MARC JACOBS BEAUTY - REVIEW - AVAILABLE AT SEPHORA

Well ladies, if you don't own anything from Marc Jacob's due to the price point, you may be able to treat yourself to a little something from his cosmetic line as it's not going to put a huge dent in your wallets like his shoes, handbags and clothing line would!

Marc Jacob's recently partnered with Sephora and now has an assortment of cosmetics available to us.  I jumped on this band wagon and picked up a few from his line.

His line carries products such as eyeshadows, mascara, brow gel, foundation, lipstick, lipglosses, blush, eyeliner and so much more.

What I love about his line is the packaging. He is BANG ON when it comes to the packaging of his beauty line. His attention to detail is incredible.

To check the complete Marc Jacob's Beauty at Sephora, click on the link below:
http://www.sephora.com/marc-jacobs-beauty

The following was what I purchased:
SHAMELESS BOLD BLUSH:
http://www.sephora.com/shameless-bold-blush-P380706?skuId=1505270

Available in 8 shades. Cost: $30.00 USA / $36 Canadian
MY REVIEW:
Packaging is superb. I wish the product would follow suit! I purchased Outspoken which is a beautiful pink / liliac colour. I was disappointed as I thought it would be darker and more pigmented. It is a buildable colour, however, it is best suited for very light to light skin tones. I have medium olive skin and I am paler in the winter months, and the pigmentation payoff was minimal A darker colour may be better. I ordered online without swatching...I feel you better swatch them prior to purchase. Expensive for what you recieve. Tarte and Illimasqua are better! The colour is pretty though...just wish it would be more pigmented. Average at best!

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY - HIGHLINER - GEL CRAYON
http://www.sephora.com/highliner-gel-crayon-P379434?skuId=1501311

Available in 6 shades. Cost: $25 USA / $30 Canadian
MY REVIEW:
Great packaging. This eyeliner has a beautiful application. It's creamy, glides on smoothly. The blacquer that I purchased which is pure black is a very deep rich black colour. It stays on the eyes all day long. If you are using this for your waterline, it will rub onto your lower eye. I found that the product will goop into my tear duct. I feel this product is average. It is comparable to UD 24/7 liner. I am not a fan of the non-sharpening feature. I like to have a precise tip on my liner. Worth a try, but I found it to be "average" and comparable to other liners on the market...not unique in any way, aside from the stellar packaging!

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY - LUST FOR LACQUER LIP VINYL - FULL
http://www.sephora.com/lust-for-lacquer-lip-vinyl-full-P381910?skuId=1510890

Available in 6 shades. Cost: $28 USA / $34 Canadian
MY REVIEW:
Package is fabulous! I give Marc Jacobs a 10 on his packaging of his cosmetic line. The lipgloss is pretty. I enjoy how opaque the colour is. There is a slight menthol taste to the product and a very faint plumping feeling, not as strong as the Buxom line. I purchased Boom Boom, which is a pretty raspberry/fushia colour. Smooth application, glides on the lips beautifully and has no sticky feeling what so ever. The wear time is about 1 to 1.5 hours maximum. For the price and hype in the beauty community, I feel that there are a lot of other products that compare. It's average, not superb. If you are wanting to try it out, I say go for it, but don't expect to be wow'd...at least I was not!

MY YOUTUBE VIDEO AND REVIEW:

I hope that this Blog post has helped you.  Thank you so much for coming by and checking out my humble blog.

Have a beautiful day!

xxxx
Pebbles

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY - AND IT'S A GIVEAWAY! - CLOSED

Birthdays are a time for celebration and reflection! Lately I am reflecting on how old I'm getting. As time passes, a new wrinkle appears, a few more grey hairs come in, something on my body starts to sag! What the heck am I thinking of "celebrating"???? Am I crazy???

Well, let's look at it from a different angle....as with anything, age brings us wisdom? Yes, I've learnt a few things here and there...time and age may bring us grace? Sometimes, I have been known to be gracious! Age brings us experience....well folks....like the saying goes..."If I knew then what I know now!!!"...but without those experiences, you wouldn't be the person you are TODAY!

I'm glad to have gone through the trials, tribulation's, successes, sorrows, challenges and triumphs throughout the years. I've met fabulous people through my journey in life and as I look back, I feel blessed!

I hope that I'm lucky enough to be here for another 40+ years and enjoy all that life has to offer.

Thank you for coming by and checking out my humble blog! As a birthday bonanza...I'm giving back!!! Three (3) lucky subscribers will win one of these fantastic gifts....
Don't forget the rules:
1. Be subscribed to my Blog!
2. Be subscribed to my Youtube Channel!
3. Make a comment on both forums on "What you like the best about the  month of October"

Giveaway closes at midnight on October 22, 2013
Good luck!!!

GIVEAWAY GIFTS: (Gifts will be selected at random by me to the winners) ...sorry ladies, it's the only way to be fair!

