Swaggable: Eco-Me Dog Dry Shampoo

I received a sample of the Eco-Me Dog Dry Shampoo in Grapefruit Sage. First item I liked is the simple ingredients list. You have Baking Soda, Corn Starch and Essential oils...the end!



Directions are fairly simple: You sprinkle onto fur, brush or rub in thoroughly. You then wipe excess away with a dry towel. Repeat as needed and can also be used to refresh dog bedding.

Results:

This is like an air freshener and odor eliminator spray but for Dogs! I liked how it gave her a fresh scent and she did not mind the application. Being that this pretty much is an enhanced baking soda, I already have used it in the past for refreshing her bedding and sleeping quarters. It has been chilly and our dog had been cold and in a jacket, so she tends to get a little on the funky side. She smells like a corn chip! This made her corn chip-less and that is a major plus in my book. The product does absorb some oils and dirt when you get a look at the towel you use to wipe off. Our dog likes to play with the vacuum hose and I also used it to get some of the powder off, even though it was not needed.  I figure I was cleaning so let's make a game of it!



I would love this product for in-between baths. I know if I had received this product sooner, it would have yielded a better result because so far it left me 75% satisfied with the clean and 150% satisfied with the scent. To corn chip-less smelling dogs!  You can purchase this product and their other lines at the Eco-Me website!



I received the above product from Swaggable and I am not obligated to provide a positive or negative review, just my honest opinion.  My opinion is based on my experience with the product and may differ from yours

KRED Perk: Ageless Beauty Collection by Pantene and Olay

Being a member of Kred is rewarding, literally. You get Perks in topics you are influential in and usually that means subjects you are interested in. My latest and oh, so wonderful Perk is this Pantene Collection! You will note the Olay ProX deep wrinkle treatment and like Pantene, they are part of Procter & Gamble (P&G) family. This is the ultimate anti-aging kit that focuses around hair and face. This gorgeous packet included a Headband, Beauty Coupon booklet to save while I fight the signs of aging and a Stylist Tip card. It also has the Shampoo, Conditioner and the Thickening Treatment.  Look out 2013, I may look like 2003 since this can turn back the clock up to 10 years!



I highly recommend becoming a member of Kred. Google KRED and you may see they are like Klout but I find Kred to be more on a "person to person" level, versus Klout you are a bit detached. I get tweets from the great people that work the Kred machine and personal e-mails. I do not feel lost in the crowd at Kred and this is why I love them! Beth and Sara are the sweetest people here and very approachable. Check out @Kred and @KredRewards to get an idea of the Perks they supply their members. Have a concern or question, contact @KredSara or @KredBeth. They can also be contacted via FaceBook. They recently acquired Swaylo so they are growing and even have a Perk for qualifying members from GoComics! Everything for Everyone can be met at Kred! I will be reviewing the products above soon and sharing my results!

L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur

The first thing that captured my attention when I received this from Vogue, was the words under "Blur", instant skin smoother finishing cream.  I use the Make Up Forever Finishing powder but have not heard of a finishing cream.  I was a unsure how to fit this into my daily regimen and who was getting bumped off because my finishing powder is the last thing I apply after my make-up.  Thankfully, it was clearly illustrated on the package under the "Recommended Regimen":

• Step 1: Foaming Cleanser


• Step 2: Day Cream


• Step 3: Eye Cream


• Step 4: Miracle Blur

That was easy!  I bumped off my primer and sunscreen because the Miracle Blur has a Broad Spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen in it.  I think just typing that made my pores breathe better!  The directions are easy and clear too, you apply this as the last step of your Skincare Regimen.  I also apply an Olay all day moisturizer so I bumped that off because this has that "opti-blur technology" and that is pretty much what my Olay did.  Now, I am up to 3 products off my list.....awesome!

Miracle Blur lists active ingredients as follows:
Avobenzone at 3%, Homosalate at 10%, Octisalate at 5%, Octocrylene at 5%, and Oxybenzone at 6%.  What are they?  The "Purpose" listed is sunscreen so this is definitely a broad spectrum sunscreen as advertised!

