alexfranchuk
Member Since: September 24, 2015Reviews
Vileda Scrunge Multi-Use Scrub Sponge
I was selected to try the VILEDA SCRUNGE MULTI-USE SCRUB SPONGE for free from Family Rated in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and as someone with a full house and NO dishwasher, it's safe to say I was eager to try something to aid me in... +
I was selected to try the VILEDA SCRUNGE MULTI-USE SCRUB SPONGE for free from Family Rated in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and as someone with a full house and NO dishwasher, it's safe to say I was eager to try something to aid me in my dish duties. Vileda is a relatively new brand to me, but having just purchased their mop and broom about a month ago, I know the quality and effectiveness of this brand is exceptional and had high hopes for the scrunge sponge as well!
I love that the product is multi-use and double sided, can be used anywhere that needs cleaning and won't scratch your surfaces! The green side helps break up, lift and repel dirt while the blue side is the most softest and coolest feeling sponge I have ever felt (I actually sat and squeezed it for much longer then I will admit too) and it is 'extra-thirsty' to help wipe surfaces clean! I decided to put the sponge to the test in my kitchen and was actually wowed by the results.
I cooked my family lasagna for supper (one of my favourite dishes to eat, but least favourite dishes to clean) and let the dishes sit for a bit as we let the deliciousness settle in our tummies. I can honestly say that what usually takes me a solid 5 minute of hard scrubbing combined with another few minutes of picking and washing and examining was cut down by half. Easily. I don't purchase cheap sponges and scrubbers to begin with, but I am always so cautious when scrubbing as I don't want to ruin the surfaces of my pots and pans. The Vileda Scrunge Sponge cleaned my lasagna dish in half the time, did not ruin my glassware, and required much less effort and exertion to get the lasagna remnants clean. I used the green side on the dishes and then used the thirsty blue sponge to wipe down my counter tops and sink areas. The sponge absorbed the odours and even after sitting in my sponge holder, did not stink up the house. I have been using the product for all my dish cleaning for over a week now and the sponge, minus a few minor wear and tear areas, still works like a charm, doesn't stink, and easily removes dirt and stuck-on leftover food. I have used it on my glassware, pots and pans, baking sheets, counter tops, microwave, oven... pretty much everything I own, with no issues.
I love that they are dishwasher safe (even though I don't have one :( ) which means that they are designed to be reusable and save you money! At $3 for a 2-pack they are absolutely affordable and the price gets even better when you purchase the 4-pack. To say that I was impressed with this product is an understatement and this has already become a new staple in my dishwasher free household!
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Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer
I was selected to try the NUDE BY NATURE PERFECTING PRIMER for free from ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I was blown away! I haven't changed my beauty routine in years as I currently have my staple 'holy grail'... +
I was selected to try the NUDE BY NATURE PERFECTING PRIMER for free from ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I was blown away! I haven't changed my beauty routine in years as I currently have my staple 'holy grail' products and haven't considered messing up a good thing... until now! My skin is combination/oily so I have hard a really hard time trying to find a non-matte primer that won't look oily instead of dewy. I also have acne scarring that is difficult to hide without the proper coverage and primer.
I have been wanting to try the Nude by Nature line for awhile now and was so excited upon the line finally coming to Canada. Nude by Nature makes 'good for you' makeup that is free from silicone, parabans and synthetics and is made with active natural ingredients that provide benefits that go beyond makeup! The smell of the primer is really nice, it smelt like oranges to me! It comes out white on the fingers but goes on clear. It is super duper easy to spread and a little bit goes a long way. I am used to my old primer so I took way more product then I actually needed so I suggest starting with a small amount and adding more if necessary to avoid wasting! I found that my foundation actually applied more easily and smooth with this primer and I needed less foundation then I normally wear as well.
After completing my makeup, this is what I found: my makeup had that dewy look but was not oily in the slightest. My foundation lasted all day (14 hrs start to finish) and this included doing manual labour and heavy lifting in which I broke a sweat more then once! My skin felt smooth and my pores were not noticeable in the slightest. The only concern I had was that I found it did not hide all of my imperfections and my acne scarring was slightly more noticeable when using this primer then when I use my normal primer. But that is the only flaw I was able to find based on effectiveness of the product!
Overall, I think this is an amazing drug store primer and I have already used my coupon code to purchase the full size bottle. It is a little costly at $30 + but it is still more then reasonable then many other drug store competitors for the products effects. It did not make me break out and I think it has actually helped the look of my skin overall. I will wear this on days where I don't need that 'flawless' look but still want great coverage and wear. I highly recommend this product to anyone with oily skin looking for a dewy makeup look. I look forward to trying out the other products in the Nude by Nature line as well!
