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Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel

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I am pretty lucky in that I don’t have really bad “eye genes”… yup – that’s what I call it… and I’m lucky that my parents and their relatives don’t have much puffy eyes, saggy skin or dark circles near their eye area.  The great thing about that is not only that I can continue to look youthful, but that I don’t have to worry too much about cucumbers for the puffiness and concealer to conceal or color correct the dark circles.  But – I do still experience all of those things from time to time.  Let’s face it – I’m a mother of 3 very active boys and honestly – I survive on just a couple of hours a sleep a night, so I’m always interested in a product that will help me out whenever I need it.

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Insta Natural Eye Gel

With so many products on the market today, it is important to find one that will not only provide you with a plethora of great benefits, but also find one that is reasonably priced.  Insta Natural Youth Express Eye Gel (currently $23.95) 1.7 oz offers ingredients that will help with dark circles, puffiness and sagging skin.  It includes the following ingredients:

Plant Stem Cells: Helps mitigate premature aging of the skin
Matrixl 3000: Tightens & Firms the Skin (In this case around your eyes)
Hyaluronic Acid: Moisturizes your skin deeply (After all..your eyes are the pathway to your soul)
Other ingredients: Jojoba Oil, Aloe, Vitamin E, Cucumber and so on. There are just way too many active ingredients to list!

Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe, Matrixyl 3000, Botanical hyaluronic acid, Organic Jojoba Oil, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Palmitoyl Triepeptide-3, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Plant Stem Cells, Cucumber Hydrosol, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Silk Amino Acid Blend (Sodium L-Pyrrolidone Carboxylate, Sodium Lactate, L’Arginine, L-Aspartic Acid, L-Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid, Glycine, L-Alanine, L-Serine, L-Valine, L-Proline, L-threonine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Phenylalanine), Wildcrafted Vinca Major (Periwinkle), Organic Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice), Wildcrafted Euphrasia Officinalis, Wildcrafted Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), Organic Gotu Kola, Frankincense, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

Insta Natural Eye Gel

The formula is loaded with skin repairing, firming and age defying ingredients for your eyes and I love that this product is not sticky and applies evenly and smoothly.  A little goes a long way so I had to make sure not to use too much, one pump of the product was more than enough.  The eye gel is thick, so it gives an almost cooling effect when applied near the eye area… which I really enjoyed.  Since I have sensitive eyes – I am often very selective with testing out products because it causes my eyes to be very irritated and this product worked well on my sensitive skin and eyes without issue.  After the first use I felt like the skin around my eyes felt refreshed and awake.  There is a light cucumber scent – very light which I liked a lot.

Insta Natural Eye Gel

I was not completely happy at first with the dispenser this product came with.  It took a few pumps before the product started to come out.  While I was a bit frustrated at first, once the product came out the first time, it was easy to use thereafter.  The packing is simple but I like that it’s pretty durable and fit perfectly in my skin care cabinet.  The gel itself is pretty nice and I love that if needed – I can use it as a moisturizer on my entire face… woohoo – bonus!

Insta Natural Eye Gel
Before using Insta Natural Eye Gel – early morning

Again – I don’t have very heavy puffiness under my eyes – but since I don’t get much sleep at night, some mornings they are pretty prominent.  Adding just a little of the eye gel makes a huge difference and you can see a change through out the day.  This gel has been working wonders for me on days where my allergies are terrible because it really helps to soften the puffiness under my eyes or lightening any dark circles from sleepless nights due to sneezing.  I honestly am very impressed.  As you can see from my before and after photos (the before taken with my DSLR and the after taken with my Note 2), the puffiness from my eyes disappeared a few hours after applying the gel.

instanatural eye gel photo
After using Insta Natural Eye Gel – this photo was taken a few hours after applying the gel to my under eyes.

I’m quite impressed with this product, even if the need for use of it is not as often, I know it will do the job.  If you have puffy eyes or dark circles under your eyes, with continued use I know you will see a difference.  To say I was amazed is an understatement, because I have already suggested this product to a few friends and family members who are loving it as I’m typing this.  With an affordable price tag, there really is no harm in trying it out and Insta Natural offers a 100 day hassle free money back guarantee.  Oh – and did I mention is this a cruelty free product?  That’s a benefit in its own.

What are your favorite eye creams or gels?  Is this a product you think you would like to give a try?

