Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)
Soap & Factory Lip Butters are Bittersweet
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Soap & Paper Factory In The Nude and Moulin Rouge Lip Butter Review and Swatches
PR Sample: Soap & Paper Factory has such a beautiful assortment of products. The first thing I noticed was their super cute the packaging. I can look at their packaging all day. When taking these pictures, I paired them with another smaller beauty brand I love ... Tokyo Milk. I consider them both boutique beauty brands! Just a little background. As the name suggests, Soap & Paper Factory started out making handmade soaps (2001). Their products are made in the USA. They believe in limiting waste and using the most natural ingredients. They also like unique, artful and inspiring packaging. I was sent two of their lip butters $12. These fall under the category of Lip & Cheek Tints on their website. One is called, In The Nude. The other is called Moulin Rouge. They contain NO Parabens, NO Phthalates, NO Animal Testing and are MADE IN THE USA (Congers, New York) Both come in the cutest jar. You won't mind leaving these on your vanity. In The Nude is a pink-peachy color. Moulin Rouge is a berry color. When I swatched these on the back of my hand, In The Nude was transparent and Moulin Rouge remained the berry hue you see in the jar. Both had the same scent. It's a medicine scent to my nose. Very herbal. Earthy. The lip butter itself is hard. I swiped mine with my finger, but you can buy lip applicators to apply these lip butters. They're super lightweight. I like these, but I do not love these. Why Kim? Why? It's the level of moisture (or lack of) that I'm not getting from these that made me give them a bittersweet rating. On the package, it says it's a LIP BUTTER. When I see that, I'm thinking I am getting MAXIMUM HYDRATION. When in actuality I'm only getting light hydration. On their website, these are under the category Lip & Cheek Tints! As TINTS, I give them a sweet rating. I LOVE the color of Moulin Rouge. So I wanted to explain my reasoning. If you get these, you get beautiful & sleek packaging. Beautiful color (Moulin Rouge). Remember In The Nude swatched colorless. YOU GET VERY LIGHT HYDRATION. I see it more as protection (a barrier) if you're in windy conditions. To me, it's more of a cosmetic than a skincare product. Soap & Paper Factory makes bath & body products and home fragrances. I definitely want to try some of their other products. This lip butter also comes in Rose.
A Guide On How To Care Of Your Wedding Ring
For a woman, her wedding ring is the most treasured possession of all and therefore, it should be cared for properly. As the ring will be worn all the time, it needs to be cleaned regularly. The prongs, which hold the diamonds or other precious stones in place, should be checked on a regular basis.
If you are about to buy your fiancée a wedding ring, here are some useful tips on taking care of the ring.
Durability - When thinking about wedding rings for women, one should always consider longevity. If you have already purchased the ring, it is hopefully a design that is suitable for everyday wearing, but if you have yet to purchase the ring, you should always bear in mind that this ring will be worn daily and it should therefore be of durable material. Raised stones tend to catch on fabric and the best setting for a diamond wedding ring is one that is not too raised. There are many different ring settings and you should choose one that is durable and not likely to be damaged with normal wear.
Cleaning the Ring - It might be an obvious statement to avoid cleaning a diamond ring over a sink, but some people do and if the cleaning is intense, the chances of a stone popping out make it something that should be done over a bowl or bucket, just in case. The best solution for cleaning a ring is to use warm, soapy water and a baby toothbrush with soft bristles, which will effectively clean the ring without causing the prongs to move. Rinse the ring with water once it has been cleaned and allow it to dry naturally, rather than rubbing it with a cloth.
Regular Inspections - No doubt the wedding ring will contain diamonds and therefore the prongs should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that the stone(s) are not loose. Imagine her feelings (and yours) if one of the stones popped out. The chances of finding a loose diamond are next to nothing, so make sure the prongs are in good condition and have not loosened. If you would like some further reading on taking care of a wedding ring, there are articles on the topic available online.
Store The Ring In An Appropriate Place - Ideally, a soft jewellery box is the best place to keep a diamond ring, and it should be placed in a separate compartment so it does not come in contact with any other jewellery items. One thing you simply must do is insure the ring, which covers the cost if it is ever lost. You might think that such a valuable item could never be misplaced, but it can come off when swimming or taking part in any outdoor activity and without insurance, you really are taking a chance.