Application is simple and the product comes in a modest 1.18 fluid ounces and you just apply a dime size all over your face.  That is many dimes in that tube for the current retail price of $19.99.

Results:
I must emphasize that a dime size does the trick.  I went up to a dime and a half and wasted a nickel!  This gave me a greasy like feeling that I was not able to shake off all day and I even reapplied my Finishing Powder but it felt the same.  I was about to scratch future use until I lectured myself on how I read the directions but did not follow them.  Day Two, I behave and thank goodness I grounded myself on Day One!

The product works better than my Smashbox branded primer and costs less, so round #1 goes to Miracle Blur.  I wore the product throughout the day and under my make-up, and I remained with a matte finish that was not over dry or greasy due to the SPF.  Round #2 goes to Miracle Blur because I must admit there are days that I just don't want Sunscreen because it will feel like a film over my pores.  I trick myself by lightly applying but then I run around ditching the sun all day like I'm a vampire.  This was with a SPF15 so that I can get double that with Miracle Bur at SPF30, I think there was a knockout in round #2.  My fine lines and pores remained minimized throughout the day and it lasted until I washed my face that evening.  I loved that!

In case you missed it, Miracle Blur won in Round #3!  Fight OVER!

You do not get a lift or tightening as this product does not contain and/or claim any anti-again properties, so you still will need to keep those products in your arsenal.  No antioxidants but I like how it replaces three of my everyday products.  It's not a BB cream but almost a morphed product that can easily stand on it's own, without a label as such.

Other things to Note:
Love that it comes without a tint or color!  I can keep my foundation and not have to fight any hue.  I was left (before makeup) with a nice smooth finish that was matte, so again I am not trying to fight a shine with powders.  I did not melt and no blemishes were caused by Miracle Blur.  I would call this Camouflage with Protection due to the SPF.  I will be purchasing the Miracle Blur mainly because it has no tint and a better results (and value) than the three products Miracle Blur bumped off!

I received this product free of charge from Vogue.  I have no obligation to provide a positive or negative review, just my honest opinion.  My opinion is based on my experiences with the product and may differ from yours.

L'Oreal Paris Magic B.B. Cream Campign via SheSpeaks

L'Oreal Paris presents Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream

Being a member of SheSpeaks (www.shespeaks.com), I was fortunate to qualify and try the new B.B. Cream by L'Oreal. With so many B.B. creams hitting the market and the swings in price points, I was eager to find out how this formula performs.



This B.B. Cream makes 4 simple claims:

• Primes


• Perfects


• Hydrates


• Corrects

I love the color I received in Fair #810. It does blend perfectly so I am already ahead of what seems to be a problem with my ivory (nice way to say pale) skin tone. I use a primer by Smashbox but it does get mundane always squeezing a dab of this and that, to just apply my make-up. I wash my hands in between so many times that I am making Soft Soap rich! The primer portion does deliver because I did have a nice smooth skin texture as stated on the bottle. This lasted well throughout the day and doing normal activities like running errands. My pores never looked large after hours of wear, so that was a nice result.

Perfects.....okay, let's see what they mean. It states to hide imperfections so I translate that to camouflage any scars or acne marks a person may have. I get the occasional blemish and I dislike carrying the sign of it for a couple of weeks, until I literally exfoliate it off. I do use a concealer but again sometimes I forget to use it, and recall right after I applied my finishing powder. I did like how it covered and it still retained a sheer finish. So far so good!

The next claim is hydration and I worry when I see this because having combination skin, it also means that certain areas are sometimes oilier than other times. My face fluctuates, sometimes my forehead behaves and pretends to act normal and other days it likes to play pretends and dress up as a glowing beacon. I then sometimes scale back too much on moisture and I look powdery and dry, especially around my cheeks. I like giving the control up or pretending of, to an all-in-one product, if it delivers. I will say that after using it for two whole weeks, I could not blame a pimple or blemish on this B.B. cream. This beauty balm did keep my cheeks looking healthy and did not cause me to create an oil spill on my forehead.