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection Shimmer Palettes – Video Bomb & Photo Bomb: Limited Edition

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I have always been a pretty big fan of Wet n Wild and I’m always checking out their products if they catch my eye.  A few weeks ago, I came across a display in Walgreens that offered these Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Shimmer Palettes in two shades that I have not seen a part of their permanent collection.  I’m still not sure if they are Limited Edition, but consider them so since the girl at Walgreens said that they were not getting them back – once sold out, they were gone.  Since they may possible be an LE, I figured I would share them with all of you as quickly as possible so you have the opportunity to go out and get them if you can.

SELF PURCHASED

wet n wild center stage shimmer powders

These face powders from Wet n Wild retailed at Walgreens for $6.99 and also included a kabuki brush.  While sold separately – I considered it to be a pretty reasonable price, especially since these powders retail for about $6.99 – $8.99 at my local stores here on Maui.  I have never seen these before anywhere in other stores and noticed how different they were to the other three that are included in Wet n Wild’s permanent Fergie collection.

Check out my review video and live demo embedded below or click here to watch it directly on YouTube.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Video Bomb

The first palette I tried out was Video Bomb.  This palette has a pretty cool marbleized look to it like the other To Reflect Shimmer Palettes that are permanent in the Centerstage collection from Fergie.  It has a blend of a soft pink, chocolate brown and soft brown and when blended together, it has a soft pinkish brown that works really well as a blush/cheek shade.  I loved this palette, but because it is a bit on the powdery side, it can leave your skin looking ashy or muddy – especially if you use too much of it.  A little goes a long way – so tap off the excess from your brush before applying and sweep gently on your cheeks for a soft and sweet summery color.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Video Bomb

What I love about this palette the most is that it is perfect on those days you are looking for a little color – but are not keen on truly using a blush or bronzer.  It will give you a slight bronzed look with a soft pink hue without going overboard.  Keep in mind that the palette has a golden sheen to it – so it can look a bit sparkly and shimmery on the skin if you put too much – again, a light hand is key.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Video Bomb

The next palette I tried out was Photo Bomb.  This one automatically caught my eye in the store because it is VERY different from the original three Shimmer Palettes Wet n Wild offers.  It is all one shade, golden and what I thought would be perfect for highlight.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Photo Bomb

This palette offers a gold sheen, soft but still packs a punch of color.  While this is great for a highlight – a little of this product definitely goes a long way.  Like Video Bomb, this can offer a powdery texture, but blends nicely if you are looking for a great highlight.  I love how both of these powders feel really nice – even when blended on the skin, it feels soft and both palettes are super pigmented.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Photo Bomb

I think that the Photo Bomb would work well on light and dark skin tones and in most skin tone shades.  I was very amazed to see how nicely it looked against my skin and how it offered me a great glow but can see how nice it would work for someone with cool toned skin as well.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Photo Bomb

There is a lot of product in each palette – 0.4 oz / 11.3 g and I know that a little will go a long way so considering the cost of these palettes, you are getting a great deal for a very affordable price tag.  I have read reviews and seen videos on the packaging for the original Shimmer Palettes where it fell apart for some and honestly, I have dropped mine a few times and they have stayed in tact reasonably well.  The only thing that worries me is that I may drop it really hard one day and the actual powder will crack – but so far, so good.

Wet n Wild Centerstage Shimmer Palette Photo Bomb

Now the one downfall for these sets is the Kabuki brush that is offered with it.  I think it is great that Wet n Wild included a Kabuki brush with each of these but after washing one of them, the quality and brush in general was a fail for me.  While washing, the kabuki brush shed a lot and during the first use, I felt like the brush was quite rough on my skin.  The brush hair felt soft at first but with use, it was uncomfortable and continued to shed.  Ultimately – that was not a great selling point for the kit, but it also allowed the powders to stand alone.

Check out your local Walgreens and see if these are in stock.  I haven’t tried any of the permanent line shimmer palettes, so I honestly don’t know how they would compare and if these have a different texture.  If you are on a budget and interested in trying something fun for the summer months – this may be something you will like.  Overall – well I’m not too keen on the shimmer these palettes offer, they are still pretty cool and I’ll make use of them for sure.  Don’t forget to check out my video review along with demo on how these look directly on the skin – you can find that video here.

