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Product Reviews

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Argan Oil is all the talk on the town now a days and a treatment that has been bringing life back to hair for a really long time.  I’m a coconut oil girl and use it daily, because Argan oil usually causes my hair line to break out, but I’ve been really enjoying the benefits of Arvazallia and their Argan oil treatments.  Are you looking for beautiful, silky and healthier looking hair?  Are you interested in adding some kind of Argan oil to your hair routine but are so confused due to the vast selections now available on the market?  Well, check out my thoughts on this professional line and see if it will work for you.

PRESS SAMPLE

Arvazallia Professional Series Hair

If you have been a follower of my blog or YouTube channel for a little while, you will know that while I do really like Argan oil, it’s not something I use all the time in my hair because it causes my hair line to have a little break out now and then when I use it.  I’m a Coconut oil and Macadamia oil gal and have been now over the last two years.  Does this mean I don’t use Argan oil, no… I still do – but normally save it for days when my skin is in check and I can use it without worrying that it will cause any affects.  With that said, I have been using this product now for the last two weeks and have been using it with some of my favorite hair care products.  I am not only impressed with this particular argan oil but I am liking it a lot!

Arvazallia Premium Argan Oil Hair Treatment

Arvazallia Professional Series Premium Argan Oil Hair Treatment (3.4 fl. oz.) retails for $45.00 and the bottle is huge.  If you have long hair like me – you will surely love the size of this product because it will last you a while.  I love that the bottle it comes in is clear so you can see exactly how much product you have left and of course, it has a gorgeous design which I think would look beautiful on any vanity – even if only for display.

Product claims:

  • Improve Manageability – Makes even frizzy and difficult to manage hair silky, soft and easier to manage.
  • Awakens Dull Hair – Provides hair with a radiant and magnificent shine.
  • Restore Damaged Hair – Nourishes, Strengthens, and Restores damaged, over-processed and brittle hair.
  • Color Enhancer – Enhances color treatments by helping to ensure color is applied evenly.
  • Heat Protection – Protects hair from damage when curling or using flat irons.

There are several ways you can use the product for your hair… Styling, Repair and for Coloring.  For styling – you can use a small amount and put in the palm of your hands like you would other hair oils and massage into your hair from root to ends.  You can apply on towel dried hair – but I use it on my damp hair so that it helps to eliminate any frizz in my curly tresses.  If you have any loose hairs for second day hair or when your hair is dry – simply apply a small amount to your ends or to help with frizz.  I’m super sensitive to funky scents and I am happy to announce that this particular product doesn’t really have a heavy smell.  It does have a scent, though I wasn’t able to pin point what it smelled like and it didn’t bother me at all.  I didn’t get any break outs on my hair line and I love the consistency.  The product is like any oil, not too thick but applies and works into the hair nicely.  I also love the pump bottle that it comes in – definitely a plus to keep from messy application.

Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask

The Arvazallia Professional Series Hydrating Argan Oil Mask (8.45 fl.oz.) retails for $40.00 and just like the Argan Oil treatment, this mask offers a pretty nice amount of product so I think that it is definitely worth the cost considering the size.  The mask is fairly thick so if you have long hair as I do – it may take a little more than you may be used to to work the product through your hair.

Product claims:

  • Repairs and Revitalizes Damaged Hair
  • Repairs, Restores, and Strengthens weak, damaged and overprocessed hair
  • Reinvigorates Dry Hair – Deeply conditions, hydrates and moisturizes hair giving it a soft and silky texture
  • Improves Elasticity and Manageability – revives dull and dry hair improving its manageability and elasticity and giving it a beautiful shine.
  • Strengthens Hair – nourishes hair with the highest quality cosmetic grade Argan oil rich in essential vitamins and nutrients
  • Heat Protection – Protects and Shields Hair from Damage Caused by Heat Styling

Directions state that to use this product – apply a generous amount of product to clean and towel-dried hair.  Comb the treatment through hair and leave in for 5 to 7 minutes then rinse.  Use 1-2 times a week.  I have used this product twice in the last couple of weeks since I have had it.  I apply it directly to my hair prior to taking a shower so I did change up the process to suit my own needs.  Overall I’m pretty impressed.  The hair ends seem to be revived and don’t look as dry as they can be – especially during this time of the year.  I love the scent, it’s slightly floral but sweet – it that makes any sense at all.  But if you are someone that it kind of sensitive to fragrance, I do not think it is too over powering for you to use.  My hair felt soft and silky after using it.