Last but not least, we have correction. They state the B.B. cream corrects skin for a healthy looking and even complexion. I have not noticed a change that I can contribute to the balm yet and I blame this on my 2 week trial so far. I will say that the way it might be correcting is by not creating problems in the first place, like oiliness to blemishes. I experienced less than I have with my everyday foundation and it may be because of the sheer qualities this balm has. Yes, coverage is excellent but I felt my skin breath better because of it's light texture.  I also liked that the balm contains antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Would I buy it:
Yes, I would because of how well it performed and it's super affordable, costing under $10.00 for 1.0 Fluid ounces. My only concerns came when the weather warmed up a bit but I am a person that needs a foundation for Fall and Winter and a different formulation for Spring and Summer. I felt my problem areas like my forehead and chin gave a little more shine than I liked but the next day when I added the finishing powder back to my regimen, this corrected the issue and it did not resurface later in the day. Could this be an all-in-one weather foundation for me? Only time will tell and I can say that my tube shall last until late Spring.....so we shall see!

Other things of Note:
This is a squeeze tube and it performs great. No waste and easy clean up. The beauty balm also came off easily when I washed my face and I did not feel that tight feeling I sometimes get with my foundations. That I really liked! I did notice you get a "face stamp" (residue) on your phone if you do not use a finishing powder but it was very light, also not present when I incorporated the powder on those warmer days.  You can gather more information by connecting via Twitter @LOrealParisUSA, @SheSpeaksUp, also by using hashtag #MagicBBCream.



I received the aforementioned product free of charge and because I am a member of SheSpeaks.  I have no obligation to give the product a positive or negative review, just my honest opinion.  My opinion is formed by my experience and may differ from yours.

Valentine's Day Lovey Dovey Heart Buns

The above is made twisting both doughs and filling the heart openings with the plain cream cheese filling.  I then dotted the center with the chocolate filling.

As promised, my revision!

The recipe is here: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/lemon-love-buns-recipe

My revision:

3/4 cup of water (170 grams)
30 grams of butter and 35 cream cheese
1 large egg, plus the egg yolk of another egg (save the egg white of the second egg as it will serve as your wash)
3 small drops (I use a dropper) of almond extract and one teaspoon of vanilla
1/4 teaspoon of salt
30 grams of sugar
2 teaspoons of Buttermilk powder
363 grams of flour (if making the chocolate* version add 1/2 to 2/3 of a cup of dutch cocoa powder to your flour)
2 teaspoons of instant yeast

*when the dough is starting to knead, I added 1/2 a cup of mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet) to the chocolate batch to give it that extra chocolate flavor.

Fillings:
Make chocolate ganache: half chocolate, I use a mix of semi-sweet and bittersweet and you then add the same amount of Heavy Cream. For example- you mix 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips to 1/2 a cup of heavy cream and melt on the stove. Do not simmer or boil! I do the game of adding heat and then move my pot away to stir and if I see it needs more heat, I go back to the flame.

I then add 1/4 cup of ganache to 5 ounces of softened cream cheese and mix. Then I add a tablespoon of flour and mix again until smooth That is my simple filling. You can play with the ratios to suit your taste and add chocolate chips if you wish. Just remember you may need to up the flour amount to get the consistency desired.

For the plain cream cheese filling, I take 8 ounces of softened cream cheese (usually one package) and add 1/2 a vanilla bean, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of flour. Again, just mix until smooth.



The above is the chocolate dough with chocolate filling

The big difference comes when assembly. I did just like the recipe but left the heart shape open more once I twisted the dough. Plop the fillings of your choice and then let it rise. That simple! You can see that both my plain dough and chocolate dough yielded many possibilities! I believe in playing and making it your own, as you can see I even added Boysenberry Preserves to some hearts because that is my husband's favorite fruit. Some even have no filling because I crave plain sometimes. Again, just have as good time creating!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day!! I believe hearts and love is year round, so I will be making these again soon!



The above is plain cream cheese filling with Boysenberry Preserves 

Other Varieties: 



I made a braid as I had to little dough left to make hearts.  I also made a chocolate dough heart with the plain cream cheese filling



Plain dough hearts with no filling



Playing around and making normal buns with a dot of filling

BzzAgent Campaign: Claritin D Review

Let me preface this by saying that I was a Zyrtec girl. If there's an allergy out there, I'll suffer from it. Flowers? Check. Pollen? Check. Dander? Double check. Dust? Check, check, all day check. You get the picture. I was famous in high school for always having a Kleenex box in hand. And lately, a little of the shine has come off the Zyrtec apple. How fortuitous was it then that BzzAgents offered me a Claritin-D campaign? Did the stars align for me or what?