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V8 + Energy Orange Pineapple Caffeinated Energy Drink
I received the V8 +ENERGY ORANGE PINEAPPLE to try for free in exchange for my honest opinion and was super excited as I tried the blueberry pomegranate one and I absolutely loved it. I drink tons of coffee but tend to stay away from energy drinks... +
I received the V8 +ENERGY ORANGE PINEAPPLE to try for free in exchange for my honest opinion and was super excited as I tried the blueberry pomegranate one and I absolutely loved it. I drink tons of coffee but tend to stay away from energy drinks for caffeine consumption purposes. V8 makes fantastic juices which I love, so I had faith that this was going to be a great product but unfortunately I did not enjoy it - strictly for the taste.
I drank the product around 1 PM for an 'after lunch pick me up' and found my self yawning at 4. I normally don't go to bed until 11 but I was in bed by 9:30 that night! I don't think obviously that the product made me more tired, but I definitely don't think it gave me any energy. Throughout the last few hours of my work day I didn't feel any less tired and I did not have any more energy then usually do. I find this strange because the can at 243mL is smaller then a small can of redbull which has 250mL but they both have the same amount of caffeine content per can at 80mg (equivalent to one cup of coffee!).
The taste of the drink is terrible! I hate artificial tasting drinks and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners as they have the worst aftertaste. This one lists Rebiana on their ingredient list (stevia leaf extract) and it is noticeable immediately. I originally thought this beverage didn't have artificial sweeteners but upon the first sip, I had to double check. It tastes extrememly artificial. I do love that the caffeine comes from green tea which makes me feel a lot better about drinking it. It also has a great amount of vitamins like other V18 juices and it gives you 140% of your daily intake of B12 - something I happen to be low in! I also like that the product is NOT carbonated which really makes it feel like im drinking more of a juice then an energy drink. Overall I would not purchase this product again as I found the taste to be awful. I did enjoy other flavour varieties of this drink but this was a miss for me.
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Vim Wood Floor Cleaner
I was selected to try the VIM WOOD FLOOR CLEANER from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I am so glad I did! I just recently purchased a new home with real hardwood and since I was younger I have always been... +
I was selected to try the VIM WOOD FLOOR CLEANER from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and I am so glad I did! I just recently purchased a new home with real hardwood and since I was younger I have always been scarred about real hardwood and the products used to clean it. We had it in our first house as I was growing up and I always remember it being a pain in the butt and was scared taking on this responsibility as an adult in my new home. We just finished sanding and refinishing the hardwood and I was scared that I was going to ruin it... but the Vim Wood Floor Cleaner seriously works FANTASTIC!
The directions give you the option of FULL STRENGTH use (which I used on my laminate) and the DILUTE USE (which I used on the hardwood). Both applications worked fantastic and my floors were left clean and streak free. I love that there is no need to rinse the floor after application and it is super easy to apply. For the hardwood I mixed 3 caps of the cleaner with 5 Litres of water into a mop bucket and then mopped the floor. Simple as that. The floor honestly looked amazing and I was relieved that I was freaking out for nothing (LOL)! It did not leave any residue at all and dried to a streak free and natural shine. I can't quite make out the scent but it smells fresh and clean and was not too overpowering or chemical like. Even my boyfriend, who doesn't pay much attention when I clean, commented on how great it smells! I love that all you need is 3 cap fulls as the jug comes in a 1L size and will last for a long time! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone with Hardwood or Laminate flooring as it safe to use, smells incredible and leaves a gorgeous streak free finish!
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Vim Cream Cleaner in Pink Flower
I was selected to try VIM CREAM CLEANER IN PINK FLOWER from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it came at the perfect time. Not only is it the dreaded 'Spring Cleaning' season, but I also purchased a brand new... +
I was selected to try VIM CREAM CLEANER IN PINK FLOWER from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it came at the perfect time. Not only is it the dreaded 'Spring Cleaning' season, but I also purchased a brand new home which unfortunately had been vacant for a few years and was in need of a desperate deep clean. I usually get nauseated from the smell of cleaning products and chemicals but the Pink Flower scent was a nice change and left my areas of use (bathroom and kitchen) smelling floral and pretty!
The VIM cream contains micro-crystals that you can actually feel if you rub some of the product between your fingers. The cream feels a little bit gritty which will definitely help remove stubborn dirt and residue with ease. I used the cream cleanser on my new bathroom sink - which had dirt and grime sitting for TWO YEARS! - as well as on the stove in my current house.
