sahar009
Member Since: October 1, 2016Reviews
Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Leave-on Mask
So I don't quite know if it has any effect on fine lines or if it will do much in terms of aging when I am older, but in the short-term, this is a lovely moisturizing cream for the harsh Canadian winter. My achy, scaly, gross skin (of a woman, I... +
So I don't quite know if it has any effect on fine lines or if it will do much in terms of aging when I am older, but in the short-term, this is a lovely moisturizing cream for the harsh Canadian winter. My achy, scaly, gross skin (of a woman, I should add, that hydrates very well, avoids direct sunlight, puts SPF, exfoliates regularly, doesn't smoke or drink alcohol) has been replaced with something more akin to a young woman and less a zombie from a hopefully far-off apocalypse. It smells lovely to booth, the dispenser doesn't clog, its a light formula that absorbs easily and quickly. So yes as a moisturizer, to be seen as a age-defying mask ;) -
Nude by Nature Mineral Brush 11
Nude by Nature's Mineral Brush 11 is a great brush that manages, most of the time, to deliver just the right amount of powder. The best part, however, is the handy little box that it comes in, which pushes it ahead of many competitors. The tube... +
Nude by Nature's Mineral Brush 11 is a great brush that manages, most of the time, to deliver just the right amount of powder. The best part, however, is the handy little box that it comes in, which pushes it ahead of many competitors. The tube allows for safe storage that keeps the brushes bristles safe. The handle is also a wonderful combination of smooth to the touch but anti-slip. -
Nude by Nature Radiant Loose Powder Foundation
I don't usually like loose powder, especially now that I have a baby. The stuff goes all over the place, and so much goes to waste while trying to get the perfect amount on my face. But this one is different. First off, the dispenser prevents... +
I don't usually like loose powder, especially now that I have a baby. The stuff goes all over the place, and so much goes to waste while trying to get the perfect amount on my face. But this one is different. First off, the dispenser prevents accidental spills and tipovers, and gives you just about enough for your face, each time. Second, this powder seems somewhat heavier than others I tried--in a good way. It doesn't go flying off everywhere but stays on the brush and on my face. I never thought I would recommend loose powder, and and glad ChickAdvisor sent me a free sample to test. -
Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer
There is one other primer that I liked almost as much as this one, from Smashbox. But consider the ingredients in this one as well as the ethics of this company, Nude by Nature's Perfecting Primer is my new to-go primer. As a new mommy, I don't... +
There is one other primer that I liked almost as much as this one, from Smashbox. But consider the ingredients in this one as well as the ethics of this company, Nude by Nature's Perfecting Primer is my new to-go primer. As a new mommy, I don't have time for do-over's or smoothing things out, so having a primer that is easy to put on, that actually keeps things in place, and that smells good is a great thing. I also found my skin to look healthier after using this primer, which I chalk up to, potentially, the fact that it is made, as much as possible, from natural ingredients. I'm very glad to have been sent a free sample to test, courtesy of ChickAdvisor. -
Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara
Lancôme's Monsieur Big Mascara, which I received as a #gift in exchange for an honest review, is a three-in-one deal that is well worth purchasing for women who like to slim down their makeup bag, help the environment by decreasing their shopping... +
Lancôme's Monsieur Big Mascara, which I received as a #gift in exchange for an honest review, is a three-in-one deal that is well worth purchasing for women who like to slim down their makeup bag, help the environment by decreasing their shopping list, and saving money.
With one stroke, all lashes are covered, evenly and clump-free, perfectly for a day look.
With a second stroke, all lashes are covered, again evenly and with rare clumps, perfectly for an evening look.
With a third stroke, all lashes are covered again, evenly, with some clumps but not that many, perfectly for a dramatic look for a special occasion.
Smudging is minimal, even when humidity is high, sweating profuse (hello, dance floor), and tears of joy flowing down your cheeks.
Removal is also surprisingly easy; two or three swipes and voilà! All done.
This is definitely the best new mascara on the market that I have tested this year to date. As a new mom, I also appreciate how easily I get the perfect look each and every time. I do wish it would dry a little faster, but this is such a minor concern that I still recommend this mascara. Just don't blink ;)
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Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver
I received this product for free from Chick Advisor in exchange for an honest review. We are big fruit lovers in our family and love any container that would extend the lifetime of our beloved produce. Many of the ones available on the market are... +
I received this product for free from Chick Advisor in exchange for an honest review. We are big fruit lovers in our family and love any container that would extend the lifetime of our beloved produce. Many of the ones available on the market are less expensive but haven't really done much--if anything--when it came to extending the life of our produce.
The Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver is on the higher end of the price scale, but it does work--for some fruits, that is. While cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries did, indeed, look quite good up to 5 days post-purchase, our grapes didn't fare well at all. We are going to be running experiments on other produce with the hopes that they will fare well; if they do, we might consider purchasing a larger container for our salads.
This product is well worth it for those of you who eat a lot of fruits and tend to throw out a lot because they are not eaten fast enough; you will no doubt make your money's worth in no time.
