Friday, November 30, 2012

Review: Biosilk Silk Therapy Hair Serum

I came across Biosilk Silk Therapy Hair Serum in my local Walmart. I accidentally misread the pricing, thinking the larger bottle was only $12.99. Unfortunately it rang up for $23.00 and change, however when I first spotted it, I tried some in the store as a trial and fell in love with it. The reason being, was that the serum did not just absorb and fade away instantly, instead, during the entire duration of my shopping trip, my hair felt smoother and silkier than it ever had before.

I went ahead and bought it at the high price, and honestly I do not regret the purchase at all.

First I want to cover the scent, this was a huge contributing factor to my purchase.

Biosilk, Silk Therapy Hair Serum has a beautiful scent, which is more like a high end musk. It's refreshing, light, powdery and for me, it was simply dreamy. What I loved about this scent though, was that once the smallest amount was added to my hair, the scent would shine on throughout the entire day. It was like perfume for my hair, and the smallest breeze or shift of my hair would make its presence known.

I have been using the serum daily, and it never weighs down, or leaves my hair looking or feeling greasy. The texture of the serum at first leads you to believe that you will be left with greasy hair due to how oily it feels, but it does not leave your hair oily at all. Instead you are left with silky, manageable, soft and healthy looking shiny hair.

The effect does not wear off though, with daily use I have already seen an improvement in my hairs overall texture and health.

This serum does not just stop there though, if you read the fine print, it states that it could also be used on the skin. I personally will not put it on my face, but I put it on my legs and arms and the results are fantastic. It leaves my skin smooth, moisturized and feeling 10 times softer than normal. The scent is also one to die for, and I do not need to use any form of perfume when I apply this to my skin. It lasts, and lasts and just leaves you feeling clean and refreshed.

Overall:

I suggest buying this one from a reputable store, and not online as a lot of people have complained that sellers online have been selling fake serum. You will not be saving yourself any money by ordering something that is not legit. When it comes to this particular serum, I would suggest the little extra splurge, you will be glad you did.

Review: Hoss Sauce Ultra Dark Black Ultimatum 296XXX Maxxx Extreme Bronzing Lotion

Every year before summer months pop up, I start up my yearly tanning routine. Over the years I have learned that tanning lotion can really take your tan from decent, to bronze goddess. Others however fall short, so much so that you may as well have taken your money and flushed it down the toilet.

I came across Hoss Sauce Ultra Dark Black Ultimatum 296XXX Maxxx Extreme Bronzing Lotion while searching for a new tanning bed bronzer online, and this new lotion promised to take my tan up a notch to levels of darkness I have yet to see.

It all sounded like the tanning lotion I was looking for, but the price was steep. $68 plus tax for lotion? Ouch!

I have to be honest here though, if I did not have a ton of unused gift card for Amazon, I would have never blown that kind of money on it. However, I knew it if worked my tan the way it promised it would, I would be a repeat customer.

The Scent:

In the past I have used many tanning lotions, some smell fantastic, while others leave you wanting to plug your nose whole you lay in the tanning bed.

When it came to Hoss Sauce Ultra Dark Black Ultimatum 296XXX Maxxx Extreme Bronzing Lotion, the scent was not at all bothersome. There is a very mild cherry chocolate like mix going on, but once it absorbs in the skin the scent is gone.

The Results:

I already had a pretty good tan going on before trying this lotion; or so I thought I did. Hoss Sauce Ultra Dark Black Ultimatum 296XXX Maxxx Extreme Bronzing Lotion, literally took my tan from nice, to an extreme bronze level that I truly never thought was achievable. I could see the difference after just one tanning session using the lotion. I knew from there I would be hooked.

Results After Showering:

Many tanning lotions that contain bronzers will leave you looking gorgeously bronzed, however many of them are temporary false impressions of how your skin will remain. What I mean by that is, as soon as you shower you can literally watch the bronzer run down the drain. Granted you are still tan, you just are not as tan as you thought you would be.

I hoped when it came to Hoss Sauce Ultra Dark Black Ultimatum 296XXX Maxxx Extreme Bronzing Lotion that the bronzer would actually stay on my skin after showering.

When I showered, the lotion did not wash off, I was still the glorious bronze color I was when I stepped out of the salon.

Overall:

If you think you have a good tan going on now, you have not seen anything till you try this lotion. I look like I was on vacation in Barbados, and am 100% happy with my purchase. Even with the high price tag slapped on to this one, I would still recommend it, and I will continue to buy it once I run out.

Review: Method Pure Naked Moisturizing Body Wash, Olive Leaf with Aloe Vera

Whenever I run out of body wash I tend to buy something new every time. It is very rare for me to find a wash that I will go back to again and again, and that is simply because I enjoy new scents while showering.

When I came across Method Pure Naked Moisturizing Body Wash, Olive Leaf with Aloe Vera for just $4.99 for a large sized bottle, I figured I would go ahead and give it a try. You see the scent test in the store managed to win me over, as this one smelled just like one of my favorite perfume's, Elizabeth Ardens Green Tea.

For those whom have never smelled that perfume, basically Method Pure Naked Moisturizing Body Wash, Olive Leaf with Aloe Vera, smells like a mouthwatering iced tea beverage, with a very, very subtle hint of refreshing mint. The scent is calming, yet uplifting all in one.

I hoped that once I used it in the shower, that this mouth watering scent would last, and remain the same.

My Use:

I squeezed out some of the body wash onto my bath puff. The color is a cloudy white, with a semi runny consistency, so you have to be careful not to squeeze too hard or a lot of it will just go to waste.

The Lather:

The lather here is decent, but the suds are not long lasting, or very silky or creamy like other body washes I have used. However even with a mediocre lather, you get more than enough bubbles to work with, and the wash definitely leaves your skin feeling moisturized and pampered while using it.