By choosing the right design and following the above advice, your treasured wedding ring should stand the test of time and with regular inspection and cleaning, it will always look its best.
If you are about to buy your fiancée a wedding ring, here are some useful tips on taking care of the ring.
Image Source: Unsplash
Cleaning the Ring - It might be an obvious statement to avoid cleaning a diamond ring over a sink, but some people do and if the cleaning is intense, the chances of a stone popping out make it something that should be done over a bowl or bucket, just in case. The best solution for cleaning a ring is to use warm, soapy water and a baby toothbrush with soft bristles, which will effectively clean the ring without causing the prongs to move. Rinse the ring with water once it has been cleaned and allow it to dry naturally, rather than rubbing it with a cloth.
Regular Inspections - No doubt the wedding ring will contain diamonds and therefore the prongs should be inspected on a regular basis to ensure that the stone(s) are not loose. Imagine her feelings (and yours) if one of the stones popped out. The chances of finding a loose diamond are next to nothing, so make sure the prongs are in good condition and have not loosened. If you would like some further reading on taking care of a wedding ring, there are articles on the topic available online.
Store The Ring In An Appropriate Place - Ideally, a soft jewellery box is the best place to keep a diamond ring, and it should be placed in a separate compartment so it does not come in contact with any other jewellery items. One thing you simply must do is insure the ring, which covers the cost if it is ever lost. You might think that such a valuable item could never be misplaced, but it can come off when swimming or taking part in any outdoor activity and without insurance, you really are taking a chance.
Image Source: Unsplash
By choosing the right design and following the above advice, your treasured wedding ring should stand the test of time and with regular inspection and cleaning, it will always look its best.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve Review
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.
PR Sample: Hey Guys! Happy Saturday! Let me introduce you to C.O. Bigelow. C.O. Bigelow is an apothecary. As a matter of fact, they're the oldest apothecary in America. They started out in Greenwich Village in New York City. They carry many brands, such as the MARVIS Toothpaste I just reviewed. They also have their own brand of products. I've never tried any C.O. Bigelow products. PR sent me their popular Rose Salve ($5.50). It has a cult following. So I couldn't wait to try it. It's a multi-purpose salve that can be used on the lips, face, cuticles, elbows, knees and any part of your body that is very dry, chapped or has dry patches. I only tested this on my lips. The salve contains cotton seed oil, jojoba esters, lanolin oil and rose extract. The salve stays on the lips for hours after hours. When I removed the salve, my lips felt soft. There also seems to be some exfoliation. Did my lips feel moisturized? They were ok. Let me tell you my little gripes about this salve. As you can see, it's in a tin. The salve itself is gloopy and when you apply it to your lips it's slippery. It does adjust to your lips and stays on for hours, but the application can be kind of messy (at least with your fingers). You can resolve this by purchasing lip applicators, but who wants to go through all of that? So after trying this several times and the end result just being lightly moisturized lips its just not good enough for me. Now, realize I have extremely dry skin & lips. This salve may work better for someone not so dry. I personally feel there are better lip products out there. THIS ROSE SALVE does come (is offered) in a tube ($7.50) It's $2 more. So if you're interested in this, I would get the tube instead of the tin. It will save you from gloopy fingers or having to purchase lip applicators. What do I suggest to moisturize dry lips? Fresh Advanced Therapy Lip Balm. I also want to mention, that the scent for this salve is a light sweet scent. It doesn't smell like roses. This salve also has a light pink color.
