Little did I know that I’d be completely wowed by the results!

Let’s start with the basics: the Hydra Recharge line uses superfruits like goji berry, passion fruit, and kiwi – all of which fascinate me! I was really curious about what the combination might smell like and I’m happy to report that it’s wonderful. If you want to understand it too, you’ll just have to pick up a bottle for yourself and give it a whiff next time you’re in the store. This line is meant for dry to normal hair, to make your hair weightlessly silky and hydrated. The shampoo has these cool beads in them that burst as you rub it in your hair – this is the first time I’ve seen this in a shampoo!

The first thing I noticed when I got the set was the new cap design. I used to struggle with the old Garnier bottles, which had the small round nub to push on. Very cool design, but hard to use when my hands were slippery. With this new cap, I don’t have the problem anymore! It is very easy to open and close no matter how wet your hands may be. They managed to keep the aesthetic appeal of the ball yet improve functionality – bravo! Ok, now that you understand the facts, let’s discuss how these products performed.

I’ve been using this haircare regimen for four weeks now and I’m still pleased with the way my hair has responded. The first couple of days I immediately noticed my hair felt much, much silkier. It was so much fun to swish it around! I tried to capture the newfound glossiness, but my camera didn’t seem to pick it up very well. Once I got more used to the shine my hair had gained, I remembered that the results were supposed to last two days. I hadn’t really gotten a chance to test that since I was showering daily, but when I did skip a day here and there, it definitely held up. My hair tends to get very oily very fast if I don’t shower on a daily basis, so this was really good news!

Then came the real test – I was going on a flight and whenever I do, I always get uncomfortably dry, static-y hair. Would my newly hydrated locks hold up to this kind of pressure? My plane ride was a cross-country ordeal that lasted 5 1/2 hours and (did you guess it?) my hair came out just fine! It was amazing. This had never happened before. Now I’m just sad I couldn’t bring my new regimen with me, because I’m going to be here awhile.

Even nearly a month in, I’m pleased to say that my hair hasn’t gotten “tired” of the shampoo like it has with some previous products. You know that feeling, right? You get a new product that works great at first but then your body gets used to it or something and performance goes on a steep decline… this is what happened to me with Proactiv. Happily, I can report that Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge has continued to perform well. I might just need to get a set to use in my new location.

Yuzen September 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body wipes, eco-friendly, energy chews, facial creams, facial masks, facial wipes, food, green, hand cream, health, mints, pictures, products, review, skincare, snacks, yuzen

06 March 2013

Alright, I know I’m totally late to the game with this one, but I still want to put it out there for posterity. It’s still useful to go through the treats that came in previous Yuzen boxes and who knows, maybe you’re looking for a review of a specific product that was included.

[Update: the collage below was featured on Yuzen’s Facebook page! How exciting. :)]

collage of unwrapping of september 2012 yuzen box

Even my cat was eager to check out the box this time!

I got so excited to try out this box that I completely forgot to take a shot of all the products together! Oh well…

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Cowgirl Skincare – Ranch Hand Cream: My very first reaction to this was of stunned surprise, because the packaging is the exact kind I was looking to use for a product I was working on launching (different dimensions though). What a coincidence! I was happy to get another Cowgirl product, after enjoying the cleanser that had come in the previous Yuzen box. When I first opened this, the flower pattern was just too pretty to ruin! I let it sit around for a couple of weeks as I used up my current solid lotion and then I couldn’t resist anymore. Now this is my go-to lotion whenever my hands feel dry from too much washing. It’s wonderfully hydrating and really fun to apply.

St. Claire’s Organics – Spearmints: I wasn’t expecting brown mints when I opened the tin, so that was kind of cool. It makes these mints feel more natural, as if they’re straight from the earth. I also love the quote inside the tin, which is totally random. The mints themselves are great and not only taste good, but have a good texture. If I ever need more mints, I’d definitely look at St. Claire’s. It’ll probably take me ages to get through just this tin though! I love that Yuzen started adding discount codes so you can save when you do decide to buy more.

La Fresh – Instant Body Soother, Oil-Free Face Cleanser, Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover, & Waterproof Makeup Remover: Wow, wow, WOW! I mean, I am just in love with La Fresh. I had heard of them, was intrigued, but couldn’t make the plunge. Thank you Yuzen for completely converting me into a fan. I was amazed at how effective the nail polish remover was (and how wonderful it smells) – all without acetone! The face cleanser was lightly scented and very soothing. My skin felt so good afterwards I didn’t even apply lotion. The body soother is a great refresher to your skin after a workout or time out in the sun. Its peppermint scent is totally relaxing too. Finally, the makeup remover was gentle and effective for the one time I’ve used makeup since I got it! Thank goodness I had that wipe, so I didn’t have to wash my face multiple times or rub my eyes like crazy. I’ve since bought a ton of things from La Fresh, taking advantage of their free shipping for orders over $50 and 10% discount code for first-timers (8LFFSW5)!

