Friday, January 27, 2017

jawbone Up3 Review



5/5 STARS *****



I want to start off by saying that, NO-this is not a verified review because I purchased it off another site. But I was shocked at how low the reviews were on here. I wish I would have purchased it from amazon because it is MUCH CHEAPER! Watch my video-and read what I think. it might give you some more insight!

I am not being paid or compensated what so ever for these written words (my opinion) or the video.

This is an excellent tracker. I purchased it because I was in desperate need of motivation to MOVE. I love that it has a "duel" component in the app-HUGE MOTIVATOR. It is easy to charge. It is easy to put on and take off. YOU CAN WEAR IT IN THE SHOWER! HELLO! and it isn't big and chunky like some "others". It vibrates for reminders you might want, or alerts. It will stay charged for a full week-and doesn't take long to fully charge. I really wanted something simple-and I found it. So much so- I have convinced my roommate to buy one (before he does his own research of course. hahaha).

Helpful hints: (A lot of this came from this great article)
-Wear on your non-dominant hand.
-Watch youtube videos for the best way to put it on your wrist.
-There are actually two different UP apps in the App Store and Google Play, it's clear which one to download for your specific tracker, but they both offer a similar set of features and functions.
-PAIR IT WITH YOUR OTHER FITNESS APPS!
-Pair it with your dog's tracker! Sounds silly-but think about the motivation! (hint-but an active dog!)
-***Keep it tight*** (not too tight)-I wear mine closest to my elbow with bracelettes above it. You want to make sure the sensors are touching the skin at all times.
-I've heard some people wear it around their ankle-especially if you are working in an environment where you use your arms a lot (I'm thinking a teacher/mover/delivery
--Keep the orginal packaging in case you do need to return it or exchange it. Makes it so much easier.
-Even though you can take it in the shower- the warranty will not cover water damage-so maybe don't take that risk.

I compared it to the bella beat and it tracks my steps more accurately (using my iphone as a calibrator).

Hope this helps!


One North Beauty Kailijumei Original Lipstick with Infused Flower Inside...



4.5/5**** STARS 
Wish the mirror was better!

I decided to purhase this lipstick because it has been buzzing all over social media! I wanted to try it out!

So what is it? It is a new lipstick created by the brand Kailijumei. It is clear in the tube with gold flakes, jelly and a tiny flower.  It constains candelila resin, cocoa butter, beeswax and lavendar oil. 

Pros: Great Packaging! It comes in a box with a small plastic protector. Most likely will not be damaged during shipping. 
It has a unique way of opening it. You push on the red bottom, and it pops out!
The color changes slightly- you can see this in the video I posted-it slowly starts to change- but not dramatically. 
It keeps my lips very moist. 
It has a very light tint. 

Cons: 
The mirror is not clear. ****REASON FOR 4.5 STARS**** (Makes me wonder if this is counterfit?) 
The name "flame red" isn't really accurate. It is more of a pinkish color. 


I would purchase this again to try in other colors. However I am a little concerned about the cost. After doing a little digging the brand has been sold out for a while and they sell it for $30. So this cost makes me wonder if it is the real thing... thoughts? Would love for a comment from the seller and or manufacturer.  

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

the sun is also a star



 *****5

Thrilled it will be turned into a movie!

This was an impulse buy! HA I read somewhere it was good-so I bought it!
Did not realize it was young adult. But that is OK. It was a quick read. And I kind of got giddy remembering some of those teen feelings.
But in all seriousness- I don't care how OLD you are or if you are left or right. It is an amazing book. It touches on some very deep themes, by giving you a glimpse into the lives of several different characters. The two main characters are Natasha (her and her family being deported) and Daniel (2nd best Korean son) both living in New York City. The majority of the book takes place in once day. I don't want to give a lot away-but I feel like Yoon used the theme of teen romance to bring on some big topics-like life, dealth, family dynamics, immigration and racism. Fabulously done.