Thank you for coming by and reading my humble blog!
xxxx
Maria

REVIEW - KHROMA BEAUTY - Joystick

We all know who the Kardashian's are, don't we? If you are one of the people who really don't know who they are, then I think you may be living under a rock! They are famous for being famous and not really doing anything really, but have their lives documented by the paparazzi! What a life! Really!

Yes, I'm jealous.....I'm not famous (nor do I want to be)...and I'm not RICH, but damn do I WISH I would be!

This blog is not about the Kardashian's personal lives...but it is about their beauty line - KHROMA BEAUTY!

This is my review on their Joystick Lipsticks.  I have the colour in "Shocking Pink".  This seriously gives you a WOW FACTOR to your lips.

Let's discuss the PACKAGING FIRST.  It's in a slim twist up pen package, which in my opinion is extremely convenient for placing in your purse, even those small clutches that us gals like toting around on a night out.  At the end of the pen it displays the colour of the lipstick, which is great for when you want to see your colour at a quick glance.  The tip is dome shape and makes for easy application on the lips. No need for lip liner with this puppy!

FORMULATION:  This is a creamy formula that glides on the lips smoothly and effortlessly. The pigmentation is outstanding.  You get that POP OF COLOUR with only one application.   The formula is a satin to matte finish, however, this does not feel drying on the lips. It definitely is not ultra matte at all!

STAYING POWER: This lipstick will stay on your lips for several hours until you need to reapply.

SCENT: Smells like Vanilla Candy!!! Yum....I crave sweets whenever I open this lipstick up...it smells so scrumptious.  If you are not into sweet smelling lip products...you will probably not like this!

COLOURS AVAILABLE: 8 colours are available

WHERE CAN I BUY THESE LOVELIES?

ULTA ONLINE AND IN STORES:
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod5180513#sku2255153

KMART

PRICE: $8.99 USA

CONCLUSION:
With any good review you must come to a final conclusion as to what this product means to you...in this case for me! Well, I'm totally loving this product.  I plan on purchasing a few more colours because they are truly a fabulous lipstick for a reasonable price.  I give this product a 9 out of 10...and the reason that it only gets a 9 and not a 10 is that the Kardashian's need to provide us with more beautiful shades and make them more readily available to everyone.

MY LIPS IN SHOCKING PINK!

THE END - Please feel free to SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG...MORE REVIEWS TO COME and COMMENT!

Lots of love and hugs to you fabulous people! xxxx

Pebbles

Gift from Subscriber - Kelly McKelly

Pssst.....have you heard what's Buzzzing around????

What is all this Buzzing about?  Well, everyone is talking about it. Are you in the NOW? Are you part of the Buzz Party? Well, get off that couch, put down the remote control, and get busy, buzz, buzz, buzzing about your favourite products, beauty, food, health care, oral care, and so much more!

I just joined BzzAgent.com  What is this you ask? Well, hang in here and I'll tell you all about it. 

FIRST IT'S FREE TO JOIN.

SECOND YOU FILL OUT A BUNCH OF SURVEYS.

THIRDLY YOU WAIT FOR A CAMPAIGN.

ONCE YOU GET INVITED TO A CAMPAIGN IF YOU LIKE IT, YOU ACCEPT. BUZZ AGENT WILL SEND YOU THE PRODUCTS TO TEST, ENJOY AND THEN YOU BUZZ ABOUT IT, BY BLOGGING, FACEBOOKING, TWEETING, YOUTUBE...AND GET THE WORD OUT..THERE ARE SEVERAL CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES TO PERFORM AND THE MORE YOU COMPLETE THE BETTER YOU WILL GET INVITED TO MORE CAMPAIGNS.

Connecting people and their favourite brands since 2001, BzzAgent is the leading social marketing company. They put products in the hands of hundreds of thousands of real consumers and help them share their opinions about them with friends and family via reviews, Facebook posts, photos and videos, blog posts and more.

With insights from over 400 million shoppers around the world, BzzAgent delivers precise targeting and a powerful social engagement platform to turn customers into influential brand advocates. People who participate in BuzzAgent are highly active in social media, they love to talk about brands and recommend products, they create and share more brand content than the average consumer and, well, people listen to them.

MY FIRST CAMPAIGN - CREST PRO HEALTH CARE

 The Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste is a nice formulation. It is very smooth and clear when brushing. It is not gritty and it isn't a thick paste that fills.  It leaves your teeth feeling so clean and fresh, just like you visited the dentist.  As far as an improvement with whitening, I did not notice any difference, however, it did leave my teeth glistening.

 I really enjoyed the Crest Pro-Health Mouth Wash.  It is alcohol free and doesn't burn your mouth.  It had a fresh taste that you could actually gargle for 30 seconds.  It helps with plaque so if you are like me and are not a big fan of flossing, this really helps get the nasty tastes out of your mouth and leaves your breath fresh for hours. I highly recommend!

Oral B Pro-Health Toothbrush has a nice handle to grip. It's a non-slip grip. The bristles really reach the back of your mouth to reach those hard to get places.  I noticed a massaging feeling from this brush.  The bristles were smooth and effective but not harsh on the gums. You gotta get this one for sure!