Pangea Organics – Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask & Nigerian Ginger with Lavender & Thyme Facial Cream: Ok, I admit, the hype around this brand has intimidated me. So much so that I have actually yet to open these bottles to try! I just want to really enjoy them and right now I’ve got all this facial stuff that I want to use first. I promise I will try them and update, if you ever come back again… I have tried another product that I got in a later Yuzen box, which I like so far.

Honey Stinger – Pomegranate Passion organic energy chews: These gummies are fun! I’ve got to be careful not to treat them like normal candy, or else I might just down the entire bag. I think this is a great way to get energy, especially since I don’t drink coffee or energy drinks. I haven’t gotten to test how effective the energy boost is though, so that has yet to be seen. At least the taste and texture is good! The energy boost wouldn’t be worth it if they weren’t.

Slick razor upgrade

laelene Posted in reviews，Tags: bzzagent, free stuff, opinion, pictures, products, razors, review, schick, schick hydro silk

03 March 2013

I’ve used a Venus razor since I started shaving some 12-13 years ago. I don’t shave often, so those first couple of replacement heads that came with the handle have lasted me all this time. While I have supplemented my shaving with a few disposable razors and whatnot when I was at hotels, I’ve pretty much been a one-brand gal. Enter the Schick Hydro Silk razor, which I was given to try (for free!) as part of a BzzAgent campaign.

With five blades spaced pretty close together, you get a very close shave and I was actually able to navigate my knees and ankles without fear of nicking myself! They have a strip of “moisture serum” that is supposed to sort of melt from the heat of your shower, but I didn’t really notice it coming off to hydrate my skin. Still, my legs didn’t feel dry so it must have worked, right? Also nice is a little suction cup hanger so you can keep your razor within reach, yet out of the way in your shower.

After trying the Schick Hydro Silk razor, I definitely have a very positive impression of Schick. Prior to this, I hadn’t really known much about the brand or thought of it as highly as I did Gillette, but now that I’ve experienced one of their products, I’d put them on par with Gillette. In fact, they might just be my go-to brand for my shaving needs now. That will be determined as I continue to put their razor to the test over the next few years!

An experiment in meatless

laelene Posted in reviews，Tags: food, pictures, products, review

07 February 2013

I got involved with BzzAgent towards the end of last year and recently started getting some offers through it! It’s been pretty exciting and I wanted to share my first FREE product: MorningStar Farms veggie burgers. I was sent a coupon for a free box and I opted for a very delicious-looking Grillers Chick’n Veggie Patties. Since my mom was home, it took me awhile to finally getting around to cooking for myself and it turned out great!

I made a quick and easy stir fry with two Grillers Chick’n patties, some bean sprouts, and some wood ears (so very Chinese of me). I liked that the packaging was split up into two separate plastic bags so I don’t have to worry about the other two patties getting frosty. When I first opened the plastic bag, the smell of the patties made my mouth water! It doesn’t really need any extra seasoning at all. When I got to cutting, I realized that I probably needed a sharper knife since I got a bit of mush as the patty defrosted. Apparently butter knives don’t cut it (haha).

So here’s my oh so simple recipe, Chinese style (aka no exact measurements)…

Ingredients:

1-2 MorningStar Farms Veggie Patties in the flavor of your choice (depends on your appetite – one is plenty for lunch and two is great for dinner or to share)

2 handfuls of veggies chopped up and ready to stir fry

1 dollop of soy sauce (if you must add some stronger flavor)

Instructions:

1. Chop up the patties & veggies into bite-size pieces.

2. Heat up a wok or stir fry pan and dump in all ingredients.

3. Stir around so nothing burns and turn down heat low if needed.

4. After stirring for awhile, throw on the extra sauce as desired.

5. Turn off burner and enjoy with rice, rice porridge, or alone!

Yup, and that’s how cooking goes in my household. It came out pretty well, though with the strong flavor, I didn’t need the soy sauce. I definitely want to try it as a burger next time. You should give it a try sometime too! 🙂