PR Sample: Hey Guys! Happy Saturday! Let me introduce you to C.O. Bigelow. C.O. Bigelow is an apothecary. As a matter of fact, they're the oldest apothecary in America. They started out in Greenwich Village in New York City. They carry many brands, such as the MARVIS Toothpaste I just reviewed. They also have their own brand of products. I've never tried any C.O. Bigelow products. PR sent me their popular Rose Salve ($5.50). It has a cult following. So I couldn't wait to try it. It's a multi-purpose salve that can be used on the lips, face, cuticles, elbows, knees and any part of your body that is very dry, chapped or has dry patches. I only tested this on my lips. The salve contains cotton seed oil, jojoba esters, lanolin oil and rose extract. The salve stays on the lips for hours after hours. When I removed the salve, my lips felt soft. There also seems to be some exfoliation. Did my lips feel moisturized? They were ok. Let me tell you my little gripes about this salve. As you can see, it's in a tin. The salve itself is gloopy and when you apply it to your lips it's slippery. It does adjust to your lips and stays on for hours, but the application can be kind of messy (at least with your fingers). You can resolve this by purchasing lip applicators, but who wants to go through all of that? So after trying this several times and the end result just being lightly moisturized lips its just not good enough for me. Now, realize I have extremely dry skin & lips. This salve may work better for someone not so dry. I personally feel there are better lip products out there. THIS ROSE SALVE does come (is offered) in a tube ($7.50) It's $2 more. So if you're interested in this, I would get the tube instead of the tin. It will save you from gloopy fingers or having to purchase lip applicators. What do I suggest to moisturize dry lips? Fresh Advanced Therapy Lip Balm. I also want to mention, that the scent for this salve is a light sweet scent. It doesn't smell like roses. This salve also has a light pink color.
Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)
C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve is Bittersweet
Friday, September 21, 2018
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX Review
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.
PR Sample: I was sent a full-size sample of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX $84 (this serum can also be purchased at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus) to review. I've never tried anything from Sulwhasoo, so I was very curious. The only thing I knew, was that their products were expensive. I knew that! HaHaHa Let me give you some background. Sulwhasoo falls under the AmorePacific Corporation which is a South Korean beauty and cosmetics conglomerate. The philosophy behind Sulwhasoo is Korean herbal medicine, holistic beauty & philosophy, harmony & balance and treatments that view the body as a whole. Sulwhasoo has several serums (age prevention, brightening, correction, hydration, dark spots & uneven skin), but the First Care Activating Serum (for glowing skin) is to be used day and night right after cleansing. You are to use 2-3 pumps and gently press your palms on your face to help absorption. I wasn't as graceful as the woman in the video below LOL, but Sulwhasoo encourages this type of beauty ritual (technique). It takes getting use to, but it is very therapeutic. This serum is formulated with a "JAUM Balancing Complex™ that assures a glowing and healthier look by harmonizing the balance of skin". The JAUM Balancing Complex™ is an 18-hour process. JAUM Balancing Complex™ is for dry skin caused by aging. "The complex nourishes and firms the appearance of the complexion for healthier looking, glowing skin." "Used as the first step after cleansing, the serum helps boost YOUR NEXT skincare product’s absorption, usage, and results. It’s suitable even for customers with delicate or sensitive skin" So let me share my results and thoughts with you! I have super dry skin. I also have sensitive skin. I've used this serum for several weeks now and three things happened. My skin looked plumper, firmer and had a wonderful glow after using this product. It's a brown serum. I would say it has a clinical scent. I like that the serum isn't sticky or heavy. My skin absorbed it right away. It sinks into the skin quickly. It doesn't sit atop. Again plumpness, firmness and a wonderful glow were my results. This serum is very nice alone, but I bet when you pair it with Sulwhasoo's entire skincare system it works even better. Sulwhasoo has an array of cleansers, toners, waters, moisturizers, eye care, sun care and even makeup (I didn't know they had makeup). You can search for products based on your skin type. I'm impressed with this serum and in the future I would like to try more of Sulwhasoo's products. This serum does what it says. Nothing less. Nothing more. Have a great weekend everybody! More reviews soon :D