What I liked most though was how nice the smell was, and how the scent never changed or weakened when in the water.

After Showering:

Unfortunately the scent does not stick to your skin and last once you dry off from the shower. It does however leave skin feeling very clean, refreshed and moisturized. This effect is long lasting, which is nice. I would have liked the scent to stay though.

Overall:

Method Pure Naked Moisturizing Body Wash, Olive Leaf with Aloe Vera, delivers a wonderful in shower experience, and although the scent does not stay with you, the feeling of clean, refreshed, and moisturized skin does.

For me it is a very good alternative to those high priced washes, where you get barely nothing in the bottle

Review: Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm

Normally I would not spend over $14.00 on hair products such as shampoo or conditioner, but more recently I have been on the prowl for products that actually work, and I do not care what thrifty shoppers tell you...spending less is usually better. For me, that's never been the case. Spending more has always delivered a higher end result, and that was what my hair needed.

With non-stop dying, straightening, and at home straightening hair kits, my hair began to really dry up, and become damaged. The low end product were not making the cut anymore, so I splurged a little on a $23.00 tub of Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm.

The scent was what captivated me first and foremost. Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm had a gorgeous clean scent with a very nice powdery like musk going on. A scent I would associate with a fine perfume fragrance, and one I hoped would remain in my hair after using it.

The consistency of the conditioner in the large plastic tub also looked thick and creamy, and with past experience with textures this thick, I knew a little would go a long way, and that it would work well; similar to what I find in small conditioner tubes that come in hair dye kits.

My Use:

I shampooed my hair using a standard shampoo as shampoo has never really done anything all that great for me, so I stick to low priced ones, seeing that I need them to just cleanse my hair.

After rinsing, I applied a good amount of Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm to my wet locks, and let it sit in a saturate the hair for around 5 minutes before rinsing.

In the shower after rinsing my hair felt smooth, silky and very clean. I hoped though that it would dry feeling this way. You never really know what to expect till you dry the hair anyway, so I couldn't judge it based off of how nice it felt wet.

Dry Hair:

Once my hair dried, I did notice a very significant difference. My hair was smoother, and silkier, and just easier to manage and style. The dry ends were no longer present and frizz was significantly less as well.

After the second use, my hair felt brand new. I use this with a dab of Biosilk, Silk Therapy, and my hair is like new.

The nice scent however does not stick around. That was OK though, it did what I needed it to do, and that was all that mattered.

Overall:

Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm promised to rejuvenate dry damaged hair, and this stuff literally does exactly what it promises. For me, it was totally worth the extra money I spent.

Review: Kiss Nail Dress Strips

For months I have been buying Sally Hansen's Nail Polish Strips, and as much as I loved the long lasting results, I also was patiently awaiting for a competitor company to come up with something comparable, that worked just as well. Only, without the high price tag.

Finally the day arrived when I came across a package of Kiss Nail Dress Strips for just $4.99. It promised fashion that would stick, and I hoped it would, because if it didn't I was back to spending nearly $10.00 on Sally Hansen's Strips.

These new strips were low priced, looked much nicer, and promised to last for up to 10 days.

Kiss Nail Dress, is not actual nail polish strips though, so I worried about how they would stay on, if they would even stay on that is. I had used other cheap brands before that were pure garbage, I was hoping these would be better.

I went with a style called Garter, which is a zebra stripe pattern of black and white, with gorgeous little rhinestones added to every strip. I worried about these rhinestones falling off.

Application:

Once I had my new set of nail strips, I did not waste any time. I cleaned my nails, buffed them and got to work.

Applying these strips is very easy, they peel off and press on with ease.After applying these strips it seriously looked as if I had been pampered at the nail salon.

I have no stopped getting compliments since applying them, and most people are amazed that my nails are my real nails, as they are so nicely done, they look like unreal.

Last:

I am happy to report that 2 weeks later, above and beyond the 10 day promise, my nail strips are still in place, and not a single rhinestone has fallen off, which has impressed even me. I was not expecting these to work this well, especially considering the price.

I have enough left in the box to apply them again, possibly even a third time. They give you 28, but on shorter nails, you can cut them in half, and use one strip for 2 nails.

Overall:

Sally Hansen does not make any strips with gems set in them, nor do they offer their product for a lower price. Kiss is bound to knock them off the shelves, and they already have a huge selection of styles to choose from. I could not recommend them more.

Review: SunlessPro Tanning Bronzer Spray by VersaSpa

I have used numerous amounts of sunless sprays, lotions, serums, and even those nasty little wet cloths that promise to tan your skin. While some worked well, others left me looking like an Oompa Loompa, with nasty orange tints that were embarrassing, and not to mention a waste of money.

I was a diehard fan of ProTan, which I needed to apply using an applicator brush. It worked well, but sadly the results were not long lived, and after just one shower, I would watch my nice tan literally melt from my body and wash down the drain.

The reason I was on the hunt for something new was due to the fact that ProTan was not delivering the long lasting results I wanted. I got tired of the daily applications.

Now normally my budget when it comes to tanning supplies is usually under $25.00, however due to a bunch of left over money in my Amazon account, I went on the search for the best, and this was how I came up with SunlessPro Tanning Bronzer Spray by VersaSpa.

Normally I do not like spray products when it comes to tanning, but it had such good reviews I figured I would take the dive and splurge on the $35.00 spray. I know it seemed like a lot of money, but besides delivering a bronze tan, it also promised to firm my skin, tone it, repair it, slim it, tighten it, and lastly aide in overall smoothness.

It all seemed like a lot of good benefits, but my main concern was of course, how well it would really work.

Application:

SunlessPro Tanning Bronzer Spray by VersaSpa is a mist, and sprays out in an endless stream as such. At first I sprayed it too close which did not result in a streak free tan, however I took direction and sprayed about 8 inches away and got the best streak free, dark bronze, non orange tan I have ever gotten from a sunless product.