In my video I read the opening inspiring quotes and one "chapter"-Daniel, and one Natasha.
"Chapters" : This book isn't really chapters. It switches from each person's perspective 1-2 pages. Another great reason I love this book-it is unconventional and shows young adults a different way writing style.

PS- I sobbed uncontrollably at the end!!!



Wordle created from other reviews on amazon




detangle brush beauty by earth


*****5 Stars!

I am giving this 5 stars because (as you can see from the video!) IT WORKS! NO PAIN! And best of all it doesn't take forever. I have always been skeptical about detangling brushes-but I love this one!.

The bristles are strong enough to get through my thick coarse hair without damage! Other brushes I have tried (ya know the sleek curvy plastic ones) HURT and BREAK my hair.

Love that it is designed with sustainability in mind. Its oval base is made from 100% Bamboo – a very sustainable plant. With a long, easy to grab bamboo handle, it’s comfortable to use and easy to maneuver.

I HAVE THROWN AWAY -yes that is right- my other brushes. Check out my video and my pics. The pics-one side with brush was used-other side not-pretty obvious :)

I recommend this brush if you have issues with tangles-or if you have a little one who has a sensitive head!

I was NOT compensated for this review! Just check out my profile on why I believe honest reviews are so important!

 

BBE Boar Bristle Brush



*****5 Stars!

I purchased this brush because I have been shampooing my hair less often- and I want my hair to look shiny and smooth! (View my video for specifics about why I have been shampooing less often.)

This is a great brush! I have purchased Boar brushes before. What I didn't like about previous brushes: too expensive, not easy to handle, and they only skimmed the top layer of my hair.

I love this brush because: it is within my price range, makes my hair shiny and smooth without adding a product to my hair, very easy to handle and thanks to the nylon bristles being longer than the board bristles- I can section my hair into four parts and it glides right through.

The first time I used this brush was on the video- I felt like I needed to untangle my hair with another brush because my hair was such a hot mess. On the website of this particular company it does say to get those tangles out first! I can say that when I used it- I didn't encounter new tangles and that is due to the nylon bristles.

Very, very, very important! Use this on DRY HAIR! Your hair is much more likely to break or have damage when it is brushed wet. Dry-not so much. Once your hair is dry and NOT tangled- you can use this brush from the roots-down. In the video I didn't do that- but after reading the company website-it makes sense. The whole purpose of brushing/combing from bottom up-is to prevent breakage. But the purpose of this brush is to spread your natural oils from the roots all over.

I highly recommend this product! Very pleased!!

 

Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Short Snippet!

This is a short snippet of my favorite tanner, Beauty By Earth Self Tanner Safe and Effective Natural Sunless Tanning with Organic Ingredients.

Purchase it here!



I wish I could leave a review on amazon...but no :( I got this great email from Beauty by Earth after I received the lotion:

Hello Sarah,
I wanted to check in quickly to make sure your Self Tanner arrived, and that you're happy so far. 
Before you get started with using it, we wanted to provide you some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of it and maintain your tan.
Here are some notes on Beauty by Earth Self Tanner application for you:
1) Patch test a spot in an inconspicuous area to see the color expectation. Tan will develop within approximately 4 hours.
2) It's always good to exfoliate the area you will be tanning prior to tanning. It will extend the life of the tan.
3) If you have just shaved the area being tanned, give it a few hours so that the pores don't take in extra product.
4) Wearing latex gloves to apply the product helps avoid streaking and keeps your hands from absorbing extra product. We also just launched a self tanner applicator kit for easy application - it includes an exfoliating mitt, body applicator mitt and face applicator. If you are interested it can be found on Amazon here.
5) Apply less product to areas that are more porous, such as your knees, ankles, elbows, feet and hands. You can also apply moisturizer to these areas beforehand to achieve a more even color.
6) Wash your hands after application.
7) Moisturize daily after tanning.
Your tan should last you 3-5 days. Simply reapply tanner every 4-5 days to maintain the tan.
We have attached an info-graphic with this information and would be glad to answer any questions you may have.
We would love to hear back from you as to whether you've received our product or not. And if you have any questions on its use, we would be glad to help! 