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On The Dot The Perfect Spot – Feminine Storage Solution

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Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Let’s face it, as the only female in my household I am always looking for fun and creative ways to express my feminine side without cramping the style of my guys who live under the same roof as me.  Since we share a bathroom, I know that it can be a challenge for them to have my “woman hoohah products” staring them right in the face so I normally keep them concealed in the cabinet, until now.

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On The Dot The Perfect Spot

So – what’s the deal with this box?  The On The Dot is a designer storage box to keep your feminine products like Pads, Panty liners and tampons all in one place.  Designed by mother and daughter – Audrey and Sonja Unrau, they wanted to ensure that women’s feminine products were right within reach without sacrificing discretion and compromising decorative appeal. 

It’s a great mother-daughter story.

One day, high school student Sonja left an unusual box on the floor in the bathroom. Audrey, Sonja’s mom, noticed it and had to take a look. She opened the box by pulling on the handle and found a unique inner compartment filled with tampons and pads.”Great idea,” Audrey smiled. Audrey knew Sonja had stumbled on a truly great idea, and she decided they needed to run with it. Audrey and her artist husband helped further develop Sonja’s original design, adding an upper drawer,lower storage compartment, a sliding feature as well as a plastic protective base and handle. Their project has gone from a box in the family bathroom to a decorative dispenser, ready to be shared with women everywhere. Now you, too, can be part of this great story. On The Dot will conveniently store your feminine hygiene products at home, at the office, or in your dorm room. Our stylish, discrete designs will bring a little luxury to your bathroom, period. Plus, 10% of all On The Dot profits will go to women’s charities, worldwide!

Story from onthedotperfectspot.com 

On the Dot

The goal of On The Dot Perfect Spot, is to add some dignity and design to all women needing a feminine hygiene product. We would like to see On The Dot Perfect Spot in as many bathrooms as possible – not only home bathrooms, but bathrooms in offices, libraries, coffee shops, yoga studios, doctors’ offices, restaurants, etc. Anywhere there’s a woman using a bathroom, we want her to find an On The Dot Perfect Spot full of the personal products she needs.

The large butterfly handle is not only decorative but also allows you to easily pull open and close your On The Dot unit.  I think that the handle is creatively designed and definitely unique and fun.  It’s easy to use – simply pull up and it will expose the compartments below that are hidden within the unit when it’s closed up.

On The Dot

The upper drawer gives you quick and easy access to the things you will need quickly.  It is the perfect size to fit my tampons and panty liners so that is what I use that drawer for most of the time.  You can easily fit a full sized pad in that drawer as well, so anything you need quickly – it’s right at your fingertips.

On The Dot

The lower compartment is large enough to store your back up items like your pads, panty liners and other things.  It is even large enough to store a basic size toilet tissue roll.

The box iteself is made of a sturdy recycled chipboard.  It will not bend, crease or tear without having a strong force applied to it.  I kept my On The Dot in the bathroom and since the men in my life use hot water in the shower, I was pretty worried about the cardboard starting to warp because of the steam.  While I did notice a little bit of compromise, it still held up really well after consistent steam in the area and after a month of being exposed.  I have since removed it from my restroom completely since I am worried it would affect it more in the future, but was amazed that it held up as long as it did.  It is pretty sturdy for sure.  One note, do not get any water on the actual cardboard of the object because it can warp if it is exposed to water drips consistently.

On The Dot

The decorative plastic base keeps the On The Dot off of the floor or other surfaces.  This is perfect for those of you who will be storing your unit on a counter space where water could be present… this will help protect your On The Dot.

On The Dot is 10″ tall (without the handle), 6.5″ wide and 4.25″ deep.  It will fit on most vanities and counter tops depending on the space available.

On The Dot

On The Dot is available in three different stylish designs:  Monarch (pictured), Dream Duskywing and California Sister.  Each unit costs $24.99 and you receive Free Shipping on all orders.  The designs are simple and you can easily find one that will fit in with your bathroom decor.  Please note that at this time, On The Dot ships within the US only.

On The Dot donates 10% of all profits to Women’s Organizations Worldwide.  So you are not only supporting a genius idea for storing your women products, but you are also supporting Women!

Signature Honey

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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100% Pure Organic Argan Oil by BebeLush

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Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I don’t know how many times I have mentioned here on my blog that my skin is dry and sensitive and I struggle with severe eczema when I have flare ups.  As difficult as it is to find products that will not cause my skin to go crazy on me, it’s a breath of fresh air when I finally do.  I have been using 100% Pure Organic, Raw Unrefined Coconut Oil but since I buy it in bulk, it is difficult to travel with or pack in my purse on days when I need the extra hydration.  While I am not necessarily a “huge” fan of Argan Oil, I have found that it has been a great friend when I need something in place of my holy grail coconut oil.  The Pure Organic Argan Oil from BebeLush has been a favorite of mine over the last month and here’s why.

