Eslor: The Art of Beauty and the Chlorophyll Lifting Mask

I got a chance to try Eslor's full line of products, and it's been a treat for my face ever since. And this most recent one,  Chlorophyll Lifting Mask is no different. A skin-tightening Mask made from dried milk proteins plant and seaweed extracts, and natural minerals, it helps to tighten facial skin, enhance blood circulation, and help to diminish those pesky fine lines. I can happily report that, at least in my case, it went three for three. I'm so fortunate to have found Eslor and one day far down the line when someone asks me how I managed to stay so youthful and vibrant looking, I'll be able to say it was thanks in part to Eslor.


Like all Eslor products, this mask is 100% Free of Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES); it's derived from nature, and driven by science. With their patented HPT System, and the black of toxic chemicals so often found in other beauty products, Eslor promotes renewal and repair in a way unique to them. This Chlorophyll Mask purified, softened and enhanced my complexion, making my face just glow.

 

The MSRP of this Mask is $38, and it's right up there with masks costing nearly twice as much.. I have many tried many masks, some good and some not so good. This is firmly in the "good" category.

 

Ingredient list as listed on the site:

Active Ingredients: Aloe Vera Gel, Glycerin, Milk Protein, Lactose, Algae Extract, Wheat Protein, Guar Gum, Yarrow Flowers Extract, Orange Peel Extract and Sodium PCA.



To learn more about Eslor and their great beauty lines, please visit them at:

• Online


• Their Contact Page
  


• Their Twitter
  


• Their Facebook
  


• and on Pinterest
  


• Make sure to check out the new Trial kits that make trying products a cinch. Use code KIT15 to receive your discount

I received the above product free of charge from Eslor.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Bolthouse Farms: Green is Good!

                                                                                                                                                                                 Bolthouse was gracious enough to send me a bounty of juices, like the carrot one I made a tasty treat out of, and the pomegranate one I reviewed recently. And there's a point beyond my love of cooking, and it's that turning up your nose at a juice because you think you might not like it is a shame.

Which is a segue into my next juice. Bolthouse Farms Daily Greens has a whopping 4 and 1/2 servings of veggies per bottle. Eat your heart out, Vitamix. Sadly, it's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness. It has some serious green pa-power to it and it is NOT for the faint of heart. For hubby, it didn't even pass the sniff test. And I will say, as a lover of veggies in all their crisp, leafy freshness, this juice was tough to swallow. This drink hurts my feelers,  because with only the slightest of tweaks, it could be my favorite.

It's got so much good stuff in it, you want to find ways to use it. Kale, lemons, pears, celery, cucumber, banana, chicory, kiwi, romaine, green tea, wheat grass. It's like Bolthouse peeked into my fridge and saw everything in my crisper drawers and juiced it for me. High in vitamins A, B and C, high in calcium, iron, zinc and fiber, I want to love this juice. But there's too much going on in it for even this little bunny to just drink straight. So, I'd suggest maybe juice a sweet honeycrisp apple, or some pineapple juice to take some of that bite off. Maybe a base for pasta/pesto sauce (future recipe, maybe? ;-) ). Maybe reduced, with a little parm cheese. Boom, dip. All I'm lackin' is crackers. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.



Visit Bolthouse and their Countless Juice Selections, Juices from Blends to the Plain; to Cafe drinks and even Protein ones:

• Say hello to the Daily Greens online!


• Veggies and Fruits on Twitter


• Visit Fun Bolthouse Crew on Facebook


• Catch the pics on Instagram


• Save $1.50 off any bottle here!

I received the above product free of charge from Bolthouse Farms. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Bolthouse Farms: ALMOST Too Much Good Stuff

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Almost. But as it stands, this one is just right. I love it. Hubby loves it. You'll love it too! For those following along at home, this is the last in the Bolthouse Farms Juice reviews. We previously covered their 100% Carrot Juice, 100% Pomegranate Juice, Daily Greens, and now, without further adieu, I happily present Bolthouse Farm's MultiV Goodness!