The scent is also not a bad one, nor does it leave skin smelling rancid like most tanning lotions do. I allowed it to dry, which only took a few seconds, then put my clothes back on. It did not dye my clothes, which was another major plus.

Mostly though what I loved about it was how natural my tan looked, how dark my results were without looking like a fake spray tan, and how it did not wash away when showering.

I apply this stuff after my normal tanning sessions at the salon, and achieve such a nice dark bronze color that I get asked constantly if I got back from vacation.

Overall:

This is the holy grail in sunless tanning sprays. The price is higher than most, but the results speak for itself. A total win in my opinion. I have officially replaced ProTan with SunlessPro Tanning Bronzer Spray by VersaSpa, and am glad I did.

Review: Toma's Tan Self Tanning Airbrush Spray

Last month I picked up a can of SunlessPro on Amazon. As much as I loved the deep dark tan results, I knew I could not be spending $40.00 a pop whenever I ran out of it, so I began searching for a sunless tanning spray that would give me good results, but without the steep price. This is basically how I came across Toma's Tan Self Tanning Airbrush Spray.

The reviews on the spray seemed decent, and the price even more so. Just $14.99 for a 7 ounce can. It stated it would deliver continuous spray, even when held upside down. I was hoping for the streak free, orange-less tan everyone else was raving about.

But...here is what I got:

Perhaps I spoiled myself with a $40 can of Sunless Pro, because when it came to Toma's Tan Self Tanning Airbrush Spray, I was not at all that impressed.

First and foremost, the spray nozzle does in fact deliver continuous spray, held at any angle. Oh happy day! The issue however is that the nozzle sprays too much formula out at once, in too thick of a stream. Not only that, but it sprays large brown dots out onto your skin that is not airbrush like at all, and you are forced to use your hand to rub the small dots into the skin otherwise you will look like you just sprayed on a bunch of freckles or moles.

The application out of the spray can was not at all even for me, even when held away from my body 12"-14"as stated.

With that issue aside, my next concern was how it would dry, and how the results as far as color looked.

The plus is, that Toma's Tan Self Tanning Airbrush Spray does in fact dry fast, and the color was thankfully streak free. However in comparison to my high end brand, this low end spray actually did make my skin look a few hues more orange than it normally would be.

The plus however is that it is not Oompa Loompa orange, just a small little hue of it, but not a bad one in the least.

It's not the bronze color however that everyone raved about, at least not on my skin tone, which was very bronze to begin with.

Overall:

Toma's Tan Self Tanning Airbrush Spray is just OK in my opinion. It does not deliver the best bronze coloring I have seen come out of other spray tan cans, and it does leave you slightly tinted with a small hue of orange. The nozzle does not spray out evenly in an airbrush quality, it comes streaming out too fast, and with too much formula associated with it, so a lot ends up on the floor.

However, if you already go to a tanning salon, this does make for an OK in between color restoration till you can get back to the salon. For the low price, it is not bad, but could use work.

I'd rate it 3 stars out of 5, because with the cons aside, it does deliver streak free color.

Review: As Seen On TV, All Star Magic Mesh Instant Screen Door

At the office when the summer months approach and weather begins to warm up, we like leaving our front door open in order to let in the nice weather, and catch a nice breeze for when it's slightly windy. The issue we have had though, year after year was that with wind comes leaves, and with the door wide open bugs flew in like they were invited to a VIP party.

When I came across All Star Magic Mesh Instant Screen Door, I figured this would be the solution to our age old issue.

What Is All Star Magic Mesh Instant Screen Door?

It is nothing more than a basic screen lining, with magnets attached to it to open and close it. The kit comes with Velcro pieces for you to adhere around the door to allow the mesh to stay up and in place.

Set up was actually very simple, and all seemed to be working perfectly the very first day we installed the mesh liner to the front door. We figured it was the answer to our problems, and went about business as usual.

However, day 2 was when we realized what a waste of money this entire thing was.

You see on day 2 we had a little wind, and this was when we needed this mesh door to really work its magic at keeping leaves from blowing in.

Unfortunately with the smallest gust of wind, the magnets come apart from one another and the mesh doors just swing around freely letting in leaves and bugs, and of course whatever else feels like blowing in.

The main issue is the magnet strength, and All Star Magic Mesh Instant Screen Door barely has any.

The next issue came about likely due to the wind. The seams are fraying, and large pieces of string are coming undone from the sides.

Overall:

All in all, the All Star Magic Mesh Instant Screen Door is a waste if money, which is just a shame because if executed properly this really could have worked. The quality is very cheap, and with the magnets barely holding on to one another during just one small gust of wind, the entire thing is just a waste. It will only work on calm, windless days.

Review: Super Pet Playtime Activity Center for Parakeets and Cockatiels

This past weekend while browsing my local pet store for flea medication for my dogs, I fell in love with the sweetest baby Black Capped Conure. At just 6 months old, he weighs in at just under 4 ounces and knowing a bit about these birds, I knew that he would require a ton of toys and things to keep him busy while I could not entertain him.

I came across the Super Pet Playtime Activity Center for Parakeets and Cockatiels. I knew that he was tiony enough to use this set, as he was not even as big as a cockatiel yet. The playtime center looked like it would be a lot of fun. You could either set it up on a desktop, or you could hang it with the included chain.

What Is It?

The center is designed to look like a fun tree, with branches that attach to the trunk. Each branch clicks into place, and you can decide how you want to add the extras, such as the colorful play chains, the forging box, the rope, the bouncing bird head, and the food and water dishes.

Before getting into how well Charlie liked it, I wanted to go over the pros and cons of this play set for your small bird.