Arvazallia Professional Series Hydrating Argan Oil Treatments

Overall – I am super duper impressed with these products and it doesn’t amaze me one bit that the reviews on Amazon are as great as they are.   If you are looking for an Argan oil that will give you all the great benefits argan oils do without leaving your hair with a funky residue or in my case, break me out – then I think you would like these a lot.  My hair was left feeling soft and manageable, my frizz reduced dramatically and I even noticed that the color in my hair seemed much more vibrant, almost as if I had just colored it recently – it is not as dull as it normally is, seeing as my last color was several months ago.  I’ve been reading about the products from others and I’m very happy to say that many have had similar results – so I’m very proud that I have been able to try out this product and enjoy it.

DISCOUNT ALERT:

Arvazallia has a discount on their Amazon site – so you can get your Argan Oil (originally $45) for just $17.99 and Hydrating Argan Oil Mask (originally $40) for just $15.99.  If this is something you may be interested in checking out – here are the links to the items:

Arvazallia Premium Argan Oil Hair Treatment:  http://www.arvazallia.com/premiumarganoilbbpromo

Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask:  http://www.arvazallia.com/hydratingmaskbbpromo

Is this something you think you may be interested in trying?  Are you someone like me that adds hair oil like Argan, Coconut or Macadamia to your hair care routine?  What are some of your favorites?

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This post was sponsored by Brand backer

 

Longer, stronger, thicker, beautiful hair in just a couple of short months?  Hmmm… can this be achieved with just two little pills taken each day?  Check out my thoughts on this product below.

Press Sample

Aviva Hair Revitalizer Hair Growth Pill

Over the last month I had the opportunity to test out the Aviva Hair Revitalizer ($59.95), a 100% drug free, fish free pill that you take once a day with meals to achieve longer, stronger and thicker hair.  Now, most that know me can attest that my hair is fairly long, super curly and it’s been that way for my entire life.  However, since having my children – mainly my twins, my hair has definitely become much more brittle and definitely fine vs. being so thick as it used to be in my childhood and teen years.    While my length is still achieved fairly easily for me, keeping my hair strong and healthy has been a challenge for me.

WHAT IS THE AVIVA™ HAIR REVITALIZER ADVANCED HAIR GROWTH* SYSTEM?

Aviva™ is a scientifically formulated hair revitalizer that stimulates healthy hair growth from within. Aviva’s exclusive formula combines the strength of two proprietary complexes, Pentaplex HGF and Tetra-HHL. All-natural ingredients packed into a fish-free, odorless, and easy to take softgel work with your natural hair growth cycle, enriching and enhancing for longer, stronger, thicker and beautiful, healthy looking hair.

HOW DOES AVIVA™ WORK?

Aviva’s proprietary dual complex works with your natural hair growth cycle to stimulate healthy hair growth from within – up to 6mm beneath the scalp’s surface – to enrich and enhance the follicle, allowing it to produce stronger, thicker, and beautiful hair. As Aviva stimulates and improves the health of these hair follicles deep beneath the surface, it revitalizes the hair’s DNA. Working with your natural hair growth cycle, Aviva helps support hair structure and encourages new, emerging hair.

Before Taking Aviva Hair Revitalizer

While my hair appears to be thick in my “before” photo – it is mainly because of my curls and how my hair is layered.  When my hair is pulled back in a pony tail or bun, you can see how thin and fine my hair truly is.  In my Before Photo (above), even with my favorite hair care products, my locks can look dry and brittle if I do not moisturize them appropriately.  I also have a huge problem area… where I have some receding on my hair line… near the temples on both sides of my head.  For the most part I can hide the receding with the curls in my hair, but it is pretty visible when left to its own.