The last treat in my batch of Bolthouse yum is a newer product for them, the Multi-V Goodness Smoothie. Packed with the juice of pomegranate, cherries, strawberries, apples, peaches, blackberries, cranberries and bananas, but not packed with calories (only 140 per serving) there is nothing not to love about this drink.
Did I mention the 8 grams of fiber? That's nearly a third of the recommended daily intake already. You're set! High in vitamins A, B, C, and D, and none of the yuck that comes in most highly processed smoothies, this one is good for breakfast, lunch or even dessert! I liked how the flavors all blended in harmony, making for a great experience. Hubby loved it too, and he's not big on peaches or bananas. There's no seeds or pulps like a home Smoothie would have. I love it. Hubby loves it. If we hadn't been so quick to enjoy it, I'm sure the pooch would have loved it too. This one also comes in 2 sizes, 15.2 oz and 32, which makes it big enough to share, if you're so inclined.



Visit Bolthouse and their Countless Juice Selections, Juices from Blends to the Plain; to Cafe drinks and even Protein ones:

• Say hello to the MultiV Goodness online!


• Veggies and Fruits on Twitter


• Visit Fun Bolthouse Crew on Facebook


• Catch the pics on Instagram


• Save $1.50 off any bottle here!

I received the above product free of charge from Bolthouse Farms. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Swaggable: Peeled Snacks, Much-ado-about-Mango

I enjoy eating fruits and to avoid boredom, I try to eat them dried, dehydrated, baked.....you name it and I usually will try fruit anything...but canned!

I received the Peeled Snacks product from Swaggable last week and I consider myself a Mango "liker" versus a "lover". I enjoy the fresh fruit but if you have strawberries or pineapple, Mango loses.



The first thing that jumped out was that the product is Organic and the simple words, "nothing added". Naked fruit as I call it, is best in my book so this is a great start. I noticed the package has a little clear window that allows you to see the product and I love when manufactures do this because how many times have I opened a package to find it was not close to how it was pictured. So again, great beginning.

I flip the product and notice some very positive nutritional facts starting that one bag is considered 1 serving and it's a generous amount at 48 grams (1.40 ounces), with only 120 calories. You have Calcium and Iron at 2% each, 20% Vitamin C, and 30% Vitamin A. Gluten, dairy, wheat and cholesterol free. You wrap it up nicely with 2 grams each of Protein and Dietary Fiber.



I open the package and take a sniff and the product smells close to apricots mixed with a slight orange scent. Good start as it's not off in odor or like some dried fruits, they stink of chemicals or smell like they have been in a cardboard box for half a century! The fruit looks leathery but I have purchased "leather fruit" strips in the past so I am familiar and accepting of such a  texture. The peels almost look like strips of carrots (in color) that were partially dehydrated and remained bendable. I take a shaving out and notice the remaining pieces have no uniform shape to them (nice natural look). The product was a little on the chewy side so I went from biting and pulling with my front teeth, to having to put some "oompf" with the back ones but I finally won! The fruit goes from feeling leathery on your fingers and dry when biting, to instantly re-hydrating to a gummy like texture. So gummy in consistency that the molars that helped me win my battle had Mango bits embedded all around them. Very sweet and I understand the natural pectin in fruit amps up when dried but this was so sweet and intense, that Mango was the last thing I tasted. As my mouth cleared from the gumminess, I did pick-up some Mango notes but the sweetness really turned me off. I was left.....well craving a Mango. So in some ways this snack encouraged me to add Mango to the grocery list but of the fresh kind.



Does it have it's place?

