Showing posts with label Soy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Swaggable: Detour Neapolitan Whey Protein Bars

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I always seem to be playing catch-up and somehow think if I hurry up in the morning and make concessions, like not eating a real breakfast, I can get ahead of everything I need to do. You would think I would learn but I always have an excuse on why cutting on breakfast the other times did not work, but will work again today. I've fooled myself many times so I started resorting to having meal replacement bars, energy bars, snack bars, protein bars.....well anything that fills the hunger hole but trying to fill it with something nutritious. I like fast too but the last thing I want to do, is go to a drive-thru somewhere to purchase something in a bun that will hinder me more when it comes to nutrition and energy.

I have consumed many bars from Luna to even store brands. The amount I pay never reflects the taste some of them have that I then label them "diet bars" because they taste so poorly, that you only can eat 1/4 to maybe 1/2 of them on a brave day. It's called the "I make this bar so bad, starving a little feels better" diet plan.

I was happy when I was accepted to try out Detour bars that showed a big 15 grams of protein on their package. Being derived from whey, I like this because sometimes when I am running errands with my Husband, we share a bar together and I don't always need the full 15 grams. I get the bar and it makes me think of those ice cream bars I had back when I was a child.

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Opening package time: The scent is pleasant and sweet with a hint of chocolate. They dip the bar in a milk chocolate "flavored" coating and then a white design on top so the product looks pleasing. I slice a square off and notice that the texture within the bar does not resemble the picture on the product card. I look at the back of the packaging and notice it may be the "soy chips", so that may be why.

Taste Test: You have a bar that is not too soft or hard when you bite, just a little granular in texture but many of these energy/protein bars tend to be mealy. The texture is not so off that it prevents you from eating it. When I think of Neapolitan, I think of the three flavors commonly associated, Strawberry, Vanilla and Chocolate. The bar's flavors, both natural and artificial start to taste fruity and then comes that taste, almost like film that covers your tongue with the artificial sweeteners. It's over powering and starts to permeate up to your nose.

I can say I have had worse but unfortunately this is not a bar I would seek out due to the ingredients list. Great that it's low in sugars, 4 grams for this "light" version versus 8 grams for their normal bar but the sucralose and list of artificial ingredients does not justify the price point. The market is flooded with these bars that if you are "going to play ball", you need to hit it on the mark when it comes to flavor and this is me even being flexible on texture. I have had bars with simple ingredients that taste better and my body can absorb with ease, but this lab experiment on the Detour packaging will leave my system going, "huh".

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

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Influenster brings you the New Aveeno Active Naturals, Positively Radiant Intensive Night Cream

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Being a member of Influenster (www.influenster.com) has it's perks from receiving and reviewing items, to the large database they have with reviews from members on pretty much anything from beauty items to snack foods.

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I received the Aveeno Active Naturals, Positively Radiant Intensive Night cream with vitamin B3. The products features 5 factors that will boost your Radiance. What I like already are the claims listed on the package that the cream will improve:

  • Tone

  • Dullness

  • Brown Spots

  • Texture

  • Blotichness


The vitamin B3, also known as Niacinamide is featured in many beauty products and this is why:
Niacinamide improves the appearance of aging and has a soothing calming effect. You will notice acne products also contain this ingredient because of the inflammation associated with those nasty blemishes, to products made to combat the dryness associated with Rosacea. Niacinamide, also helps the skin produce less facial oils and this may help acne suffers too. Vitamin B3, stimulates the production of collagen and this helps with fine lines and wrinkles. It improves the surface of the face by usually combining the B3 vitamin with other ingredients, for better absorption and Aveeno has done this with this night cream.

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The directions are simple, you just smooth cream over entire cleansed face and neck. I used a quarter size and found that was sufficient for overall coverage and even though this is a cream with impressive claims, it is not heavy or oily on the face.

I have been an Aveeno user for years and every time Costco has the Aveeno body lotion in their coupon book, I am there to stock up. Their products are mild but also effective. If the bottle states something will last for 24 hour, it does!

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I went into this testing trial with high expectations when it came to the proven results and used the product for a total of two weeks. I was impressed already by the Total Soy-Complex added because of the benefits associated with soybeans, but also the price point. Target stores has this product priced at an affordable $14.99 per unit and each bottle has 1.7 ounces.

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The Results:

I have combination skin and that in itself can be challenging because what satisfies the dry areas, usually annoys my oily ones. The normal areas of my skin just flaunt and ignore what is happening to the rest of me! Having skin with such an attitude frustrates me. I find myself "patting" my face with different creams for each "type" of skin that sometimes I confuse what I have on my left or right hand and figure at that point, I just pat lightly all over my face and hope whatever lands anywhere will help. Aveeno's Intensive Night cream took the game away and thank goodness because I was about to just have a fit and flip that game board over. The cream is good no matter if it lands in Oily-ville or the Dry-lands of my face. Again, Normal-place just ignores the rest of me. I found on week #1 that my face looked the same from my forehead to my chin. My cheeks tend to be sensitive and because I suffer from environmental allergies, I'm sure that is from doing what I am not suppose to do, rub my eyes. The reddish inflammation I experience was minimized drastically so that "punchy eyed" look was lessened. My skin reflected a more even tone both in texture and appearance. Okay, so far I see no reason to stop usage.

Week #2: I find myself happy because I have not experienced any clogged pores or residue build up from Aveeno's Intensive Night Cream. I can say my face is not dull and has a glow that seems to last through out the day and after I wash my face, so it's not just the product making me believe I have it through application. I have some freckles on my cheeks and they are the same color as before I began the cream, so for brown spots that come from freckles or post-acne marks, I did not notice anything when it came to changes there. I say for getting 4 out of the 5 claims with just a two week use, it is a great night cream to add to the make-up bag at the $15 price point. You add a coupon at time of purchase and that makes me smile more......but not too much because I'm fighting fine lines here people!

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I received the above product free of charge from Influenster.  I am not obligated in providing positive/favorable feedback, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product, which may differ from yours.  Need more information on Aveeno: Visit their Facebook page at- https://www.facebook.com/aveeno?fref=ts or on-line at- http://www.aveeno.com/