What did I like:

Can you say sniffles-be-gone? Because now I can! How cool is that? I'd forgotten the relief I'm supposed to feel with an allergy pill! That's not to completely dump on Zyrtec. It served me very well for many, many years, but the human body is an amazing machine, and it adapts and builds tolerances to a lot of things, medication included. I was long overdue for a change, and Claritin-D is just what the doctor ordered.

Literally.

My doctor recommended it, and BzzAgents offered a campaign. I got the message, universe. Thanks.

It was also nice that both my allergy relief and my nasal congestion is addressed in just one pill. Before, I was taking separate pills, but Claritin-D had the presence of mind to combine both of my pills. One less pill is always a good thing. And before everyone points it out, yes, I know Zyrtec makes a "D" version as well.

What didn't I Like?

This might be nit picking, but the BzzAgents coupon for this campaign didn't cover the cost of the full quantity mentioned on the coupon (10 or more). Bad form, BzzAgents. Bad form.

Also, what's up with the funky quantities, Claritin? Let's all look and see how many days in a month. 30. Split that in half for you lucky seasonal-allergies types. What's that? 15? Someone at Claritin, get on the ball and let's make a box cover a whole month, please? Thank you very much.

The Verdict:

Thanks for the memories, Zyrtec, but don't let the door hit you on the tush on the way out. This is now a Claritin-D house.

I received the above product from BzzAgent and my only commitment is to provide an honest review. I have no obligation of sharing a favorable (or unfavorable) opinion. The above statement are my own opinion based on my experiences with the product. Your opinion may differ from mine.

Go Beyond the Bun with MorningStar Farms

Before you say "Where's the meat?",  please take a moment and give it a chance. I am a meat eater and a veggie lover, I also believe when you want a burger, you get a burger. I have tasted meatless products in the past and because they try to imitate an animal product without being one, they fail at being beefy and worse, they are not even a good tasting veggie meal. I was a little nervous and even thought, "Maybe I should have declined this campaign". I eat vegetables daily and in huge quantities so I am picky and especially when it comes to a frozen product. To get an idea of what I like to eat so you can see where my palette lands in all this, I love Fresh & Easy's stir fry mix to their Broccoli bags and these all come from the freezer section. I also pick up 2 heads of fresh broccoli, and other vegetables, at my local market because I know it will last me a week and the second week I go frozen. It's my way to balance freshness and convenience without sacrificing my need and want for vegetables.



So, I pick up what I call the "original" Garden Veggie Patties. I figure if they do the original right, I then will give their other varieties a try in the future. I have a meat-less meal once a week and it's not planned but sometimes I just don't want meat or fish. I know, I'm a girl with bunny rabbit habits. The patties are just 110 calories per serving, 350 mg of sodium with 10 grams of protein. Okay, a little high on the salt but I have seen much worse and I don't consume large quantities through out the day so I am safe.



The ingredients:
I looked and the first is Vegetables. Okay, I expected water or some tofu but it states Vegetables and the mix equates to mushrooms, water chestnuts, onion, carrots, green bell peppers, and black olives. Next comes the soy protein. You then have wheat gluten, water for hydration, egg white, cooked brown rice, rolled oats to corn oil. Then comes soy sauce and other items like jalapeno pepper powder, celery extract to garlic powder, and a touch of sugar. Mostly, things I can identify, pronounce, and my brain can retrieve an image to the name! My patty will not be glowing in the dark from chemicals so that is a good thing!