Yes, I see maybe a tart yogurt being able to curve the sugar taste a bit but I'm unsure if it would help with the gummy factor. Maybe the wetness of a yogurt would aid or it could result in a bit of a mess. Baking with the product could be it's only hope! I wanted to like this product because everything outside the package called to me when it came to the brand Peeled Snacks, it just was not what I desired from a Mango. I understand nothing is added to the Mango and respect that but if they could maybe find a way to take some sugar away, I maybe could accept the gummy factor better. I would still try one more time with Peeled Snacks but just a different fruit.

You can check-out the Peeled Snacks collection at: http://www.peeledsnacks.com/

I received the above product from Swaggable free of charge. I am not obligated in providing a positive/favorable review. just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product, which may differ from yours.

BzzAgent: Filippo Berio® Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Not all oils are created equal and I have learned this through trial and error. As with many foods, companies add fillers or even combine oils to create a lesser quality product but still charge consumers a price point that makes you think it equates with quality.

Been there and done that.....and this is why I hold Filippo Berio's oils on a whole different level.

I received an Extra Virgin Olive Oil bottle from BzzAgent along with all the great campaign goodies they include. You have the booklet, which educates you about the benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and how it can improve not only your dishes but your health. Great coupons and even a magnet that reflects the measurements you use when substituting Olive Oil for Butter. Great kit and I love it!



Filippo Berio's company exports their oils from Italy and has been sharing their great products since 1850.  Now, that is staying in business for a long time and you know you have to be doing something right if you want people to support your products.  The company makes several versions of Olive Oils from Extra Virgin, Light, and also makes vinegar (balsamics) and other products like olives and pestos.  Their distribution is massive and they now reach over 65 countries!  Now, that is reaching the masses!



The Health Benefits:

Extra Virgin Olive oil is better for you because it contains no trans fat or cholesterol.  Butters commonly used in savory cooking contain salts and Olive oil does not.  You have an oil that is high in monounsaturated fats, which is commonly known as "the good fat" that doctors want you to eat.



What is the difference between the Extra Virgin and just Olive Oil:

• Virgin means the oil was produced by the use of physical means and the oil was not treated with any chemicals.  It also means the oil is produced from the "first batch" that the seed/grain produces.

• Refined means that the oil has been chemically treated to neutralize strong tastes (characterized as defects) and neutralize the acid content.  Chemicals are many times used in lower quality oils as way to preserve and slow down the oxidation that occurs with age.  Refined oil is regarded as lower quality product.  Oils with the retail labels extra-virgin olive oil and virgin olive oil cannot contain any refined oil, as it would not be Virgin if anything else was added.

• Olive Oil Pommace or Pomace, means oil extracted from the pomace using solvents, mostly Hexane.  Hexane is a carbon based chemical found in glues to gasoline.  Manufactures combine the Hexane and heat to extract from the seeds the oil.  Hexane has a low toxicity level, but nonetheless many industries that use the chemical in their processing, are seeking alternatives due to the adverse health effects.

What the above means is that it all comes down to purity and acidity levels.  Every oil has it's purpose and this is why learning about them is something I like to do because I don't want to pay for a lower end product, much less one laced with chemicals my body does not want or need.  Think about it like chocolate and cacao content.....it's the same mind set.  Don't let the labels fool you and I also try to stay within the brands I can trust because many good manufactures will not distribute to the public, a lower quality product.



Now, Extra Virgin Olive oils have a lower smoke point and this means that the oil will smoke and destabilize with higher temperatures.  You may have heard people say it's a waste to fry in Extra Virgin Olive oil because of it.  I like to do something I call "lacing", it's making my own mixes of oils as I see fit for the dish I am preparing.  I use different oils like Grape because the oil has a higher smoke point.  I decided to get creative and used a mix of Grape Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and of course Filippo Berio's brand.

• Olive Oil Braised Chicken Legs with a Roasted Garlic and Herb Stuffing

• Foccacia Bread with Parmesan Cheese

I received the above product from BzzAgent and Filippo Berio.  I am not obligated in providing a positive/favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product, which may differ from yours. #GotItFree

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.