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100% Argan Oil BebeLush

I have used quite a bit of different Argan Oils over the last couple of years, seeing as it offers a wide variety of benefits for most people.  While I truly enjoy the benefits it offers, Argan Oil is usually a difficult one for me to use because it causes my skin to have minor blemishes and break outs around my hair line (when applying to my hair) as well as on my face.  After years of taking my skin from what it was in 2011 to what it is now, I was ready to put this Argan Oil to the test to find out if it would offer me great skin benefits or cause my skin to go crazy again.

BebeLush Claims of the product:

  • Suffering from dry skin and frizzy, unmanageable hair stops today, when you invest in this 100% pure, certified organic, cold-pressed virgin Argan oil from Morocco. It’s the perfect gift for yourself, and you deserve it. Also great gift for family and friends.
  • Start enjoying baby soft skin when you use with this non-greasy oil and prepare to enjoy the compliments coming your way, as those around you will see immediate effects of this secret liquid gold. Excellent skin moisturizer, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, soothes eczema prone skin, calms itchy dry spots and restores sun damaged skin.
  • Say good bye to frizzy, tangled, unmanageable hair, and hello to healthy, shiny, glowing tresses. This Argan oil helps prevent split ends, is a natural leave-in conditioner, adds natural shine, and is fast absorbing, leaving your hair silky and healthy.
  • BebeLush Argan oil organically produced in the Kingdom of Morocco, is EcoCert certified and it is paraben free – fragrance free – colorant free – alcohol free – no animal ingredients – no preservatives
  • Get Beautiful Skin & Hair Starting Today, Guaranteed!

100% Argan Oil BebeLush

This Argan Oil is sold by BebeLush on Amazon.com for $35.00 (originally $74.95) for a dropper bottle with 120 ml (4 fl.oz) of product.  The product has a shelf life of 3 years and what I love about the label is that it states when the product was manufactured as well as the Lot Number which allows you to track the product you are using.  I have a ton of different Argan Oils and I love that this product is universal and versatile so it can be used pretty much anywhere and everywhere on the body (face, hair, skin and nails).

This particular Argan oil is quickly absorbed into the skin and hair and does not leave a greasy residue.  While Argan Oils can be pretty strong in scent, this one is not as bad as others I have smelled before and while there is still a scent, it is not as overpowering or strong as I thought it would be.

Pure Organic Argan Oil BebeLush

The oil has a light (almost amber) color to it and is not as thick as other Argan oils I have used in the past.  A little goes a long way – especially if you are using this product on your face.  While I do not necessarily have this product to use on my hair, I did test it out a few times and it works nicely on my hair as well – no break outs on my hair line.  My skin stays hydrated and I love that the bottle is very convenient to throw in my purse for when I’m out and about and unable to take my coconut oil with me.

Pure Organic Argan Oil BebeLush

Overall I’m pretty impressed with the product itself and it has already become a favorite of mine for the month of May.  At the amount of product you receive in each bottle, this product will last you and since it has a variety of uses, it’s well worth the money in my opinion. If you have dry skin as I do, I think you will find that this product helps to hydrate your skin a lot without leaving it feeling like it was rubbed down with oil – which I like a lot.  I have been using this oil on my cuticles as well which tends to be very dry during the summer months and especially since I am full time dishwasher in our house.  If you love Argan Oil I think you will find this particular one to work really well.  While I only used the Argan oil on my hair a few times it did exactly as my other oils have done, hydrated my hair and left my ends moisturized and my hair full of life.  I think this is definitely a product I will continue to use.

Would you like try a sample of the BebeLush 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil?  Check out the Giveaway I have below and you could win a sample and test it out yourself.  Giveaway open for 5 days and for US entries only.  Please note that I must get a minimum of 100 entries in order for the giveaway winner to be awarded.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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NYX Cosmetics Macaron Lipsticks in Violet and Lavender

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Yes, it is public knowledge that I have a thing for purple.  Purple is my favorite color and I am super duper intrigued by purple lippies and tend to need them as soon as I see them.  Recently NYX Cosmetics rolled out their new Macaron lippies.  I caught sight of the purple shades and I absolutely know I had to have them.  NYX rolled these awesome lipsticks out in 12 shades, but I knew that I wouldn’t really make use of the others so I passed and placed my order.  Since NYX only ships to Hawaii with a $25 flat rate fee, I shipped it to a friend and then eagerly awaited its delivery.