Is it good?
I saw the ingredients and minus the jalapeno pepper powder (I thought I would just think chili flakes for that one), I thought why bun it when I can pan-fry it and add it to my stir-fry. You got water chestnuts and soy sauce so I'm already there! I fried with just 1/2 teaspoon of peanut oil and sesame oil. I added no sauce or anything else and when it was done, I used the remainder, plus a 1/4 teaspoon of oil (peanut and sesame) to fry my veggies. I added a tablespoon of Trader Joe's Soyaki sauce to my vegetables and I'm done. I plate it with a Jasmine rice I made two days ago, that I added Edamame (frozen) too. Then topped it with the veggies, cut up the Morning Star patty into bite size, a dash of sesame seeds and I'm done. I then go crazy with the Sriracha Sauce and chili flakes but that is another blog post.



The Verdict:
I would buy these patties again. Found myself craving them a few days later and they settled well. Very filling and flavorful. I would say this is the best tasting vegetable and soy protein I have had and not to sound like everyone, it had a chicken like texture and taste. I don't know if that was the intention but yummy is yummy! I also liked how quick and well they fried up with very little oil. I had that whole golden brown action going that tasted great when you ate it. The product is not so overly milled that it resembles just patties made from baby food. MorningStar Farms treated me like and adult and I see the bell pepper and pieces of real food in the patty. Loved them and I can't wait to try their other selections. They had some that were flavored more towards the Italian to Mediterranean cuisines. I even saw a breakfast sausage......do I dare? These were so good that I'm game!

I received the above product from BzzAgent and my only commitment is to provide an honest review.  I have no obligation of sharing a favorable (or unfavorable) opinion.  The above statement are my own opinion based on my experiences with the product.  Your opinion may differ from mine.

BzzAgent Campaign: Lipton Spiced Cinnamon Chai Tea

Lipton Spiced Cinnamon Chai Tea



Lipton has added a new variety to their pyramid shaped tea bags, featuring black tea with real spices. The ingredients are simple, starting with black tea, cinnamon, ginger root, cloves and black pepper. The product also contains natural flavorings and the food additive, Soy Lecithin. Each serving delivers 30 mg of caffeine and you can enjoy this product warm or even cold. You also get benefits like 75 mg of tea Flavonoids. What are Flavonoids? You may have heard of Catechins, a Flavonoid that is known for it's disease fighting capabilities and antioxidants. The more you steep a cup of tea, the more Flavonoids you brew into your cup and that is a very good thing.

Things I like:
It's easy to brew the Lipton pyramid bag and it does have nice spicy notes and the cinnamon flavor is not overwhelming. It's present but well balanced by the ginger root and cloves. It's a mellow spice and I did brew my second cup a little stronger by using only 6 ounces of water and a little honey. Perfect! I definitely would classify this as a Fall and Winter blend because it may not be craveable as the weather warms up, but worth a variety to have in hand.

Things I dislike:
A mess of packaging! I never found an open pyramid bag, but the outside of the box was littered with tea leaves and spices. When I took the plastic wrap off, I was smart to do it over the sink. The disaster continued inside the box, so I removed every bag and inspected each of the 18 bags. None had holes or broken seals, so that is great but why the mess? I had to tap the box clean and then tap each bag to remove the litter. It not appetizing and if I would have not purchased a box that reflected such a mess on the outside. There was no damage to the unit, so this is definitely just being sloppy when manufacturing.

I received the above item free of charge from BzzAgent. My only commitment was to provide an honest review about the product. I am not obligated to provide a positive review! My opinion is my own and I share because that is what I enjoy doing, however your opinion may differ from mine.

BzzAgent Campaign: RedBox Instant by Verizon (BETA)

Great streaming quality and I love the ability to go out and get the latest releases. The problem I found was when it came to selection. This was a major issue because what you can stream is so limited and very old releases. The selection is limited with even some titles being dropped off from the "on-line kiosk" soon.

The price point of $8 is fair when you get 4 credits at the stand-alone kiosks, however I would not pay for streaming what they have. Why pay $8 when what you will use is the 4 rental credits and still have to drive out to the kiosk to rent and then again to return? I have to still factor in the gas for returns into the total "entertainment" budget and the only way I would remain a member, if what I could stream would be worth the additional $4. I prefer even being capped on streaming unlimited on old releases, but allowing 4 movies to be streamed from a "New Releases" menu too. The price then would be perfect and the service usable but as-is, nope! As it stands right now in beta mode, this program would be a waste in my household because I only found two movies that we may want to stream and that was even reaching, as one was Paranormal Activity 3. Yikes!