Thanks,
Danielle
Beauty by Earth




#ad



Friday, January 6, 2017

Beauty By Earth Part I Self Tanning



Beauty by Earth 

Video Coming Soon! Waiting on my order to arrive! 

Part 1: The Self Tanning Lotion: Application/Pros/Cons/Tips



**** 5/5 Stars EXCEPTIONAL


I fell in with Beauty by Earth when I was being compensated for reviews by trying their products. The first product I tried was their Self Tanner purchased on Dec. 31st, 2015. Do you have a life? It was New Year's Eve! Yes! I ordered it in the AM not PM. 

In my lifetime, I have probably tried well over 30 different types of self tanners. THIS is my favorite of all time! Sure-you got a huge promotion code! Was it free? No- it was 75% off. BUT WHO CARES?! I now buy it at cost on the Beauty by Earth website and Amazon! And have been reordering them AT COST! I love it! I have probably gone through about 5 bottles in a year. 

Amazon removed my review of this Self Tanner because of their new Terms of Service concerning promotions and reviews. I've learned a lot in a year when it comes to using this product. So I am excited to make a how-to video for you once UPS shows up! I'm exfoliated and ready to go! But in the meantime-read on! 

Amazon Prime Member? Buy it from them on Amazon.


psst...subscribe and save 15% or check out their offers for ordering multiple products!


The second I start to run low on this product-I order another one! Now I have it on subscribe and save with Amazon. (But also ordered Same Day because I NEED IT!) If I go a week-2 weeks without reapplying people assume I am sick because I look pale-they are use to me looking dark. When it is on-I get so many compliments from the girl at Sams, "You are so pretty. Like, oh my god, you really are! Do lay by the pool all day?" to friends, "When did you go to the beach?" to my own therapist, "You must have been out in the sun! You look great!" It looks natural on me. 


You said, "dark!" I don't want to be dark! I want to be tan! What is great about this is that YOU have control over how much you put on! Through the course of 2016 I played around with it. See for yourself!

No product! I can't even show my whole face!


Applied lightly to face and neck-no make up.


Photo taken a week after three days of applying lightly.
Applied generously (one day) to face and neck with makeup.


Applied to whole body (everyday for a week)-darkest I ever got with this tanner. 




I have an olive/yellow skin undertone. But I don't! Will I get the same results as you? TRY IT! Do a little test somewhere-don't like it? This is copied from their website: If you’re not satisfied with your purchase you can return it within 30 days – HASSLE FREE and we will refund the original purchase price of the product. But just look at the review pictures on amazon. There is your proof! 


Why are you so excited to share this with everyone? I was prepped and ready to apply it today and nothing came out of the bottle! EMPTY! I just ordered one day shipping from Amazon! My poor roommate (male) listened to me rant about how much I love this company and how impressed I am with their growth, products and customer service for 30 minutes. I need to tell the world-not HIM! He likes his pale look. It does look good on him. Just the fact that I am freaking out (knowing it is on the way) tells me it is a good product! Stop buying chemical filled, stinky, orange tanner! 

What about the mess of applying? What about streaking? What about staining? I know you are wondering all of these things- because I ask myself these questions each time I try a new self tanner! I've tried (and switch it up) 3 different ways of applying (and will address the streaking and staining) below. 