Blissmobox: Anniversary special

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blissmobox, eco-friendly, food, green, health, home, pictures, products, review, snacks

16 November 2012

Ah, the anniversary box. This is what got me into this whole subscription box thing – a fateful email that I received telling me that if I subscribed for a year, I’d get free shipping on the boxes AND a bonus 13th special edition box.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months – as you can see, they used to offer an annual subscription but that is gone) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

I just couldn’t resist so I decided to sign up for a subscription. Here’s what ultimately came in that anniversary box:

Not pictured: ecover dishwasher tablets

Peeled Snacks gently dried fruit, Apple-2-the-core – I’m not usually a huge fan of apples, but I ate these up pretty fast! I love that they’re just apples, plain and simple. They’re slightly sweet and so light that they’re really the perfect snack when you want a little something but don’t want too much sugar.

All Terrain insect repellent, Herbal Armor spray – As you can see, it comes out a rich milky white, but rubs on clear. There’s a strong herbal, almost medicinal scent that’s sure to keep bugs away. Maybe I just haven’t used it enough to loosen up the nozzle, but it always comes out more liquidy than misty for me.

Bayes water filtration bottle, blissmo branded – This is a fun water bottle with filter built into the cap. The nice thing is when you’re on the go, you just put tap water in and by the time it reaches your lips, the water has been filtered for you. That way you can bring an empty bottle wherever you go and just get water from any restroom sink. Or if you’re particularly impatient, you don’t have to wait and watch as the water trickles through your normal filter – just start gulping!

eco logical skin care sunscreen, for body – I didn’t realize it at first, but this product was actually on my “to try someday” list after I learned about it through Daily Grommet. I’m looking forward to using it on my day out or vacation since I don’t really get much sun otherwise. I haven’t opened it yet since I want to preserve it until I’m ready to use it, but I’d imagine its consistency to be something like toothpaste.

Neutrogena Naturals skincare, multi-vitamin nourishing night cream – I’ve been using this every night after I shower. It’s definitely a thick, creamy face cream that hydrates my skin. I also love the light, slightly sweet smell it has, which is soothing and relaxing. I had no idea that Neutrogena had a new line of natural products, so it was cool to be introduced to that and hopefully they’ll expand the line to take over the original products eventually.

ecover natural cleaning products, automatic dishwasher tablets – I don’t actually use the dishwasher to wash dishes, so I’m still trying to figure out what to do with these samples. I guess I could use the dishwasher just to try them out, but I’m not sure I even know how to operate the thing. Maybe I’ll just try dissolving them into the water I use to wash the dishes.

Overall this was a random box with no real theme, but it provided a nice introduction to more eco-friendly products in many categories.

Blissmobox: Skin ‘n’ Hair Care

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, blissmobox, eco-friendly, green, health, pictures, products, review

23 October 2012

Ready for the belated August blissmobox low-down? Here goes! The options for that month were Skin ‘n’ Hair Care, Lunchbox Snacks, or Pristine & Clean.

the choices for august's blissmobox: skin'n'hair care, lunchbox snacks, or pristine & clean

The three choices for the August blissmobox.

Since I had just gotten a box of snacks and I wasn’t particularly interested in excuses for cleaning, the beauty box was perfect! When I opened the box, I was greeted by a sampling of items for just about any skincare need, ranging from practical to pampering.

Wellinhand Action Remedies, Therapy Oil – The most practical of them all, this little oil is great for all kinds of skin conditions ranging from cuts and burns to soreness and pain. I haven’t really had any skin conditions that I can test it out on, but the soothing herbal scent with a slight hint of sweetness already indicates to me it has some of the healing properties of herbs. I almost didn’t see the sample when I was looking at the info sheet, so it would have been nice if there had been a more decent size included.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Pumpkin Renew Cream, Unscented – This is a rich and creamy face and neck cream that is gentle and soothing. It has a thicker consistency than a lot of other moisturizers and even feels a a bit elastic. It’s really nice! I also love that the pumpkins they use come from their very own garden (or so it says).

Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion, Comforting Vanilla & Sweet Orange – Can you say YUMMY?! The combination of the sweet and citrus elements in this lotion remind me of a delicious orange cupcake! It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling whenever I put it on and it’s almost like getting a dose of comfort food.

Giovanni Eco Chic Hair Care, Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Ultra-Sleek Shampoo – This shampoo has a really nice smell that I think is something like macadamia nut? I can’t quite pinpoint it, but it’s familiar and nutty. The shampoo is pretty runny as you can see, but it’s also creamy and rich. I love the subtle sweet scent that lingers and makes using this shampoo feel like a luxurious experience!

