ellstar
Member Since: March 4, 2011Reviews
Pure Leaf Green Tea with Mint
I'm a tea afficionado but when it comes to flavoured green tea, I always am a bit skeptical. I think this is because I recall when companies were buying very bitter green tea and adding flavourings to them to soften the harshness, this souring me to... +
I'm a tea afficionado but when it comes to flavoured green tea, I always am a bit skeptical. I think this is because I recall when companies were buying very bitter green tea and adding flavourings to them to soften the harshness, this souring me to flavoured green tea for ages.
Pure Leaf does none of those things. This tea is a nice smooth green with a hint of refreshing mint, it doesn't overwhelm you with either flavour, and instead pairs nicely together. It's not the most complex taste but it's very much an easy sipper to start your day. I have already bought the Pure Leaf teas in the past and would again.
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Soia & Kyo INDIANA Suede Gloves
If you're addicted to your smartphone like I am, you've probably bought a half dozen cheap pairs of gloves over the last few years just because they provide haptic feedback to your phone. There's nothing worse than having to take your gloves off in... +
If you're addicted to your smartphone like I am, you've probably bought a half dozen cheap pairs of gloves over the last few years just because they provide haptic feedback to your phone. There's nothing worse than having to take your gloves off in -20 to check the bus schedule! So when I had the opportunity from the Chickadvisor Product Review Club to get a product from Soia & Kyo I KNEW that it would be a super cute pair of tech-friendly gloves to replace my dingy mittens! These suede knit gloves are a great addition to a winter wardrobe because they can be unrolled and used as upper-arm warmers, or doubled up to ensure no wind gets up your sleeves in the cold. I initially thought I would get the Carmel version of these gloves in the leather, but the tawny brown Autumn shade of the Indiana gloves stole my heart instead. While these might not be the gloves you wear to the ski slope, they work great for a Toronto urban winter, while looking super cute too. Add a two year warranty on it, and you won't see me buying discount gloves on Amazon again any time soon! -
Soia & Kyo (Square One, Mississauga)
I recently visited Soia & Kyo at Square One thanks to a Product Review Club opportunity. Having only heard of the brand in passing, I wasn't sure what to expect. I usually avoid the higher-end winter stores as I'm sometimes intimidated by sales... +
I recently visited Soia & Kyo at Square One thanks to a Product Review Club opportunity. Having only heard of the brand in passing, I wasn't sure what to expect. I usually avoid the higher-end winter stores as I'm sometimes intimidated by sales staff or the price of items and would rather shop online instead, but I'm so glad I went to this store in person because it was the total opposite of what I expected. The store is spacious and open, and merchandised in a way that lets you feel comfortable touching items and casually putting them on. The staff were stellar, Rhianna in particular was extremely helpful to me when I told her what I was looking for, and managed to find me a pair of gloves that matched both my fall jacket that I was wearing, and a winter jacket I already had at home that I showed her the colour of. They did not do any awkward upselling and made me feel very at home in the store. I was also happy to see a variety of people shopping there, of all ages and backgrounds, I guess good quality goes a long way. :) While the prices are a bit higher than what I usually spend, a 2 year warranty goes a LONG way, so maybe when my current winter jacket wears out I'll make another visit! -
Tetley Super Herbal Tea IMMUNE - Lemon & Echinacea with Zinc
Now, as much as I enjoy drinking tea and have a vast collection of flavourful options to choose from, not all teas are supposed to be "tasty". When you live in Canada and in a city with four distinct seasons, you're bound to get sick. And if you do... +
Now, as much as I enjoy drinking tea and have a vast collection of flavourful options to choose from, not all teas are supposed to be "tasty". When you live in Canada and in a city with four distinct seasons, you're bound to get sick. And if you do, I bet you have some teas you pretty much only drink when you're sick or to boost your immune system. They may not taste the greatest, but they do the trick!
Now, this Lemon & Echinacea Tea is absolutely one of those teas, it tastes more of echinacea than lemon, with a bit of a ginger on the end. It's very strong, but it definitely helped me kick the worst side effects of a bitter cold to the curb. Getting an extra 20% of my daily zinc from this tea is absolutely wonderful, especially when you're so sick you don't really want to consume much of anything.
I received this product for review from the Product Review Club
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Tetley Super Green ANTIOX Tropical with Vitamin C
When it comes to tea, I'm a frequent drinker and I drink a wide variety, from delicate white tea to strong black tea, to subtle green tea and then some. Flavoured green teas are very tricky because the flavours have to either complement the... +
When it comes to tea, I'm a frequent drinker and I drink a wide variety, from delicate white tea to strong black tea, to subtle green tea and then some. Flavoured green teas are very tricky because the flavours have to either complement the bitterness in the green tea, or overwhelm it with a different flavour. In this instance, they overwhelmed it with tropical flavour. It's not bad per se, but it is rather strong and tasted fake to me, an artificial tropical flavour.
That said, I was very intrigued that 25% of my daily Vitamin C dose was in a simple cup of tea, so I know I'll definitely reach for these tea bags on days when I need that extra hit, but it won't be my first choice in the morning.
I received this product for review from the Product Review Club.