Cons:


-The tree seems flimsy, very flimsy, and even with Charlie being a small baby bird, I noticed when he moved about the set, it would wobble quite a bit. The small leaf tree branches that I added were very flimsy.

-The chain that hooks to the top of the play set and the top green disc does not allow for it to hang in a balanced manner, so I could not even hang it up with the top piece on as shown on the box. I had to leave that extra piece off. In fact, there is really no use for it seeing that it does not balance out properly.

Pros:

-Charlie loves the play set, even though it seems to be constructed of flimsy plastic materials.

-You can add other pod toys and accessories. I got him the pod attachment that allows him to play basketball, although he does not really play basketball he does enjoy swishing the ball around. Sadly the ball eventually got chewed off.

-My bird will sit on the highest perch, and just hang out there while I go about my business. It keeps him busy, and entertained.

Overall:


We like it. The bird likes it, and that is all that matters really. I do wish it was made more sturdily that way he could have used it as he grows. However due to the wobbly nature of the set, I know once he starts growing a little, it would be impossible for him to play on it.

For now though, it works. I would not recommend this play set however, to owners with birds larger than 5 ounces.

Review: Estee Lauder Pure Color Sequin Finish Gloss- in Fuschia Vibes

I have never been one to actively seek out lip glosses, but with my birthday passing I ended up with a bunch of higher end goodies from friends who know I love Estee Lauder. In fact, Estee Lauder is one of the only cosmetic companies that I will actually purchases glosses from due to the color, shine, and last.

When I saw a friend wearing this sparkling gorgeous lip color, I had to know what it was. She did not know the name off hand, but instead the next time I saw her she had 2 colors for me for my birthday, my favorite of course being the one I initially fell in love with that she had on.

The interesting thing about it was that when I saw it on her lips, I had no idea it was a gloss, that is seriously how vibrant and bold the color was. It easily passes as a lipstick. Heck, the color was even more vibrant and pretty than what you would find in a lipstick to be honest.

The Color:

It is called Estee Lauder Pure Color Sequin Finish Gloss- in Fuschia Vibes, and the color in the tube is a really bright and pretty dark pink, with dustings of violet. Simply put, it's a bright, vibrant, bouncy fun color. On lips though, the color is taken up a few notches, and looks even better on the lips, than in the tube, which happens once upon a never.

The Texture:

This is where I found a con. I absolutely hated the texture of this lip gloss. I could feel it, and that is one thing about lipstick that I like, I use CoverGirl, and love the fact that once it is on, I do not feel it at all. It's as if I have on nothing at all.

This is the one thing I hate most about glosses, it is very hard, if not impossible, to find one that actually does not feel like you are wearing it.

When it came to Estee Lauder Pure Color Sequin Finish Gloss- Fuschia Vibes, I could feel it, and it was not a pleasant feeling. It starts of slightly greasy feeling, with an icky tackiness that I hated. Over time, as it dries it becomes more obvious that it is there, as your lips will stick slightly together.

The texture I can overlook though due to how pretty the color actually is. Although it has got to be, hands down the biggest con associated with this gloss.

The Last:


Estee Lauder Pure Color Sequin Finish Gloss- Fuschia Vibes, lasts and lasts, which is a big pro, besides the lovely color.

I was able to detect the shade on my lips for about 4 hours before I wanted a touch up. I could have gone longer, but I did not like how dry my lips were feeling by this time.

For a gloss, 4 hours is pretty dang good.

Overall:

4 out of 5 stars. I had to take one star off due to the nasty texture of this gloss. The price is high as well, at $22.50 a pop. It is worth it though, a gloss that delivers the boldest color you'd ever seen come from a gloss or a lipstick.

This one will not be around long, so if you are at all interested, but one while you can.

Review: It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask Conditioner

For the past few months I have been a diehard fan of Biosilk Shampoo and Conditioner. The stuff is pricey don't get me wrong, but I found that the extra cost was so worth the results I was getting.

When I ran out of my usual stock, I initially went to the store looking to re-stock. However they had no conditioner in inventory, so I was forced to try something else.

I figured why not try something a little expensive, like my Biosilk, maybe it would work the same luxurious wonders if I spent a little more. This was how I came across It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask Conditioner.
I bought both the shampoo and conditioner, but up on today's chopping block is the conditioner, which comes in a plastic tub.

Everything about the conditioner screamed high end, but when I popped the top and inhaled the scent, I was a little skeptical.

The scent was very familiar, it reminded me a lot of what Pantene's deep conditioning masks smelled like. Fresh and inviting, but definitely done before. I hoped that this $20.00 conditioning mask gave me better results than Pantene's low priced hair masks do.

I went ahead and bought it though based solely off of the big boasting promises that were written right on the container. It said it would fix my brittle hair, detangle, soften, smooth, and a whole laundry list of other beneficial things it would do for my locks. I felt more confident with my purchase now. I was a happy little consumer!

Unfortunately, my results were not even close to what the promises included.

For starters, after using the shampoo, my hair felt very, very dry with a slick like brittleness I hoped the conditioner would ease.

Instead though, after applying a very nice amount of it, and letting it sit in my hair for a full 10 minutes, I rinsed, and my hair felt unwashed!

I did yet one more quick swipe of the conditioner to my wet hair hoping it would do something as far as making my hair feel as if it were clean. Sadly, no such luck.

I got out of the shower and allowed my hair to air dry. I was hoping that even though my hair did not feel silky and smooth after rinsing, that it would perhaps dry nicely. The results here were also equally disappointing.

My hair was left feeling very dry, beyond brittle, and just very straw like as if it took on a new sickly dead texture.

Now one positive about the conditioner was that it did leave my hair a heck of a lot shinier than usual. However, it was not worth the added shine. Not when my hair was left feeling like dried up garbage.

Overall:


It's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask Conditioner is a total waste of money. I learned my lesson, and will never cheat on my Biosilk again.