The directions say you can choose to either apply this directly to the surface or use it on a damp sponge. I chose to apply it directly to the surface in which I found that a little bit of product goes a long way. I then used a microfiber cloth to rub it gently and massage it in to the stains to help boost the micro crystals into action! The entire process of cleaning my dirty sink took just over a minute and it involved no hard scrubbing or extensive man power. The gel cream contains a gentle abrasive that easily wipes off old stains such as watermarks and toothbrush stains as well as some other stains that I could not identify (yuck!). I used it on both the sink counter top, bowl and faucet and everything sparkled and dried streak free and clean.
I also used the same method on my stove at my current house except I used a sponge instead of the microfiber cloth. Even with different hardware, I was still left with the same sparkling results. Even burnt on stains that I thought I would not be able to remove were taken off easily with the VIM cream. I will absolutely be purchasing this product again - it's a great bang for your buck and it is a versatile product that works well on a variety of surfaces. I can't wait to see what it can do for other areas of my home as well. I would recommend this to anyone who shares the responsibility of cleaning in their household and is looking for a fresh and fun floral scent!
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Welch’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks
Okay, WELCH'S STRAWBERRY FRUIT 'N YOGURT are AMAZING. Nutritional value alone, they suck... but I do not care. I could eat these all day long. They are real strawberry fruit gummies coated with delicious and creamy yogurt and the duo is honestly... +
Okay, WELCH'S STRAWBERRY FRUIT 'N YOGURT are AMAZING. Nutritional value alone, they suck... but I do not care. I could eat these all day long. They are real strawberry fruit gummies coated with delicious and creamy yogurt and the duo is honestly amazing. They are so soft and chewy and they practically melt in your mouth. Welch’s has always been one of my favourite snack food choices because they use REAL fruit. I love that these are low in fat and that they use natural flavours (although they use artificial ones as well). Like I mentioned earlier, they aren’t the greatest for you nutritionally as they contain tons of sugar per serving and their ingredient list isn’t something that would make me proud as a mom. But they truly are delicious for a once in a while snack for the kids and of course, me too! They also contain 100% of your Vitamin C as well as 25% of Vitamins A&D;and 10% of Calcium which makes me feel better as well. I can’t wait to get my hands on the blueberry and cherry flavours next. You gotta try these :) -
Kashi Dark Mocha Almond Chewy Granola Bars
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the KASHI DARK MOCHA ALMOND CHEWY GRANOLA BARS! I love the convenience of a granola bar for an on the go snack to curb my hunger throughout the day. Kashi isn’t a brand that I would normally choose... +
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the KASHI DARK MOCHA ALMOND CHEWY GRANOLA BARS! I love the convenience of a granola bar for an on the go snack to curb my hunger throughout the day. Kashi isn’t a brand that I would normally choose but the flavour combination intrigued me and I’m glad I decided to give it a try!
The bar is super soft and chewy and each flavour is tasted as you eat the bar. The coffee/mocha flavour is quite prominent so if you don’t like coffee, this isn’t for you. There’s chunks of dark chocolate and almonds and the flavours compliment each other so nicely! The ingredient list is full of ingredients that I know and can pronounce and each bar contains 14g of whole grains and 3g of fibre per serving. The sugar count is a little high for me at 7g per bar but I would choose this over many other alternatives on the grocery store shelves. I found it at my local grocery store for just under $4 per box of 5 which is a great price for the flavour and quality of the product! I would purchase and reccomend this product!
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Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST WATER GEL SUNSCREEN SPF 50 from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it couldn’t have come at a better time! As someone who loves being outside and is a sun... +
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST WATER GEL SUNSCREEN SPF 50 from ChickAdvisor for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and it couldn’t have come at a better time! As someone who loves being outside and is a sun worshipper, I know how important a good sunscreen with SPF is. We finally got our first dose of sun this past week so I spent some time outside and put this sunscreen to the test!