Love Buns

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.
~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Wishing everyone a superb weekend! I have been baking all week and started with making Love Buns but as the dough started to rise, the scent that started to fill the kitchen was yummy but not super yummy. I ended up at the last minute mixing some cream cheese with flour and sugar, then added Lingonberry preserves. I noticed that if I had only sprinkled sugar as instructed, it would have been sweet but would not have been flavorful, however the dough has potential. I then decided to take it up a notch and will post the revisions I made to this recipe next week. I ended up making something that looks so cute but tastes delicious....so next week will be fun :). I also baked these Love Buns together so they can be shared with a loved <3 one. The recipe is here: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/lemon-love-buns-recipe



 

A Good Read: Hiding in Sunshine by John Stuart & Caitlin Stuart

I received this book from Influenster, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to review such a fun, exciting romp. Written by father-daughter duo John and Caitlin Stuart, this cyber-crime thriller is poignant, timely and so well written, I could re-read it right away! With details to spare and taking place in their geographical backyard, the little nuances of writing this close to home really shine through. With a twist at the end I didn't see coming (and no, I won't spoil it here!), I left this literary experience satisfied and ready for more! This Stuart duo did a bang up job, putting themes like identity theft, and bank fraud at the forefront of the narrative, something we all have had some type of experience with, unfortunately. But it's a detail that means we can immediately identify with our protagonists. I will say that the book started out a little slow, but once it takes off, hold on tight, because I couldn't put it down! Kidnapping, suspense, and evil foreign criminal enterprise, witness protection, technological armageddon...my goodness! There's something for everyone here, and your doing yourself a disservice not picking this up.



Essential Facts (by the Publisher): Hiding in Sunshine is the work of a father and daughter duo who reside in the immediate area where these fictional events transpire. John Stuart is a successful high tech entrepreneur. Caitlin Stuart is a student and an aspiring writer.
Twitter: @Influenster ; #HidinginSunshine; Amazon review page: http://amzn.to/WgCTvI

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. My honest review is my own opinion about the product and may differ from yours.

Dinsaw Pong, anyone?

Montagne Jeunesse: White Thai Mud Masque

I received the masque from Swaggable, a program which lets you sample products in exchange for an honest review. I have used many of the masques that are part of the Montagne Jeunesse family also known as "7th Heaven" (www.organic7thheaven.com). This time I received the White Thai Mud Masque!

What's in it:
White Thai Mud, Organic Lemon Grass, Lotus Blossom, Organic Ginger, Organic Sesame, Organic Jasmine Tea and Organic Aloe Vera.

Properties that stand out:
Dinsaw Pong, known to us as White Thai mud helps purify the skin and has been used in Thailand for years. The chalk like consistency tends to draw out the impurities in a gentle manner, leaving you with soft and clean surface. The mud has been used in many purposes from beauty to medical, for clearing rashes to healing wounds. The mud has also been used by Thais and Laotians as skin protection, from environments that may be harsh and grueling to the skin. Once removed, you are left with a silky skin that is ultra soft.

Lemongrass. has been used in aromatherapy as a calming agent and is also antimicrobial, antifungal, analgesic, antidepressant and antiseptic.

The Lotus Blossom has been known for revitalizing skin to hair. The Lotus Flower Extract works like a conditioner.

Ginger contains gingerol, a strong antioxidant. Think of it like punching those free radicals that try to age us.

Sesame is also rich in antioxidants and this is why I not only apply it to my skin but always add a dash to my Asian dishes.

Tea alone contains antioxidants that help reduce swelling. It is rich in vitamins E, C, D, Magnesium to Iron.

I could write an article on Aloe alone from it's healing properties to how well it moisturizes. It's the one succulent I keep around and come summer when you get a little too red, I put a stalk in the fridge and nothing soothes a burn like Aloe Vera does. I love seeing it in beauty products and it beats the common cheap H2o you see so many companies use as filler.