After one week of using Aviva Hair Revitalizer

After just a week of taking Aviva Hair Revitalizer, I noticed that the strength of my hair had improved.  As you can see in the above image – my hair is completely brushed out (left) and after brushing out my curls I noticed that my brush didn’t have as many strands entangled in the bristles.  This was the first time I noticed results, and that was just a week after I started taking the pills.  When I straightened my hair shortly after, my hair seemed to be much thicker than it normally would be if I had flat-ironed it.  Because my hair had looked so thin in the past, I didn’t flat-iron or add any heat to my hair in over 2 years.  After washing my curls came back without any issues and it seemed strong and started to feel like it was much thicker than before.

aviva ingredients

Check out Aviva’s website for information on the Hair Growth Cycle.  Taking the product is easy… simply take 2 soft gels a day  –  one in the morning and one at night.  Make sure that you take each soft gel with meals and use as directed for a minimum of 3-6 months.  While the site and box does state that you will receive the best results after 3-6 months of taking the product, I did notice a difference in my hair after just a week and a huge improvement in the strength of my hair after a month.  I have tried all kinds of different treatments on my hair to improve the strength of it and haven’t experienced such results with other products like I have with Aviva.  Used in combination with my holy grail Coconut Oil and some of my favorite hair care products left me very impressed.

after one month of Aviva

It’s been a month since I started using Aviva and while I don’t think I noticed much hair growth, I definitely see results in regard to the strength of my hair and the loss of hair.  Normally when I shower – I can lose a tremendous amount of hair due to breakage or the fact that my hair just sheds so dramatically.  Also – the area near the temples of my head where I had some thinning and a bit receding seems to have filled in a little more.  Some of my baby hair seems to be growing out so that the thinning of my hair line near my temples is not as prominent.  I’ll be sure to post photos of this in my follow up of this product in a month.  While it’s not noticeable to those around me, I can see the difference in the thickness of my hair and how much body it seems to have after just a month of taking Aviva.

Don’t forget to click on my video review below for my thoughts as well or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

So have you tried a hair growth product or Aviva Hair Revitalizer before?  Overall I’m pretty impressed with the product and will come back in a month to discuss any additional results I experienced then.

Use code AVIVAbstat14 to receive a 20% discount and FREE shipping on a 30-Day Supply.  You can purchase AVIVA Hair Revitalizer at www.avivahair.com.

This item was provided for review courtesy of www.beautystat.com.

blog signature honey copy Disclaimer:  This product was provided to me courtesy of Beautystat.  All opinions are my own and 100% honest and unbiased.  While I was provided samples to test out, I was not compensated for my thoughts and review.

 

Yay me!  I swear, I am always amazed with the perks that come with being a Blogger, but more so when I get to try out new and exciting things and realize how lucky I truly am.  I had the awesome opportunity to receive the April POPSUGAR Must-have Box and it was filled with goodies different from my normal that I’m used to receiving from other Subscription boxes.  Check out what I got and all the goodies inside.

PRESS SAMPLE / AFFILIATE LINK

POPSUGAR Must-have April Box Check out my reveal video – watch the embedded video below or click here to watch directly on YouTube.

If you watched my reveal video – you can see that I am and was definitely excited to receive all the goodies in my April box.  It was filled with awesome Spring goodies to get me excited for the season and looking forward Summer.  Are you a Monthly Subscription junkie like me?  If so, the POPSUGAR Must-have box may just be a great fit for you.  It includes a variety of products from beauty, food, home, fitness and more and is just $39.95 each month with free shipping.  What I love about this box is that you receive FULL SIZED Products, many of which are Premium items.  Check out past Must-have boxes to see if this is something you may want to sign up for.  Interested in signing up for POPSUGAR’s awesome Must-have box… click here to check it all out.

Included in April’s box was a total of 6 items – I have them outlined for you as well as the price break down for your reference.