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Tetley Super Green BOOST Berry Burst with Vitamin B6
While I'm a tea aficionado, I'm absolutely not a tea snob. I own expensive pu'erh from China, Oolong from Japan, Bahamian Hibiscus and then some, but I also LOVE a simple peppermint, black tea or chai. So my tea collection is a mix of special... +
While I'm a tea aficionado, I'm absolutely not a tea snob. I own expensive pu'erh from China, Oolong from Japan, Bahamian Hibiscus and then some, but I also LOVE a simple peppermint, black tea or chai. So my tea collection is a mix of special occasion teas, to the ones I drink regularly, and this Tetley offering may just become one of my regulars!
I was curious to try Tetley's Super Boost teas because while I drink tea daily, I don't think about vitamins that I get from it. I usually drink for flavour or caffeine, so to see that 25% of my daily B6 was in one cup? That's not bad! And in a neatly flavoured green tea? Even better!
I really enjoyed the berry flavour in this tea, it worked well with the bitterness you usually get from a green tea, but didn't taste cloying or awkward at all. All in all I was surprised how much I enjoyed this tea and I will definitely go through these quickly.
I received this product for review from the Product Review Club.
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Dr. Belmeur Advanced CICA Recovery Cream
My skin is combination and a few years ago it really started to veer to the dry side in the fall/winter seasons. During the summer I don't usually use cream moisturizers this thick, but I thought I'd take a chance with Dr Belmeur's Cica Recovery... +
My skin is combination and a few years ago it really started to veer to the dry side in the fall/winter seasons. During the summer I don't usually use cream moisturizers this thick, but I thought I'd take a chance with Dr Belmeur's Cica Recovery Cream because I thought the consistency would still lend well to the sweaty summer, and I was right!
This recovery cream is a perfect example of a little goes a long way. While it does come in a jar, it comes with a small scoop so you don't put your fingers in the jar (DON'T DO THAT) and only a small amount is needed to easily cover your face and neck if you prefer. It has a light fragrance that almost reminds me of jasmine, but it's very subtle and fades away quickly. It's not the thickest cream, but it does have a bit of a water-based feeling about it that lets the skin absorb the cream, yet also breathe.
The only thing I don't like about this product is the packaging is large and rather heavy, the lid is a bit oversized and it just feels too large for only 50ml.
I received this product for free from the Chick Advisor Product Review Club.
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Dr. Belmeur Advanced CICA Recovery Serum
When I first started testing Dr Belmeur products, I started with the Cica Recovery Serum because I was most intrigued by the recent information coming out about cica and how it can improve my skin, and this product did not disappoint. I tend to... +
When I first started testing Dr Belmeur products, I started with the Cica Recovery Serum because I was most intrigued by the recent information coming out about cica and how it can improve my skin, and this product did not disappoint.
I tend to like serums that help act as a natural buffer between my skin and anything else I put on top, I found this serum had a smooth consistency that absorbed quickly while mildly hydrating and filling in any lines on my face. It worked well with different moisturizers on top, whether they had SPF or not, and never felt too heavy on my skin.
My skin definitely felt better for using this serum, I'd consider getting it again for sure.
I received this from the Chickadvisor Product Review Club.
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Dr. Belmeur Panthenol Soothing Gel Cream
I'm not a huge fan of gel moisturizers or gel-based creams in general, but when I was given the chance to try the Dr Belmeur Panthenol Soothing Gel Cream I figured it wouldn't hurt to test one again. Unfortunately it still didn't work for me, I... +
I'm not a huge fan of gel moisturizers or gel-based creams in general, but when I was given the chance to try the Dr Belmeur Panthenol Soothing Gel Cream I figured it wouldn't hurt to test one again. Unfortunately it still didn't work for me, I found that it pilled when I used it on top of the Dr Belmeur serum and didn't act as a good base for makeup whatsoever.
Things I did like about the gel cream include the scent, it was very light and while it did have a hint of fragrance it was very delicate and not overwhelming. I also liked that it came in a tube, which makes the product more shelf stable and less likely to get contaminated with any bacteria or germs.
Perhaps this gel cream would work better for people with very dry skin, but not on me.
I received this product for free from the Chick Advisor Product Review Club
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Canada Dry Club Soda - Pomegranate-Cherry
I'm a HUGE carbonated soda fan, whether it's my Hungarian upbringing or my desire to drink 8 cups a day but not have them taste like nothing, I've always got some soda water going. While I have a Soda Stream at home, when I'm on the go I usually... +
I'm a HUGE carbonated soda fan, whether it's my Hungarian upbringing or my desire to drink 8 cups a day but not have them taste like nothing, I've always got some soda water going.
While I have a Soda Stream at home, when I'm on the go I usually grab whatever sparkling water is easiest at the store, and now that I know that this Canada Dry Cherry Pomegranate is available, it's what I'll be reaching for. The cherry isn't too bitter or tart, and the pomegranate adds a bit of a deeper fruit flavour to the mix. It's good on it's own or mixes well if you fancy a cocktail (like I do.) I like this one WAY better than the Lemon version and can totally see myself grabbing a case of these to tide me over throughout the summer. The price is right, the taste is right, and you all need water so drink up.
I received this for free from the Chickadvisor Product Review Club.
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