Review: It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo

After discovering that the store did not have my usual brand of shampoo and conditioner in stock, I was forced to pick up something new. As much as I love and rely on my normal brand, I was actually very excited to try out something new for size.

I went ahead and spent more money than I initially planned to, and hoped that the extra money spent would show in the results.

I ended up spending $21.99 on a bottle of It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo. I also picked up the conditioner, but today I wanted to solely review the shampoo.

The main reason I even went with this new brand was because the shampoo won my heart over in the scent department. I was very disappointed that they did not match this scent up to the conditioner, as the conditioner smelled like cheap generic garbage.

At any rate, as far as the shampoo went, it was like heaven when it came to the fragrance. It had a lovely spicy and herbal scent. One that is even difficult to describe. If you are a fan of Lush products, than you will love the hippie like scent that It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo gives off.

The sad part about it however is that the scent does not stay with you once you dry your hair.

But that is not the saddest part. The saddest part about It's A 10 Miracle Moisture Shampoo, is that when you rinse it out, it leaves your hair feeling so dry and tangled that you best pray you have a good conditioner to repair this dry textured feeling.

If you pair it with It's A 10 Conditioner, you can forget about having nice hair till the next time you shower.

I actually had to pair this shampoo up with Biosilk afterward in order to bring my hair back to it's usual silky and soft texture.

Overall:

The nice smell is not worth it. The scent is short lived, and vanishes the second you rinse it out. If you are going to buy it, try to get the one that includes Keratin, it might work better for you. However this particular shampoo, will just leave your hair feeling parched, and unless you have an expensive intensive conditioner to pair it up with, do not even bother.

InvisiLift: Does It Work?

I have been going to red light therapy sessions at a local salon, the red light therapy is supposed to be beneficial to all sorts of skin issues, ranging from cellulite to stretch marks. I loved red light therapy, but noticed that it seemed to target my body more than it did my face. On a quest to keep my skin looking its best for the lowest price available, I began to research. This was how I learned about InvisiLift, a non invasive facelift. According to magazine and the Internet, it is all the rage right now in Hollywood, with A-Lister's swearing by it.

After seeking out a doctor who could preform the treatments, I went ahead and scheduled my very first non invasive facelift.

The Procedure:

You must make sure you wash your face off all dirt and makeup before going in for your treatment. I mean wash it, and wash it good.

After that your InvisiLift tech will ask you a bunch of questions, such as why you are here, what areas would you really like them to target, and the normal routine allergy questions.

I had a chicken pock scar on my cheek that I wanted to smooth out, and of course some fine lines near my eyes that I hoped would go away with the treatment.

Next you lay down and the doctor will apply a cool jelly to your face. They will not work on your forehead though due to the issue that it could leave you with a migraine or bad headache.

I was OK with this, I needed just my cheeks, chin and under eye areas done anyway.

Once the gel is on, the doctor will then use circular like motions on one side of your face, for about 15 minutes before moving on to the other side of your face.

They allowed me to see a side by side difference before working on the other half of my face.

Results:

It was definitely lifted, my cheekbones looked higher, smoother and so refreshed!

After working on the second side, the doctor will then begin on the other half again. He or she will repeat this back and forth from one side to the other side of your face at least 3 times before your treatment is done.

How Does It Look Finished?

My face seriously looked as if it had been lifted up higher, my skin was tighter, clean, soft, and felt like brand new skin.

I was in love with the results and amazed that after just one session there was such a significant change in my skins overall texture.

My chicken pock scar still remained, however it was a lot softer and more supple looking in that area that the doctor worked on the most.

Fine lines near my eyes were literally a thing of the past.

Second Treatment Results:

I scheduled a second treatment a month later, as I was told it would really help with my scar. The second treatment nearly washed the entire pock mark away. It is however still there, but it is not as deep and obvious to me anymore.

I am scheduling one last treatment this month, with high hopes that this final treatment will smooth out the pock mark completely.

Overall:

It works and it works well. I guarantee you will see significant changes in your skin in just one session, and a big improvement with more treatments after that.

Some claim it is not a facelift, but I beg to differ. You cannot tell me what it is, when my results are so obvious. Your skin glows after an InvisiLift treatment, and it is relaxing and non invasive.

It is totally worth getting a session done, than blowing money on wrinkle creams and serums that will not ever give you the results you could get with one treatment. I recommend this to anyone who has issues with their skin, whether it be sagging skin, wrinkles, scars, fine lines or even discolorations.

Review: Bordello Teeze Rhinestone Turquoise Satin Platform Heels

I'm a huge collector of Bordello shoes, and when their recent Rhinestone Collection hit the internet, I did not hesitate to order them. I've been a fan for years and the shoes I have ordered in the past have never disappointed. I expected the same delightful high quality shoes when it came to the new collection.

I ordered a pair of Bordello Teeze Rhinestone Turquoise Satin Platform Heels with a jaw dropping price tag attached to them of $145.00. Now when one buys a pair of heels that expensive, they expect nothing but the finest quality.

Here is What I Really Got:

The shoes are gorgeous, the turquoise color represented on photographs found online are the exact match I received. The shoes glisten in sunlight and yes they draw in attention. The company was even nice enough to go ahead and add a small bag of loose turquoise rhinestones for you to affix if any of them came off. That is nice, but also a sure sign that they are aware that rhinestones would fall off. This would not have been an issue had they affixed the rhinestones through the satin using those claw rhinestone gem setters. It could have been done, and for this price it should have been done,

Instead they glued them to the material and plopped on a ridiculously high price tag.

The unfortunate thing about these gorgeous shoes was that out of the box one rhinestone had already fallen off. Upon further inspection, 5 other rhinestones toward the bottom were hanging on by a thin thread of glue. I had to remove them and set them back in place myself.