Blue Avocado (Eco) Shopper

THE BLUE AVOCADO (ECO) SHOPPER – retails for $25.00

This awesome little shopper was a joint effort between Lauren Conrad and BlueAvocado.  It is a collapsible tote (perfect for carrying groceries) and is made from upcycled plastic bottles.  It folds neatly into a wallet-sized pouch and fits perfectly into my purse.  This is awesome!  In Hawaii – on my island, stores no longer offer you plastic bags and many require you have your own shopping bag for groceries so I will make great use out of this.

Too Faced Natural Eyes

TOO FACED NATURAL EYES PALETTE – retails for $36.00

I was beyond excited to hear that this product was in other people’s boxes and certainly could not wait to get my hands on it.  I have been eyeing this palette for a while and being a huge Too Faced addict, I was jumping for joy inside.  This palette is perfect for the gal who loves a natural look.  It includes nine different shades and the color range is perfect for every age and every skin tone.  Included is a glamour guide (like most Too Faced palettes) that you can use to create looks or be inspired and the shades included are a combination of matte, satin and shimmer.  I’m seriously diggin’ this!

POPSUGAR Must-have April Box

GRAPHIC IMAGE POCKET NOTES – retails for $20.00

This awesome little notebook is sweet, stylish and a great size to throw into the purse.  Made with silver edges, acid-free paper and a flexible cover with the words “Run the World” on the cover – I am surely inspired to keep blog posts and more in this notebook that fits perfectly in the pocket or in my purse for on the go inspiration.

CALDREA ROSE WATER DRIFTWOOD HAND SOAP – retails for $10.50

Who doesn’t need hand soap?  As a mom of three boys, we have hand soap everywhere in the house and I’m always on the hunt for new scents that I love.   This hand soap has  a combination of floral aromas that have a light but great scent.  The soap is gentle but hardworking and free of any harmful chemicals.

POPSUGAR Must-have April Box

FRESH PASTRY STAND TOTALLY AWESOME TEA TOWEL SET – retails for $18.00

Seriously… how “Awesome” is it to display something that says “totally awesome” in your kitchen.  Since nothing but awesome grinds come from my kitchen (yes, I’m bragging – lol), I was very excited to get something like this.  The Awesome tea towel set is such a fresh take on a cute design and I love the bright and bold colors that is so fun for Spring and Summer.  They are handmade from a water-based ink and completely lint-free (woohoo!).  I am looking forward to having fun with these.

NATUREBOX POPSUGAR MUST HAVE MIX – retails for $5.00

Hello goodies and snacks!  Let me first say that I am in love with how awesome these taste but I won’t go into any details since I’ll be doing a full post on my blog all about these goodies in the future.  NatureBox teamed up with Lisa Sugar to design this custom snack mix especially for POPSUGAR Must Have.  NO artificial flavors, NO artificial colors, NO corn syrup and NO hydrogenated oils.  They include a bunch of my favorite snack treats like almonds, soybeans, corn and cranberries – a satisfying crunch for any die hard snacker.  I am seriously addicted to these.

My Thoughts Overall…

Overall – I’m definitely impressed with the April POPSUGAR Must Have box.  It includes a variety of items I know I will get great use out and each product offers great quality.  So let me break it all down for you with regard to how much product you are receiving and the amount you pay.

You pay $39.95 each month for this box.  This month I received a total value of $114.50 worth of products.  I got over $70 additional worth of products and I think it was well worth it.  If you are looking for a monthly subscription box that offers you a variety of products from beauty and home to fitness, health and food – then this definitely may be the box for you.  Click here to sign up or to learn more about the box itself and to check out what past boxes looked like: http://popsu.gr/sCKU  And if you sign up – be sure to stop on by and let me know what you think of your first box.

Have you tried POPSUGAR Must Have box before or have you been interested in trying it out?  What do you think of my April box, is it worth the $39.95?  Thank you so much for your time in reading my post.  Wishing you all a wonderful week!

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Skin that feels great, is hydrated and moisturized and looks fantastic… SIGN ME UP!  I have super dry skin and I also have severe Eczema so anything that keeps my skin supple and soft but also moisturized so that I do not get any Eczema flare ups is my best friend.  I have my go-to products and I still use them faithfully, but I have enjoyed adding the Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator to my skin care routine.  Affordable, easy to use and convenient… yup – I’m all over it.