La Fresh eco-beauty, Instant Body Soother – I wasn’t too sure what to do with a “body soother” at first, but then I discovered that it is PERFECT for after a workout. The minty smell gets deep in your lungs to really refresh while it cools and soothes your skin! It’s downright pampering. 😉 These moist towelettes are just moist enough to gently clean away some of the grime on your skin, yet aren’t so wet that you have to wait for the residue to evaporate. La Fresh is really water-conscious in how they produce their products, which I totally love!

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

Yuzen August 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: almonds, beauty, eco-friendly, face cleansers, food, green, healing balm, health, home, nuts, pictures, products, review, skincare, snacks, soap, sunscreen, tea, yuzen

08 October 2012

Wondering about the second Yuzen box? Never fear! I’m here to show you what came in it and give you the low-down on each item. This time around, the color scheme was yellow and there were six fantastic brands included.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – Lemon Verbena All Purpose Soap Bar: As I was opening the box, I got a hint of this soap bar’s clean scent wafting up. It’s a huge full-size bar that will last me a LONG time! The wrapping was a nice smooth texture and it wasn’t glued too strongly together, so opening the packaging was actually a pleasant experience. I’d heard great things about Mrs. Meyer’s products, so I was pretty happy to get a chance to try it out. The soap suds nicely and gently cleans your entire body.

Cowgirl Skincare – Desert Recovery Cleanser: This is a fun new brand I hadn’t encountered before! The smell of the face wash is soothing and slightly sweet – maybe rose? It’s perfect for washing away whatever managed to accumulate on your face and doesn’t strip your skin of moisture. It’s meant for dry, aging, or sensitive skin but it’s useful for any type of skin. The container reminds me of elixirs from a Western (or maybe it’s just because their name is Cowgirl :-P). Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, anyone?

Organic India – Tulsi Original, Lemon Ginger, Sweet Rose, & Sleep teas: I enjoyed each one of these Tulsi teas! I’ve never heard of Tulsi before, so I was definitely intrigued by this “holy basil of India” that is incorporated in Ayurvedic practices. It’s apparently popular as an herbal remedy and has both general health and medicinal values.

It didn’t taste much different to me than normal teas, so it’d be easy to substitute them in while still enjoying the taste of tea, yet getting the added (healing) benefits of tulsi. With a name meaning “the incomparable one” how could you not give it a whirl too?

Coola Suncare – Cucumber Mineral Sunscreen for Face: Haha! Funny that just like the first Yuzen box, I happen to already use one of the products included. This is that particular product from this box and I’m more than happy for another! In fact, I happen to have one at Panda’s and one at my parents’ now so I can protect my face wherever “home” is. The cucumber scent is so relaxing and the sunscreen absorbs into the skin well, with no greasy layer to worry about. It’s perfect for your face and hands. Don’t forget to apply it to your neck too, if it’ll be exposed!

Olomomo Nut Co – Chai Bliss Almonds: Oh yum! Talk about wonderfully fragrant and oh so delicious. These almonds are covered in a sweet layer of vanilla and cardamom flavoring that is just delightful. I don’t normally like to eat nuts, but if they all came like this, I could definitely incorporate them into my routine! Plus, who doesn’t want a product made with love? (See ingredient list, hehe.)

Tilvee – Calendula & Comfrey Healing Balm: WOW. Not only do I love the usefulness of this product, it smells wonderful too! I can hardly get enough of it. It’s basically what you’d put on for anything adverse that happens to your skin, whether it be cuts and scrapes, rashes or sunburn, even plain old dry patches! Not long after getting it, I actually got a scratch and I applied it until my skin healed. Worked great, though it’s not meant for eliminating scars. Still, my skin would have scarred horribly had it not been for this healing balm. I’m obsessed and I use it on just about all skin conditions that ail me. Oh, and I absolutely love that it comes in stick form for easy application and ultimate portability!

First Prev 30 31 32 33 34 Next Last

((little fat notebook))

Yuzen October 2012 edition

AVEENO® POSITIVELY RADIANT® Intensive Night Cream

Blissmobox: Fair Trade Favorites II

Ultra hydrated hair

Yuzen September 2012 edition

Slick razor upgrade

An experiment in meatless

Blissmobox: Anniversary special

Blissmobox: Skin ‘n’ Hair Care

Yuzen August 2012 edition

Follow Me! :)

laelene

Categories

Top Posts & Pages

Recent Posts