This is definitely not something you should have to do with a brand new pair of heels.

Besides loose rhinestones out of the box, while observing the shoes, I noted that many of the stones were not set in place properly, and you could see the darker stain of the glue in the material, where a stone should have been placed, but was not placed on top of it, instead it was placed sloppily near it, leaving ugly gaps randomly about the shoes.

I nit picked that though, it is not recognizable when they are on your feet, however at this price, a shoe like that would be considered a defect, which is how I feel about them overall.

I then found another major issue attached with the shoes. The heels pad at the bottom literally slid right out. They did not even bother to glue them in, had I not caught this issue I would have lost the entire bottom heel pad rendering the shoes unwearable, or wearable till I damaged the shaft due to walking.

Now I can understand a loose rhinestone here and there, considering the fact that they only glued them on to the satin, but seriously, the heel pad falling out and I did not even put them on yet! What a joke!

I do not know if Bordello is using a cheaper company to construct their shoes, but the quality has diminished significantly. I would have slowly managed to purchase every color they had available, but not after seeing how poorly they were done.

Overall:

Hideously disappointing. Being a fan of Bordello, I am truly shocked with how poorly these were made. Disgusted that I had to fix the heel pad before getting the chance to wear them. I will not be purchasing another pair of their rhinestone heels, as I imagine they will all be made just as quickly, carelessly and poorly as my first pair was.

Review: Clean and Clear Advantage, Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser

I had seen the non-stop commercials for a new product called Clean and Clear Advantage, Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser, that promised that I'd get all day shine free skin. Like most, it sounded too good to be true, but seeing how my skin is extra shiny in the hotter summer months, I was willing to go ahead and give it a try.

Finding Clean and Clear Advantage, Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser did not come hard, at my local Target it was located right on the out isle featuring a bunch of other products that I could use in conjunction with this cleanser.

I skipped on the whole kit, as acne is not at all my issue. It was the shine I was looking to kick.

My Use:

I wet my face, and applied a generous amount of the cleanser to wet skin, and rubbed it in. The cleanser definitely suds up nicely with a creamy lather left behind. The scent is refreshing, but not very perfumed as I find in most other cleansers and scrubs.

After drying up, my face felt nice, refreshed and clean. I was disappointed to find that they use salicylic acid in the cleanser, as this actually dries out my skin, thus creating more oil.

Results:

I applied my makeup as part of my usual morning routine, and simply went about my business while checking on my face ever half hour or so.

At the first half hour check, my skin was still shine free. I was happy, normally I have to blot every half hour to keep my skin looking clean and shine free.

By the time an hour went by, my skin was still surprisingly refreshed looking, with not a trace of oil.

Hour 3 was when I started noticing shine. The plus was that it was a very insignificant amount, but enough for me to need to powder.

Overall:


Clean and Clear Advantage, Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser will not keep your face shine free all day long, but it does in fact work well enough. If you have just a minimal amount of shine to your skin this may work longer, but if it is an excessive amount, than it will work only a minimal effect.

The thing I liked though was that throughout the day I only needed to blot a few times, and very sparingly. All in all, the cleanser is decent, but not terrific.

Better Than Sally Hansen? Nail Rock Nail Polish Strips

I have been a huge fan of Sally Hansen's nail polish stickers since they first hit the market. As much as I loved them though, I couldn't justify the price. Nearly $10.00!

I came across some $8.00 brands that worked like garbage. I kicked myself for steering away from Sally Hansen's brand. More recently though, I discovered a super cheap brand called Nail Rock, and the price was a mere $5.00. Not to mention the fact that Nail Rock actually offers nicer designs than Sally Hansen does.

I was hesitant to buying them because they were so cheap, and the last time I bought a lower priced wrap, I got low priced results. However, Nail Rock would literally save me half the cost of my usual brand if they worked well. I went ahead and bought them with the cutest USA flag design, and hoped they worked.

Application:


Nail Rock Wraps are a lot thicker compared to Sally Hansen's wraps, but their colors are bolder, brighter, and just all around better looking. They are applied basically the exact same way any nail wrap is applied, the plus about them however is that if you do not use them all, you can store them and use them at a later date. You couldn't do this with other nail polish wraps, which will dry out once exposed to air.

You clean the nail, buff it, and then peel the nail wrap off of the sheet it comes on. Simply place it down on top of your nail and press it. You remove the excess overhang of the nail wrap by simply filing it off in a downward motion.

In order to have them last longer than 10 days, you can add a clear top coat to the wrap.

Overall:


Nail Rock works way better than Sally Hansen's nail polish wraps, and they last just as long if you continue to apply clear coat to the top of it every 5 days. I have had them on for 15 days now, with just some minor wear to the tips. No lifting, peeling, or issues since putting them on.

All in all, this was so worth the money, they are cheaper than the leading brand, and work better than the leading brand. I couldn't recommend them more.

Where To Buy:

I found these at Walmart, but they can also be found online.

Review: Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300 Elliptical

I had been wanting an elliptical for months due to friends and family ranting and raving about how effective the machine was at targeting just about every muscle in your body, and with summer months quickly approaching I figured I could use some toning in certain areas.

I knew that I did not want to spend thousands of dollars on one, nor did I want to join a gym as my schedule makes it too much of a hassle to really go home after work, get dressed for the gym, work out and go home and shower. Instead I settled on a decent low budget elliptical. That was basically how I ended up with Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300 Elliptical.

This particular model was only available online, so I had no idea what I was getting into. I based everything off of consumer reviews, and although this particular elliptical has mixed reviews, I had to take the plunge and see for myself just how well it worked, and how effective it would be for me. Less than $400, and a week later I had my gigantic box delivered.

Before getting into putting the exercise equipment together, let me go over a few of the perks that sold me on this model.

Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300 Elliptical has a 14 inch stride, which is not a whole lot of stride, but it is relatively basic to elliptical machines. It states that the stride is adjustable, but I was not at all able to figure out how that feature works, and I have had the machine for over a month now.

The elliptical also has a heart rate monitor, 8 workouts to choose from (or you can just go as you would), the machine claims to have silent magnetic resistance, and resistance options from no resistance, to a lot.

Set Up:

I played no part in the set up, by my boyfriend had it up and running in about an hour. He stated that it was not hard getting together at all.

My Use:

Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300 Elliptical worked beautifully for the first week of use. I enjoyed hour long workouts, while watching netflix on my iPad, which just made the time go by easily. The noise level was not a bother at all, and sounded as silent as a new bicycle. The LCD monitor was bright and easy to see, and the elliptical just seemed like the dream machine I had always wanted.

I was even noticing a difference in my waist and legs after just a week of daily use. I was using it for 1 hour per day consecutively.

A Week Later:

Now do not get me wrong, Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300 Elliptical still works perfectly for a workout, but after just a week of daily use the machines supposed silent magnetic whatever- went from noise free to a frigging racket. It clicks, squeaks, and truly takes a lot of the enjoyment out of working out. I did not know something as simple as a clicking noise could be so bothersome to me while working out, but it is.

I had my boyfriend look at it, and oil up some of the parts, but after testing it for himself he was able to find that the noise was coming from the inner part of the elliptical, and he did not want to mess with it as this part was pre-built by the factory.

UPDATE* A month later the noise stopped all together. Thank God, because it had grown very irritating during that time period.


The second annoyance with this elliptical was the LCD screen. It was lighter and harder to see the numbers on it while working out. Granted I could still see it, it was much lighter and for those with bad eyes, it would easily become a major issue for them.

I figured that the batteries may have needed to be changed, but this did not help the issue. There are days when I use it when the LCD is vivid and easy to see, and other days where it is hard to see anything. It is very give or take, and you never know what the LCD screen will do on any given day.

For me though, it's not a deal killer, as I use other GPS devices to track my distances.

Overall:


Even with the issues, I still love the workout. It is easy, and fun, which is very hard to find when it comes to equipment. I like it and continue to go back to it. The best thing about it though are the results, it quickly tones legs, butt, arms, and even the tummy. I like it, it feels like a full body workout and the results show.

Review: Glades, Maple Pumpkin Room Spray

Although I love the summer season, I long for the crispness of fall when I get tired of the heat and steam of hot muggy days. When browsing my local super center I was not at all expecting to find fall scents this early, but when I spotted a nice collection of fall inspired scents for the home, I smiled knowing my favorite season was just around the corner. Then I plopped every single fall scent into my shopping cart without hesitation.

One of the room sprays I picked up was by Glade, in a scent called Maple Pumpkin. This room spray is part of their limited edition fall collection, and I was glad to have gotten hold of it so early.

Appearance:

Maple Pumpkin spray comes in a standard aluminum can, but Glade decked it out nicely to give it an old farm charm look. The can itself is a burnt orange, with cute little accents of pumpkins, and pumpkin pie. It has this grandma's bakery vibe going on, and it was what caused me to eye ball it first.

The Scent:


This is where Glade wins me over. I even prefer it over Febreze's Pumpkin Harvest room spray. Glades, Maple Pumpkin spray smells just as it is named. First you are blasted with a lovely warm and sugary maple syrup scent, which then begin to mellow out, leaving you with a gorgeous cinnamon spiced pumpkin pie fragrance.

Together the scents swirl creating a near perfect replica of a pie baking in the oven. For me though, I loved how it was able to take my mind from summer to fall instantaneously and lift my spirits.

Last:

I never expect room sprays to last very long, because I have yet to come across one that manages to really stick around. When it comes to Glade, Maple Pumpkin Spray, the scent does manage to linger for quite some time. It is no record breaker though, but the scent will linger just long enough for you to enjoy it.

All in all, you get about 25 minutes of scent that will linger till you no longer detect it anymore.

Overall:


If you are a lover of fall fragrances, Glade, Maple Pumpkin Spray will not disappoint. It delivers the perfect touch of pumpkin, spice, and everything nice.

Where To Buy:


At this time, this early on in the game, I have only spotted these fall fragrances at Walmart. Get them while you can, as they are limited editions, and will not be around for long.

Review: Glade's Autumn Harvest Room Spray

Glade has granted my wishes, and released a collection of fall inspired room sprays early! I was not expecting to find fall fragrances this early on, and when I came across a bunch of them, I grabbed them all!

Autumn Harvest was one of 2 fragrances I came across in the Glade Fall Collection. It caught my eye due to the old rustic charm that the can had. This particular scent comes in a brown colored can, with a tan strip running around it. It features a basket of pumpkins and squash, and is advertised as being a rustic scent. Smoky, woodsy, and mellow.

The Scent:

Glade's Autumn Harvest Room Spray smelled exactly as Glade descried it on the can. The initial thought I was left with after smelling it, was that nice smell that gets stuck onto your clothing after sitting in front of a campfire. However, that is not the only scent that I picked up. Autumn Harvest also gives off very mellow undertones of pumpkin with a beautiful woodsy cinnamon scent that is unlike any other cinnamon fragrance I have yet to come across.

It has a semi masculine marking to its scent, which I love. Men and women alike will enjoy this one.

It is definitely unique to the market, and sure to become a fan favorite.

The Last:


Many room sprays do not last very long, but Glade's Autumn Harvest packs a semi fair last. All in all I was able to detect the scent in my large room for up to 20 minutes before it no longer lingered.

It's not the longest lasting room spray in the world, but this is pretty average when it comes to last.

Overall:


Autumn Harvest Room Spray is such a nice scent, that I think they could bottle this one up as a unisex perfume/cologne.