The product comes in an easy to squeeze tube and dispenses easily. It is a creamy blue color that actually smells quite pleasant. It isn’t harsh like many other sunscreens and even upon drying still smells great on the skin! The product claims to quench skin with hydration and it’s non greasy formula won’t clog pores. It’s definitely non greasy and feels more like a moisturizer on the skin. It’s not the normal gross sunscreen consistency and it also doesn’t leave a white film on the skin. I didn’t find it to be as hydro boosting or moisturizing as I hoped and felt that it left my skin feeling really “gritty”. My fingers didn’t rub smoothly together and my arms almost felt dry. It definitely leaves some sort of uncomfortable funky residue and I would not be comfortable putting this on my face. The SPF 50 is great and definitely provides UV protection and when the weather gets warmer I think this will do a great job preventing sunburn! It says to reapply every 2 hours which is one con of this product for me. I wish it lasted longer without reapplication. I am torn on whether or not I would recommend or purchase this product as I like the SPF 50, I enjoy the scent and I love that there is no white streaks on my skin. I think the price at $15 + is a little steep for a sunscreen that you have to reapply every 2 hours and that leaves your skin feeling gritty and dry. Overall, I would probably wouldn’t purchase this again.
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NEUTROGENA® Hydro Boost Gel Cream
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST GEL CREAM for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions from ChickAdvisor and I was so excited as I struggle with dry skin - especially in the winter months and with the changing of the... +
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST GEL CREAM for free in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions from ChickAdvisor and I was so excited as I struggle with dry skin - especially in the winter months and with the changing of the seasons. Unfortunately this product did the opposite of what it claims to do. The hydro boost gel cream claims to instantly quench dry skin and keep it looking smooth, supple and hydrated all day. The product also claims to be wearable under makeup so I opted for this choice in hopes of combatting dry skin without having to add an extra step into my beauty routine.
The first thing I noticed about the gel cream is that it has a really nice scent! It smells fresh and light without any chemical presence. The product dispenses as a milky gel with a slight blue tinge that spreads easily and smoothly on the skin. It absorbs SUPER quickly but leaves the skin very smooth and soft to the touch. It absorbs so quickly that I added another layer in hopes of creating a more moisturizing effect, but my skin swallowed that layer up too. I didn’t sense any moisturizing effect at all unfortunately and my skin actually felt really dry. Upon applying my makeup about 5 minutes later, it felt even worse. Usually my liquid foundation spreads easily and evenly to my face but with this gel cream as the base, it was the opposite... honestly a nightmare. My skin was so dry and my dry patches were enhanced. I have now used the entire sample (a weeks worth) and have noticed the same results for each application. It did make my skin feel smooth and did not cause any breakouts but for $20 a bottle it should add WAY more moisturization then it did. I would not reccomend this as a way to boost or moisturize skin and I would absolutely not recommend this as a base for makeup.
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NEUTROGENA® All-in-One Make-Up Removing Cleansing Wipes
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA ALL-IN-ONE MAKE-UP REMOVING CLEANSING WIPES for free from ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and they didn't wow me. I usually only use makeup wipes if I am on the go and not at home to do... +
I was chosen to try the NEUTROGENA ALL-IN-ONE MAKE-UP REMOVING CLEANSING WIPES for free from ChickAdvisor in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions and they didn't wow me. I usually only use makeup wipes if I am on the go and not at home to do a full makeup removal with my normal skincare routine, but they are always handy to have on hand. I absolutely love 'all in one' removers for simplicity reasons and Neutrogena claims that these will remove face, lip and eye makeup!
I love that the wipes come in a resealable package that ACTUALLY reseals - the package contained 7 wipes and the last wipe was just as moist and efficient as the first one. They smell amazing with a pleasant light smell and does not smell like chemicals or alcohol. I also LOVE that the first ingredient is water and not alcohols or oils (yay! they are alcohol AND oil FREE!). The wipes are quite thick and are very durable - they didn't tear or rip coming out of the package or as I removed my makeup and I was able to use both sides easily. They are also super duper soft and it feels so nice and gentle to rub these against my skin!
The first time I used the wipes I followed the package directions and cleansed my entire face (full face coverage, eye makeup and lips) with the wipe. I don't wear a ton of makeup but I found that one wipe was not sufficient to take off everything... even using both sides. The second time I used my normal makeup remover and then went over it with these wipes in the hard to reach areas such as eyes and corners and I found that I was actually missing quite a bit with my normal remover! I think that these wipes are best used in combination with another product as I don't think that they do an amazing job on their own. They do take off face makeup great but they need some serious help in the eye department, especially with waterproof products.
The product was super gentle on my skin and did not cause any irritation or breakouts. In both methods that I tried these wipes I always used them as my last step and my skin each and every time was left super soft with zero residue from the product and no need to rinse. Overall this product is great when in a pinch or when combined with another product as I don't think it sufficiently takes of ALL makeup on it's own. I would not recommend this product as a lone makeup remover. It is also quite expensive at $8-$9 for 25 wipes. Considering I had to use 2 each time I feel there are much more affordable and more effective products out there.
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