Does it Work?
This masque makes up for the hard weeks where I did not hydrate correctly or kept up with my beauty regimen as I should. Call it my "cheater masque". I love how the White Thai Mud gently exfoliates all the impurities by drawing them out gently. I did not get that harsh dry-out you experience with clay masks, where you may even peel/flake a bit. I think what corrects those issues, is the antioxidant punch this masque has. You get lifting of dead cells that are exchanged by new ones, which are welcomed with a burst of nourishment.

I recommend you "Feed your Skin" with this masque and you will be thankful you did!

Montagne Jeunesse: 7th Heaven Million Year Mud Masque

So, what exactly is the Million Year Mud Masque?

I received the masque from Swaggable, a program which lets you sample products in exchange for an honest review. I have used many of the masques that are part of the Montagne Jeunesse family, also known as "7th Heaven" (www.organic7thheaven.com). I had not used the Million Year Mud masque from this company, so I was excited when I received it.

What's in it?
You have Rhassoul Mud, which is a mineral rich clay from Morroco. The clay helps soften the skin and aids in reducing acne, sebum secretions that result in break-outs, clogged pores, black heads and all those unlikable bumps. Other benefits that this magical clay provides, is regeneration of new skin cells and you know this results in a fresh looking but also feeling skin. It's that glow we seek! The mud aids in re-balancing the surface of the skin and you get pores that are tightened and diminished in size.

Think of it as a cleansing and nutrition for your face that has zero calories but there is more in this buffet. You have Organic Manuka Honey and as we have heard, it's medicinal properties help in healing to even having antibacterial components that help disinfect.

Next you have Organic Shea Butter. Shea Butter is not only a great agent that helps soften the skin because of it's nourishing properties found in the oil, but it's also packs anti-inflammatory power. You get that soothing relief you will see and feel. You can start seeing the balance this mask creates, you have the clay that cleans and strips dead cells and then comes the other ingredients like the Manuka Honey and Shea Butter, that feed your skin!

The next item is Organic Juniper Berries. I know, I said, "what"? too. I could not recall or even know of a time I read Juniper Berries in a beauty product so I looked it up because I only know how to cook with them. From what I gathered, the Greeks used these berries for their medicinal properties and they were ahead of the times because there are studies regarding arthritis, rheumatism to even appetite suppression. From what I concluded, the berry aids with inflammation and because of it's pepper like properties, it may help with the tightening of the skin. I also found that the natural fragrance they emit is considered to be aromatherapy and I like that being used over some synthetic ingredient that really just damages your skin.

You then have Organic Elderflower, Organic Ginseng and Organic Clove. The aforementioned ingredients did not have spectacular benefits but small things about Ginseng slowing the aging process (even though I could not find conclusive studies), to clove oil having antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Does it Work?
YES! I love this masque and it's my favorite so far because I saw visible changes after removing. I even used the left-over as a spot treatment and it worked better than other major brands I have spent more money on. At about $2.50 a packet, you can't beat it! My pores were smaller and I did get the results listed, a temporary tightening of the skin that gave me a smoother look. I will be repurchasing this one immediately. I also like that the product starts with Aloe juice and not water like so many beauty products. It's packed with benefit after benefit and this clay is magical. My skin had it's best week after I treated it to the Million Year Mud masque. No bumps of any kind or clogged pores (even clear around the nostril area).

I recommend you "Feed your Skin" with this masque and you will be thankful you did!  You can connect with Montagne Jeunesse on-line at www.montagnejeunesse.com ; via FaceBook at www.facebook.com/MontagneJeunesse; or via Twitter at https://twitter.com/MontagneJeuness

Mardi Gras King's Bundt Cakes

Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.
~Alexandre Dumas

It's a new month and a new week, make it a happy one <3

I had a Mardi Gras theme going this weekend so I made Mardi Gras King's Bundt Cakes. It was a new recipe and I made some alterations, like substituting 1/2 of the all-purpose flour with cake flour for a lighter texture. I did not add lemon or all the sugar to the icing because as I incorporated the powder sugar and tasted, the stuff was going to be too sugary once decorated. I also added Mascarpone cheese along with the Cream Cheese, so the icing would be smoother in texture and taste. They were a hit and if you would like to try them, here is the recipe: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/mardi-gras-king-cupcakes-recipe