PR Sample: I was sent a full-size sample of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum EX $84 (this serum can also be purchased at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus) to review. I've never tried anything from Sulwhasoo, so I was very curious. The only thing I knew, was that their products were expensive. I knew that! HaHaHa Let me give you some background. Sulwhasoo falls under the AmorePacific Corporation which is a South Korean beauty and cosmetics conglomerate. The philosophy behind Sulwhasoo is Korean herbal medicine, holistic beauty & philosophy, harmony & balance and treatments that view the body as a whole. Sulwhasoo has several serums (age prevention, brightening, correction, hydration, dark spots & uneven skin), but the First Care Activating Serum (for glowing skin) is to be used day and night right after cleansing. You are to use 2-3 pumps and gently press your palms on your face to help absorption. I wasn't as graceful as the woman in the video below LOL, but Sulwhasoo encourages this type of beauty ritual (technique). It takes getting use to, but it is very therapeutic. This serum is formulated with a "JAUM Balancing Complex™ that assures a glowing and healthier look by harmonizing the balance of skin". The JAUM Balancing Complex™ is an 18-hour process. JAUM Balancing Complex™ is for dry skin caused by aging. "The complex nourishes and firms the appearance of the complexion for healthier looking, glowing skin." "Used as the first step after cleansing, the serum helps boost YOUR NEXT skincare product’s absorption, usage, and results. It’s suitable even for customers with delicate or sensitive skin" So let me share my results and thoughts with you! I have super dry skin. I also have sensitive skin. I've used this serum for several weeks now and three things happened. My skin looked plumper, firmer and had a wonderful glow after using this product. It's a brown serum. I would say it has a clinical scent. I like that the serum isn't sticky or heavy. My skin absorbed it right away. It sinks into the skin quickly. It doesn't sit atop. Again plumpness, firmness and a wonderful glow were my results. This serum is very nice alone, but I bet when you pair it with Sulwhasoo's entire skincare system it works even better. Sulwhasoo has an array of cleansers, toners, waters, moisturizers, eye care, sun care and even makeup (I didn't know they had makeup). You can search for products based on your skin type. I'm impressed with this serum and in the future I would like to try more of Sulwhasoo's products. This serum does what it says. Nothing less. Nothing more. Have a great weekend everybody! More reviews soon :D
Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is Sweet
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Collection Review, Swatches and Video
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.
Not Sponsored: When Too Faced Cosmetics came out with their Tutti Frutti Collection mid-August (August 15th), I (and others) felt it was a little late for a Summer-themed makeup collection. I truly thought it would be an easy pass for me. The theme of the collection is Summer. The packaging is Summer. But much of the makeup in this collection, can easily transition from Summer to Fall. I'm so glad I purchased six pieces from this collection and I'm so impressed with the collection, that I decided to do a video. Let me go over each product with you below and I encourage you to check out my video where I do a demo demonstration for each product (so you can see the application of the product). Too Faced has also just released their Christmas Collection. I will be doing a video and review for that collection as well.
Not Sponsored: When Too Faced Cosmetics came out with their Tutti Frutti Collection mid-August (August 15th), I (and others) felt it was a little late for a Summer-themed makeup collection. I truly thought it would be an easy pass for me. The theme of the collection is Summer. The packaging is Summer. But much of the makeup in this collection, can easily transition from Summer to Fall. I'm so glad I purchased six pieces from this collection and I'm so impressed with the collection, that I decided to do a video. Let me go over each product with you below and I encourage you to check out my video where I do a demo demonstration for each product (so you can see the application of the product). Too Faced has also just released their Christmas Collection. I will be doing a video and review for that collection as well.
Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet
supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff)
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Dew You Full Coverage Foundation $36 - Sweet
Last year, Too Faced came out with a Peach Perfect Foundation. It has a MATTE formula, so I didn't purchase it because I have DRY SKIN. So I was very excited, to see them come out this year with Dew You (hydrating foundation). The bells and whistles for this foundation is that it hydrates, brightens, is long-lasting, and full coverage. It smells like like watermelon and cucumber. I've been testing this foundation out for weeks now. Let me say, I purchased this foundation in my Born This Way Foundation Shade (Warm Beige). It complimented me beautifully. One application of this foundation only gave me medium coverage. I had to apply two layers to get the full coverage you see below. I tried this foundation with the Hangover primer. It only lasted 4-6 hours with that primer (then there was some separation). I tried with a sample of Hourglass Veil Primer and let me tell you, that primer is ah-mazing! It made this foundation last all day. Also on my face below is Becca's Under Eye Corrector (review here) and Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (review here). I show all of this in my video. I usually don't care for scented skincare or foundation, but the watermelon cucumber mix is really refreshing. It makes you SMILE. Dry Skin types will love this foundation. Oily skin types should use the Too Faced Peach Perfect Foundation. As you can see from my picture, the coverage is absolutely amazing. 