Hada Labo Tokyo - Replenishing HydratorHada Labo Tokyo was created in Japan by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd under the concept of “Perfect and Simple”, which promises highly effective skin care while eliminating all the unnecessary ingredients and additives.  Since its introduction in Japan in 2004, the Hada Labo brand has grown to more than 60 different products and explanded its success to several Asian countries.  This is the first Japanese skin care line to launch in the U.S. at mass retailers like Ulta.

While I only had the opportunity to try one of Hada Labo Tokyo’s products (the Replenishing Hydrator), I instantly loved the product and I’m already on my fourth bottle having received my first bottle to test run from ExpoTV.  After just one use, I was amazed at how my skin felt – quenched and soft.  I am so afraid at trying new skin care products because they can have severe affects on my Eczema and cause an irritation or flare up that can take a month to clear up.  After using this product for the last 5 months, I can honestly say I am a HUGE fan.

Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator

Said to boost hydration and plump fine lines, the replenishing hydrator is a product I can use daily (day and night) or when ever I feel I need a little extra boost.  I love that the product is light weight, clear and its liquid like texture is easy to apply and smooth onto the skin.  It penetrates my skin quickly, leaving it soft and moisturized all day long.  There is no scent and it is a non-sticky formula that makes it easy to apply and be on your way to start your day or hit the sheets.

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

Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator comes in a 1.7 fl. oz. bottle that retails on Ulta.com for $17.99.  The packaging is adorable – but I am a huge Sakura fan and love Cherry Blossoms, so that was a huge plus as well.  It comes with a pump which makes distributing the product a breeze and you always get the right amount of product each time.  I noticed while using it that I didn’t feel like I wasted a drop.

Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator

An instant boost of hydration infused with Super Hyaluronic Acid™. This lightweight, fast absorbing hydrator replenishes lost moisture as it combats skin dehydration, helping to prevent premature signs of aging. Skin will look and feel supple and radiant.

  1. Unique, clear liquid formula
  2. Lightweight and fast absorbing
  3. Quick, on-the-go moisture replenishment
  4. Use alone or in combination with other skin care products
  5. Can be applied over make-up
  6. Free from fragrance, parabens, dyes and mineral oils
  7. Suitable for all skin types

Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator

Did you watch my video review (above)?  At the end of the video I do a quick demo of how I apply the product itself.  This is an ideal skin care product for on the go as well as for travel – mainly because it is so easy to apply and not messy like a cream can be.  It’s not sticky on the fingers or on your face and soaks in so quickly, you’ll forget you just applied it.  As if all of those awesome things weren’t great enough – the product not only hydrates my skin but I also noticed a decrease in my fine lines… they didn’t completely disappear but diminished enough that I forgot I had them.

Key Ingredients:

  • Super Hyaluronic Acid (SHA): Proprietary combination of 3 types of Hyaluronic Acid. Powerful hydrator and plumper that provides multi-layer, long lasting moisture to restore and strengthen skin’s natural hydrating levels.
  • Gentle corn-derived glucose-based emollient that helps bind moisture to the skin.

Ingredients:

water, butylene glycol, glycerin, citric acid, dipropylene glycol, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, methylisothiazolinone, PPG-10 methyl glucose ether, sodium acetylated hyaluronate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium hyaluronate.

Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator

 

Overall – as if you couldn’t already tell, I’m super duper impressed with this product not only because it didn’t give me any bad reactions but because it actually worked at what it is supposed to do.  And, it’s super affordable so keeping it in my skin care routine is not a daunting task on my pocket book.  Have you tried the Hada Labo Tokyo Replenishing Hydrator before or any Hada Labo Tokyo products?  I am really interested in your thoughts.  If you haven’t, is this something you would try?