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NYX Macaron Lipsticks Violet and Lavender

Looking for fun daring shades of lipstick to add to your makeup collection at an affordable price tag?  Well, NYX recently came up with a solution for us makeup obsessed people who love experimenting with fun and exciting shades.  Newly released – the NYX Cosmetics Macaron lipsticks have already been a huge rave among those in the beauty and makeup community.  These colors – available in 12 different shades are daring, bold and not for the faint of heart, but surely show-stopping and most importantly – affordable.  Check out my video below for live “try-on” swatches or click here to watch them directly on YouTube.

For just $6.00 you can go bold this summer with shades that will surely attract attention.  Now available at Ulta.com ($5.99) or at your local Ulta Store and possibly at select drug stores, you can find these shades and pick one or all that suit your fancy.  I chose Violet (which NYX labels as a Royal Purple) and Lavender (NYX labels as a Lavender purple) and so far I am enjoying the formulation of each as well as the color pay-off.

NYX Cosmetics Macaron Lipsticks Violet and Lavender

Violet is a gorgeous purple shade (shown on the left in my photo above) – my absolute favorite of the two.  It applies nicely on the lips and is definitely the more wearable of the two shades, though it is still quite bold.  The color goes on evenly, has a slight gloss look to them (definitely not matte) with a cream type finish.  If worn with a fuchsia lip liner, this shade could definitely be a great one to rock out year round.  This lipstick applies very nicely and one swipe of the color on your lips can lend for an even application and full coverage.  I think it is much more wearable with just one layer, but adding a second layer on top will give the lipstick a bolder shade that you may be looking for.  This lipstick was the easiest to work with between the two.

Lavender is definitely a bold lavender shade.  It was probably the one that was most difficult for me to wear between the two.  This lipstick settles into the lines of my lips a lot, even if my lips are completely moisturized and exfoliated.  As you can see in my video, it was harder to apply.  This is definitely a shade that I would suggest you wear over a lip primer, or if you don’t use primer on your lips – then conceal or apply foundation prior to application of this lipstick.  Lipsticks with these kind of milky white look to them usually include a white based pigment to help give it its color, and I think that is why they tend to be harder to wear.  A blue or pink would lend for the same if the white pigment was used in them as well.  To create a nice even application, I definitely needed to take my time to apply the lipstick and then apply two layers to get an even and full coverage look.  The lipstick is definitely full coverage in one swipe, but it can be a bit patchy and apply unevenly.

Packaging is cute and looks very similar to that of the NYX Matte Lipsticks except instead of the black of the tube being matte (like on the matte lippies), it is shiny.  The Violet lipstick tube didn’t seem to want to stay up when I twisted the lipstick up – which sucks, but I think it is just a dud in that department and not necessarily the packaging for all in a nut shell.

These lipsticks seem like they are matte based with a cream finish, and because of this I didn’t have any issues with it drying out my lips and my lips felt moiturized for the time I had the lipsticks on.  Each lip color did move around on my lips a lot however, so I do suggest you using a lip liner to help keep it in check, or definitely prime your lips prior to application.  The pigmentation is awesome on each shade I received, but the color doesn’t last very long and reapplication is definitely a must if you are eating or drinking.  You can expect about an hour use out of these without too much movement.  Violet does stain slightly, not not enough to call it a stain… that is why I think it is a matte based pigment that was made creamy.

Overall – at $6.00 a piece and a “technically” drugstore product, I am pretty amazed with the quality of these lipsticks.  I may consider picking up Rose (the pink shade) just to have it, but I’m not quite sold on the other shades to warrant picking them up yet.  I think that they are pretty nice and good quality and since they are making waves in the bold and bright department when it comes to drug store – it shows me that it is much more promising for other drugstore companies to bring out bolder shades that highend brands offer.  If you are a makeup artist or someone that just loves bold lips, I think these would be pretty great for you to add to your stash.

Have you tried these macaron lipsticks yet?  If so – which ones do you have?  If not, are there any that you are interested in?

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