Rich & Creamy Melt Organic and Honey Melt Organic Review

Melt Butter:

The product arrived in a thick Styrofoam box with cool packs and in perfect condition. I was very impressed with the care taken in shipping both items.

Melt products are organic and are made with virgin coconut oil. Don't let the coconut oil fool you, there is no coconut flavor just like peanut oil does not taste like the nut. You get a rich and creamy texture taste but you do not have to worry as much as you would with a 100% dairy derived fat. I frankly always felt that like sugar substitutes that rarely taste like the real thing, I sort of held the same level of expectations for this spread. My highest expectation was for the Honey version and thought it would just be a good spread at the most.

I was so wrong!! I admit it (it hurts but I do) but you have to admit when you are faced with a yummy product. Why be cruel and keep it to myself!



The original version is rich and creamy with the perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness, which you would get from normal butter. You almost taste a hint of honey sweetness even though it is not in the product. It's mellow and very good. Not like margarine in any way and no oil residues are left on your palette. It melts in your mouth just like a high quality butter would and you are just left with the desire to take another shaving off with your butter knife. The product's true flavor came through and the richness increases as the spread comes to room temperature. This is when Melt's goodness can be appreciated because now the fats will be tasted and your mind will really start playing tricks on you. There is a very small amount of true butter, yet it is rich like if the entire portion was dairy derived. I looked four times thinking I missed something but it has to be the virgin coconut oil, which I had never tasted before. The list is longer of what it does not contain than what it does. Simplicity is an understatement! You can bake, cook, drizzle, saute, whip or eat it out of the container just like you would with normal butter, so that right there is not what I expected. These "hybrid products" are always limited because it's chemicals that bind them, but please do not lump the Melt brand into that group. This is nature at it's best and finally someone grasped the idea and applied it that "less is better". You keep it simple and the natural ingredients will shine. I became a fan and will be purchasing this product.



My second tub is their newer addition to the family, and that would be the Honey Melt. I will start off that when I opened the container I was surprised to see small brown specks....wait that is cinnamon. No way! This should be named Honey Cinnamon but I was not there when it came to picking a name. I have a happy moment when I see cinnamon in spreads and then comes that dread of how much was added. I like the spice very much but like paprika, a touch goes a long way. The scent was light so that was a good start. I again first taste a product as-is before spreading it on anything because I want to know if it is worthy to be added to any food item first. Um, So worthy!! I was sitting and quickly got up and took out the end part of a bread loaf because that was the first thing and I'm impatient when "yummers" are ahead. Pure bliss and it tastes like a good apple butter with the perfect sweetness and how you imagine apple butter should taste and never does. I started thinking and waiting to see restrictions, like you can't cook with me and please do not melt the product...but wait, this is the real stuff and there was none of that. No limitations or restrictions!! The product even states you can freeze it.

Melt sent me the perfect duo and I sadly have to admit that I would have kept walking at the grocery store if I had seen the product because I have been burned by claims before. It never is like the real thing and how many times did I get that a spray butter that promised it would be just like the real thing. All I ended up with was a tired trigger finger from spraying, spraying, and spraying, which then makes your food cold. Melt has fat but the better ones and it stayed true to nature, so true that it's organic. I'm the type of person that prefers a half of slice of real cake versus a whole slice of some lab created item that is like cake, but really should be spelled K-a-k-e. I missed nothing and when I open my fridge, I see it as real butter. No leaps or self fooling needs to be done because this product delivers on it's claims and the added benefit, it tastes good....really good.

Time to bake and because I did not want to bore you with the literature of why this is better health wise, please visit the site and look for yourself: http://www.meltbutteryspread.com/our-products/

I received this product via Swaggable, free of charge. I have no obligation in giving this brand a high or low mark, but my genuine opinion. Above is my honest and unbiased opinion. It may not be the same as yours but I wanted to share mine because that is what I do :).

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