The last is average, but the scent you get is spectacular and unique to any other room spray. It captures the essence of not just the fall season, but also that small change over from fall to winter, when fires in the home are roaring.

Where To Buy:

Walmart has this scent stocked up early on their shelves. Check it out now, and if you like it, stock up, because it is a limited edition and once they are gone, you might not come across them again so easily.

Review of Frebreze Limited Edition Pumpkin Harvest Air Effects

Do not confuse this years 2012 release of Febreze Pumpkin Harvest with last years 2011 fall release of Pumpkin Harvest & Fall. Although the 2 come in similar colored cans, there is a big difference here. Febreze axed the fall, and gave us just Pumpkin Harvest this year, and frankly this was an awesome move on their part!

With that said, let me go over exactly what this new scent entails.

It comes in an orange aluminum can, as all Air Effects sprays do, this one however on closer inspection feature pumpkin drawings that make up the majority of the can.

The Scent:


Last years edition smelled far too spicy, and lacked in the whole pumpkin department. This years rendition is the perfect mix of pumpkin lovers heaven. The scent is that of fresh baking pumpkin pie, with a delicious warm spicy undertone of cinnamon and cream. However the cinnamon scent does not overwhelm the pumpkin, as it did in their last release of Pumpkin Harvest & Fall.

What you get from this sweet number is a perfect slam dunk of pumpkin pie fragrance.

The Last:

Febreze Pumpkin Harvest packs a powerful last, and I was able to detect it for up to a half hour before it fizzled out. What I love about this one though, is that if you spray it in one room, the scent will slowly trickle out of that room into the nearest room. Basically a little goes a long way, and it stays around for quite some time.

Overall:

Febreze has won me over yet again. I had always been a fan, but since last seasons epic fall fail, I steered away from them.

I am glad they finally managed to do a pumpkin scent right, the freshness that always used to be undertone in their fragrances in the past was nice of course, but it was overdone, and it ruined the authenticity of the fragrance they were trying to replicate. It seems they finally removed that ingredient and delivered nothing but the real deal.

Where To Buy:

It may be a bit early to want to flood your home with fall scents, but if you are a lover of these types of fragrances you will be happy to know that Walmart has released them early. This one is a limited edition, so get them while you can!

Review of Febreze Special Edition Sandalwood & Sooth Air Effects

Febreze is always trying new things, and it is why I keep coming back to them time and time again. Every season they deliver a collection of limited edition fragrances for the home, and now, more recently I came across a Special Edition fragrance. I'd never before seen anything from their Special Edition collection, so I imagine this is something new.

The particular scent I came across was Sandalwood & Soothe.

The can of Sandalwood & Soothe itself is even done up in a more 'special' way, with a neat photo of wood that spirals around the aluminum can, giving it this fancy vibe. The fanciness of course cost a wee bit more than the usual cans of Febreze Air Effects. I didn't mind spending the extra bit of change though, I figured it would be worth it.

The Scent:

Sandalwood & Soothe is not necessarily the woodsy scent one would expect on first initial sniff test. The fragrance is definitely not unique, as it smells like Bath & Body Works Sensual Amber. Granted it is far from a bad smell, it has just been done before.

The scent for me is very feminine, even though it comes in a masculine looking can. Something even a manly man wouldn't be embarrassed having around. However the girl frills pour out of this one, and you cannot help but think of rainbows and butterflies in a dusky meadow of peace, while the sun sets after a storm.

The must scent is that of amber, and once that settles down a little, you start to smell what smells like perfumed hamster cedarwood chips, but still, it is very feminine, as the musk tends to just steal the entire show.

The Last:


Sandalwood & Soothe packs some last to it, but it's an average last of around 20 minutes, which is usual for any room spray.

Overall:


All in all, the scent is nice, gorgeous even, but to have to spend a little more on this so-called Special Edition, I feel as if it should have packed more last, and a scent that was unique to anything else on the market. This is a scent that has been done before, only slapped onto the label a different name.

Overall:


I like it, I would probably buy it again, I just would have liked more from the special edition.

Where To Buy:


Walmart has this scent stocked now, I am not sure if the special editions will be limited or not, but if you are interested, that is where I found mine.

Review of Bath and Body Works, Sweet Pea Instant Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel

I cannot lie, I do not use anti-bacterial hand gels all that often. However when I am given a freebie, I keep it on hand at my desk and use it occasionally. I have used Bath and Body Works sanitizers in the past, but their price has always kept me from coming back for stock refills.

I was given a small pocket sized one as a party favor recently, and naturally I was happy about it. The perfect little size for my purse.

Sweet Pea has never been a favorite of mine when it came to Bath and Body Works rendition of the scent. I had always found the scent to be too sweet, and overwhelming, which in turn would actually make me nauseous.

When it comes to this hand sanitizer gel though, the scent is the same, sweet and overpowering, but the thing I like about it is that the scent does not stick around all day long like their lotion does. The scent is there, it's strong, and then soon after drying it is gone.

If you lift your hands to your nose, you can smell it there, but it is a very light scent, and I do not know anyone who sits there sniffing their hands all day.

The gel is runny, like any hand sanitizer, but what I like about this one in comparison to others is that there is no sticky residue left behind. Your hands are left soft and clean feeling.

Inside of the sanitizer you will see small blue/purple colored beads. When you squeeze the gel out of the tube, not a whole lot of them come along with the gel, however the ones that do, instantly dissolve when you rub your hands together.

Overall:

Bath and Body Works, Sweet Pea Instant Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel gets the job done, my hands feel clean, refreshed, and knowing they are germ free is comforting.

I probably would not buy this one, and if I was to buy a sanitizer, I likely would pass on this particular fragrance just because I know their are others out there that have a nicer scent.

All in all though, it is not bad, and if you like the scent of Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea, you will like this one.