1. Applying with my bare hands. 
Pros: I can FEEL it being evenly applied (even though when you first put it on it is white-so you know where you are getting coverage). I can get very precise on my face with just my finger tips. IT SMELLS GOOD. It doesn't smell like other tanners-if you are familiar there is a distinct chemical smell with non-organic self tanners- this DOES NOT HAVE THAT! IT SMELLS YUMMY! 
Cons: It takes awhile to dry if you use a lot. I tend to stand in front of a fan (Tip-long hair users-put that hair in a bun!) to help speed up the process. I go into detail about this in Number 2 Con List. If you don't wash your hands-YUP- OOMPA LOOMPA orange TRUMP hair orange hands, wrists, palms, between fingers, under finger nails. If you do wash your hands-you have pale hands and naturally glowing tan arms-looks weird. I figured out a technique-take lotion from somewhere on your body that hasn't completed absorbed, using the BACK of a hand-rub the backs of your hands together (after you washed them-avoid getting it between your fingers. Not perfect. But it works. 

I learned to wash BETWEEN MY FINGERS!
That look was hard to explain to people.


2. Applying with Latex Gloves
Pros: Great if you are in a hurry! Don't worry about washing your hands! (But pale back of hands? Try technique mentioned in Number One above.) Latex gloves are not porous. Meaning, the lotion will not be wasted! It is going on my skin until it is completely off of that glove. Really? What can I say? I don't like to waste! 
Cons: When I am in a hurry- I miss places on my legs-so I end up using 3 pairs of gloves! HA! I can't actually feel the lotion-so I feel like I have limited control over rough spots-knees, elbows, dry patches. Not quite as accurate as applying with my bare hands. Again, takes a while to dry. I usually give myself a good 20 minutes (Really?- YUP) before putting on light colored clothing-especially white (I wait even longer.) Granted- I usually apply it generously after a year of learning how to do it.
However, I live in a humid climate-so if I step outside after that waiting period and it is 80 degrees with 80% humidity-I SWEAT-and I tend to find nice little tan patches in random places such as a friend's car (*sorry*), a door or wall (hey-I'm clumsy)! 

I tend to treat it like a spray tan just a lot cheaper! Tips: Don't go in the rain after apply, don't shower after applying, don't SWEAT after applying, don't wear light colored clothing-which by the way- it washes out- don't worry!
This happened with the latex glove.
I now clean and blend that area better so it doesn't look like this!

3. Applying with the Tanning Applicator Mitts 
OR


Pros: The bundle includes-Body Applicator Mitt, Face Applicator Mitt and Exfoliator Mitt. This helps apply the lotion evenly-although I feel like an expert at this point. A major pro: CLEAN HANDS! (But pale back of hands? Try technique mentioned in Number One above.) Haves wrinkles or rolls in your skin? Don't lie! I do! This really helps my neck area-if I tilt my chin a certain angle while it dries and absorbs-I get weird lines. "What is that? A scratch? What happened?" Ugh. Therefore, avoid embarrassing questions! It is helpful with streaks correcting mistakes! 
Pro/Con? It absorbs a lot of the lotion; I never get as dark when compared to the previous two methods and I like dark! I wonder how much of the product I am wasting...... By the time I am done the mitt is heavy and soaked. User error? Are you using too much product? Great Question! NO CLUE.
 Pro: It dries and absorbs faster. Con: I'm not as dark. Pro: I'm not as dark. 
Get it? Depends what you are looking for. 
Pro: The face applicator is great. I tend to use it for fixing mistakes-like picture above on my wrist-it helps blend it into areas so it looks more natural. 

Wait a minute! You are wearing makeup in most of those photos of yourself! You bet I am! It only takes about 10-15 minutes for it to dry enough to apply liquid or powder base. I have not yet tried it with BareMinerals-I know how important that PrimeTime is to the application. I will test it out and let you know! But here is what it looks like with these brands: 




Bottom line-don't sun bathe. Hello cancer.
Buy this NATURAL SELF TANNING LOTION! At least try it. Trust me- I've tried them all. Hello credit card debt. 

And you don't have to be a freak like me! Need it just for a special occasion? Still cheaper than a spray tan!
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I really love this company. Really. Check them out. Organic. Natural. MY FACE DOESN'T BREAK OUT! YAY! Nontoxic ingredients. Must be a connection there, huh?! I could gush over this company forever!