Too Faced Pineapple Paradise Strobing Bronzer Highlighting Duo $30 - Sweet
I've always been impressed with Too Faced's Bronzers. I have all of them. I use all of them. So, it was exciting to see what this one would do. Pineapple Paradise is a duo split pan, that contains a bronzer & highlighter. The bronzer is light. I could barely get away with it, so I don't see it working for darker skin tones. I bronzed my forehead, cheeks & under my chin with this bronzer. It's pretty. It's soft. I also used it to contour my nose. The highlighter is a pretty soft gold. It's more of a strobing effect. You can see it on the bridge of my nose, cheeks, cupids bow & underneath my lip. You can also swirl the bronzer & highlighter together. I show that swatch on the back of my hand as well. I love this for myself. Darker skin tones can only use this as a glow product. As a bronzer in won't work. I wish this would've been 3 pans where they offered a darker bronzer. I think the goal is GLOW! Which everyone can achieve with this product. 
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Lip Glaze (Show Me Your Coconuts & Yummy Rummy) $20 - Supersweet
I LOVE THESE! I purchased two shades. I'm on a neutral kick. These lip glazes are AMAZING! The pigmentation is on point. They make your lips look smooth & flawless. Coverage is even. They're a gloss, but they are creamy. They don't feel sticky. You get high shine. Too Faced states they have a candy gloss finish. So true. Show Me Your Coconuts is a wearable color for DAY or EVENING. Yummy Rummy is sexy & striking. It's more for evening and is truly an ooh la la lip color. The applicator for this lip gloss is awesome. It's a different kind of doe foot that really applies this lip color beautifully. You will not be disappointed if you purchase these. I do want to say one thing, each has a little sparkle. It stays in place when you apply, but when you remove them expect some of that sparkle to still be on your lips.
Too Faced Lip Glaze in Show Me Your Coconuts
Too Faced Lip Glaze in Yummy Rummy
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Blush | Fruit Cocktail | Apricot In The Act $30 - Supersweet
I purchased two blushes from the collection. This is Apricot In The Act (giggle). It's in a duo split pan. It's a peachy colored blush. You also get an orange highlighter, blush topper. I love peachy colors, because they look good on me. The blush looks great by itself. The highlighter looks great mixed with the blush AND as a highlighter (nose, cupid's bow etc). Pigmentation for both are awesome. It's very fresh, uplifting and gave my skin a wonderful glow. They're not flat. I'm wearing Show Me Your Coconuts lip glaze in the picture below. All products created a beautiful look. 
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Blush | Fruit Cocktail | Cherry Bomb $30 - Sweet
Cherry Bomb is a STRONG blush! You see that "red" on my hand below? You also get an orange blush topper, highlighter with this duo. I love the color combination. I would've never thought to mix a red & orange together. You have to use a light hand with this blush and even so use a makeup sponge to blend it out. Definitely watch my video to see this (it's funny). DO NOT use this highlighter on your nose, cupids bow etc. You'll have an ORANGE nose! I'm wearing Yummy Rummy on my lips below. It compliments this blush. It's a nice evening look. Probably not for DAY.
Too Faced Tutti Frutti Sparkling Pineapple Eyeshadow Palette $34 - Supersweet
I love this pineapple eyeshadow palette! At first I was like, I don't know. You get 7 shades of (glitter, metallic, satin, matte) eye shadows. All are pigmented, as you can see on the back of my hand. Do you see Fall & Autumn in these colors? Beautiful greens, browns, oranges & beiges. I used the dark brown all over my eye. The green on my lid. I blended the brown out with the lightest shade in the palette. I applied the last shade in the corners of my eyes. I applied the orange underneath my eyes. I'm wearing Show Me Your Coconuts on my lips below. Also Apricot In The Act on my cheeks below. If you love PURPLE, Too Faced came out with a Razzle Dazzle Berry Eyeshadow Palette for this collection. There was just a little fall out with this palette, but nothing you can't dust off. There's also a Glamour Guide. I hope this review helps you in your shopping. To see everything in action, watch my video on YouTube. 