Seasons Box - Get in Touch with Nature - July 2013

With summer in full bloom there is no better time to pull back your hair and enjoy the outdoors, which is why the July SeasonsBox is packed with must-haves for the perfect summer date with nature.  From mud masks to after sun treatments, the July Seasons Box makes every encounter with wilderness more eco-friendly and fun.

This is a monthly subscription: Fee: $29.95++

Seasons Box is basically wellness box that doesn't only promote beauty products that are Vegan, Natural, Organic, but also Health Snacks, Eco Friendly home products, such as candles, umbrellas, hair accessories, just to name a few. 

This month we received:

Pura Vida Hippie Hair Ties
Accessories are hand crafted by skilled craftsmen in Costa Rica.  Pura Vida is also a member of Once Percent for the Planet and donates a portion of its proceeds to the Surfrider Foundation, a grassroots foundation dedicated to cleaning up beaches and oceans around the world.

Earth Pure Aloe Vera Skin Treatment
Ideal for after a day in the sun, aloe face treatments reduce wrinkles and create fresher looking appearance to the face.  It oxygenates skin cells with increases the skins strenthoskin tissue, removing dead skin cells and increasing longevity of sun tans.  This cream is a white cream, that is smooth and light with a very light clean scent.

Bella Organics Dead Sea Mineral Mud Mask
Who said getting dirty wasn't fun!  Mud from the dead Sea is very rich in minerals that are known for beautifying and healing the skin.  When the mask dries, toxins that may be present in your skin cells are drawn out.  Makes the skin feel clean and refreshed instantly.  Complete without any additives or fillers and works on all skin types.

Wild Mountain Raw Foods Snack Pack

Get in touch with your wild side! This gourmet vegan snack celebrates the connection between personal health and wild lands. So alive and colourful, this snack is sure to give you a surge of energy when you need it most.  Wild plants are an excellent source of nutrients and eating raw is healthier because heating foods diminishes and destroys living enzymes that aid and speed up digestion.  Ingredients: Sunflower seeds, Ginger and raw cashews.

Nibnaks
This super healthy and delicious fruit snack is a handful of goodness. With perfectly measured serving sizes Nibnaks is the perfect treat to pack for an outdoor adventure.  Their snacks are gluten free, 100% natural and high in fiber.  They also source from local family-run farms in California.

Natural Deordorant Review - Crawford Street Brand

TO GO NATURAL OR NOT

Many of us wonder what kind of damage we are doing by using deodorants.  Of course studies show that our traditional deodorants have harmful chemicals and basically we are placing these products under our arms where we have vital lymph nodes.  Not so smart!

So recently, I received a natural deodorant in my Seasons Box.  Which is a monthly Well Being Subscription Box, where they send products on a monthly basis, full size to their subscribers that are all natural, environmentally friendly, etc.

I was very excited to have received the "Crawford Street Lemon Deodorant Cream" in my recent box.  I had heard good things about this product and thought that this would be my chance to finally use a "healthier product" as a deodorant.

CRAWFORD STREET SKIN CARE
www.crawfordskincare.com

* Located in Toronto, Ontario - this is so exciting that this company is local and Canadian! yeah!

Product Description:
This citrus scented cream deodorant is completely natural and it works! It includes over ten essential oils that are deodorising, antibacterial and anti fungal. No aluminium, no parabens, no yellow shirt stains!

Retail: $12.00 for 2 fl. oz. or 60ml

Ingredients: Cetearyl alcohol, Sodium Cetearyl sulfate, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Theobro ma cacao (Cocoa butter), Sodium bicarbonate, Cornstarch, Citrus limonum (Lemon) oil and other essential oils.

HOW TO APPLY:  With fingers. You only require a dime size amount for each underarm. Apply in circular motion and cover all the underarm area.   Apply to clean dry skin.

THE REVIEW ON THIS PRODUCT:
The cream is firm at the beginning, however, it is very pliable and easily rubs into skin.  It has a nice consistency and texture. It smells lemon fresh. When placed under the arm it is not greasy or sticky and does not leave any residue on clothing. 

CON:  Unfortunately for me, it caused a really bad irritation under my underarms. They became very discoloured. They were not itchy, however, the underarm area did change in colour to a very dark discolouration.  At first I thought that this was the toxins from my regular deodorant coming out, but after 5 weeks of using this product and the discolouration not subsiding, I stopped using it.

RESULTS AFTER NOT USING PRODUCT: My skin went back to it's normal colour after 4 days.  I no longer have the discolouration under my underarms.

RECOMMENDATION: Use at your own discretion.  This product has received fabulous reviews from many other Bloggers and unfortunately for me, it was a bust! 

 ABOVE PHOTO - DISCOLOURATION OF UNDERARM AREA AFTER USE OF PRODUCT

I hope this product works for you. Good luck and thank you for reading my humble Blog.