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Having three little ones with a very active lifestyle keeps me consistently on my toes and I’m ALWAYS cleaning.  One thing that I do not suggest is carpet (especially light colored carpet) in high traffic areas of your home, but we moved in to a place that already had carpet installed so it was something we had to deal with.  Even with a “stain resistant” carpet – the stains did not clean up as easily as it warranted and after years of spills, no matter what we did and how well we cleaned, the high traffic areas in our home were beyond cleaning despair – until now.

Resolve Easy Clean Pro

Upkeep of light colored carpet when you have little ones in the house is not necessarily difficult, but definitely a challenge and I found that my husband and I spent a lot of money on carpet cleaning products in the past that cleaned very small sections without issue but the follow up and keep up of it began to be expensive.  At one point – we even discussed ripping the entire carpet out – but financially it wasn’t feasible.  Recently my husband and I tested the Resolve Easy Clean Pro Kit that came with the Carpet Cleaner Gadget and a Foam Refill.  The set retails at most stores like Walmart & Target for about $20 and in some cases cheaper and the replacement foam can retail for about $15.00 if purchased separately.  I’ll be honest in saying that we really weren’t sure that the cleaner would work and I was not easily a believer.

Check out my video below that outlines putting together the unit and shows you how easy it is to work.  You can also click here to watch directly on YouTube.

Thank you for watching my video.  Please don’t forget to Subscribe, Comment and Like. ~ Thank you!

As you can see from the image below – our carpet really took a beating over the last few years.  With spills from juice, milk, liquid like foods, snacks – you name it, it has definitely graced these floors.  My husband and I have used various cleaning products prior to Resolve and only a few stains were removed, usually not enough to make a difference, especially in our very high traffic areas.  With just one use of the Resolve Easy Clean Pro and Carpet Spray we were able to see a HUGE and very noticeable difference in how our carpet looked.

resolve carpet cleaner before and after

As you seen in the video, assembly of the cleaning gadget was VERY simple and took me just a minute or two to put together.  While there was a slight smell from the foam, it was not as strong as other carpet cleaning products we have used in the past and drying time was faster than we had expected.  The texture and feel of the carpet didn’t change as other products have done before as well – some had left our carpet very hard and crunchy like… it felt uncomfortable on the feet.   So I’m super happy that I didn’t feel like I was walking on porcupines after cleaning.  And, I do love that my carpet did not change in tone or discolor after use and drying.

The instructions were super easy to follow:

  • Assemble the unit
  • Insert the Resolve High Traffic Carpet Cleaner Foam Canister
  • Dispense the foam by pressing the trigger at the top of the Unit
  • Brush the carpet – using the unit and brushing the foam to remove the grime
  • After carpet has dried – vacuum and done

A few tidbits about the product:

  • New ergonomic handle for easy grip and extra comfort
  • No more scrubbing on your hands and knees (woohoo – love this one)
  • Up to 50 sq. feet area coverage per can (I think this is awesome since we are able to cover a large amount before we need to purchase a refill)
  • Made for High Traffic Areas of the Home – stair landings, corridors, entry ways, small area rugs
  • New and Improved – 100% more dirt fighting power

Con – I do have one thing I wish I could be changed and it is the length of the handle.  I’m not very tall – just 5’6″ but I feel like I’m bending over a bit while brushing the carpet so you can certainly understand how my husband feels since he is 6 feet tall.  I wish there was just a few more inches added to the handle to accommodate our height.  It is not necessarily uncomfortable but it could be a little easier to brush with the handle if it could extend just a little more.

Overall – Having not used a unit like this before, I am very impressed with how well it worked for us.  My husband and I have already treated a good 80% of our living room carpet and I feel like it surely worked well after just one treatment of each area.   We will continue to use this product until we have put it to so much use that it doesn’t want to work anymore.   It’s affordable and offers you an awesome solution over spending a lot of money on renting or buying heavy duty equipment to clean your carpets.  I’m definitely impressed with ease of use, affordability and availability of the Resolve Easy Clean Pro Carpet Cleaner.

So are you looking for a fairly easy way to clean your carpet?  Will you be looking into the Resolve Easy Clean Pro to take care of your carpet cleaning needs?  If so – I would love to hear your thoughts on it if you end up buying it or if you have tried it already.

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