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Hellmann’s® Organic
Mayonnaise is one of those things that can make or break a recipe. Hellmann's regular mayonnaise is a staple in many a household, and it's a hard one to replace--why fix it if it ain't broken? But then something comes along that makes you wonder... +
Mayonnaise is one of those things that can make or break a recipe. Hellmann's regular mayonnaise is a staple in many a household, and it's a hard one to replace--why fix it if it ain't broken?
But then something comes along that makes you wonder if you should go ahead and fix that thing after all. This was the case with Hellmann's Organic Mayonnaise.
Let's start by being slightly superficial: how adorable is the label! Love it.
Now I don't know enough about organic versus non-organic, but if organic is better, then almost every ingredient that made it into this product is organic (except--haha--for the water and the seasoning.)
The texture is incredibly creamy. I found it a lot easier to "manipulate" this version of mayonnaise--i.e. spread it, dip in it, mix it in, etc.
The taste has more depth than the original version. The egginess particularly comes out, as does the lemon.
As I got this product free in exchange for an honest review, I don't know how much it retails for. The only concern I would have is the size of the jar which, at 443mL, doesn't stand a chance in a mayonnaise-loving household. Other than that, if the health benefits of organic are what they say they are, and if the price of the organic version of this staple is not that much more than that of the original, this is a purchase well worth making.
#gotitfree
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Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub
I don’t know if it’s because of winter or because I have been really tired lately, but after a wonderful beginning with this product, it started irritating my skin a little. The irritation is limited enough for me not to want to give up on it in... +
I don’t know if it’s because of winter or because I have been really tired lately, but after a wonderful beginning with this product, it started irritating my skin a little. The irritation is limited enough for me not to want to give up on it in the long-term, but enough for me to reconsider using it at this time. I have also considered the possibility that it is just too harsh for the recommended usage of 2-3 times a week for the scrub and daily for the cleanser.
I have also been thinking a lot about using a product from a large company like Bioré and a smaller one, however great the larger company may be. I have been reading up on companies such as Stowaway Cosmetics which, because they are smaller sized, seem to have a better ability to read their reality and adjust to it. Meaning that a small company is much more agile and able to stick to its original principles. So while I trust that reports that Bioré’s parent company has the desire and the will to be a leader in ethics, I trust that smaller companies like Stowaway Cosmetics to be able to more quickly and efficiently make the necessary changes in remaining at the forefront of ethical practices. There are also a lot of implications at the level of the community that I’m still struggling to sort through. In short, wouldn’t a number of smaller cosmetic companies spread throughout the world be better suited to respond to the needs of the members of the community they are located in? These needs would be both personal—a certain range of skin types within a certain specific climate—as well as community-based—using local ingredients, decreasing pollution, creating local jobs and, with people from the same community working on a home-made product, creating stronger bonds of friendship.
More thinking needs to be done about this…
Where does this leave me? I will reduce the frequency with which I use both cleanser and scrub to see if it helps my skin feel less irritated and, instead, just as soft as the first times I used it. If I see no change in my skin, I’ll put them both away until summertime and test them then again.
Recommend? Yes, for now.
For more: http://www.saharsblog.com/beauty/product-review-biore-baking-soda-voxbox-part-2-of-2/
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‘This Just In’ Sticky Note Set by Kate Spade
There are two super important things to look for in a sticky note. The first is the quality of the paper used; no one wants their sticky notes to be curling up, nor do they want the ink to either bleed through or smear. The other essential factor is... +
There are two super important things to look for in a sticky note. The first is the quality of the paper used; no one wants their sticky notes to be curling up, nor do they want the ink to either bleed through or smear. The other essential factor is the stickiness of the note; too much and you can end up tearing important documents; too little and you might lose the note (and, subsequently, your mind).
The Kate Space This Just In sticky note set ended up being mostly disappointing after the initial thrill at how beautiful the presentation is. Set within a hard cardboard, white on black polka dot case, the seven individual packs are all white on mint with gold etched details. While some of them have designs on them that would make them distracting, the light colours used makes the design fade into the background with even a pencil scribbled note.
Where this sticky note set loses all credibility is in both the quality of its paper and its stickiness factor. The paper bleeds through when using liquid ink based pens or felt tipped pens like Sharpies and the sticky part of the note barely sticks, curling up mere second after application, making this set pretty but pretty useless.
Verdict? Not worth it, even on sale.
For more: http://www.saharsblog.com/review/product-review-this-just-in-sticky-note-set-by-kate-spade/
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Moleskine Hard Cover Ruled Large Notebooks
I usually go for the hard cover, 13 centimeters by 21 centimeters “notebook” in whatever colour or special edition that catches my fancy. While there are smaller journals available, I find that this size fits well in most of my purses and is... +
I usually go for the hard cover, 13 centimeters by 21 centimeters “notebook” in whatever colour or special edition that catches my fancy. While there are smaller journals available, I find that this size fits well in most of my purses and is easy to carry around during meetings. They also allow me to cram most of the information in a 2-hour meeting on two facing pages, which makes referring back to my notes a lot easier.
The paper is very smooth—most pens and pencils I have used on Moleskine notebooks glide smoothly on the paper’s surface, which means less wrist and finger pain after spending a long time writing. Sharpies, even the extra fine point ones, tend to bleed through, but normal pens (ball point, ink, or felt tip) don’t. The paper also works well with washi tape—while some people pre-divide theirs, I use my notebooks one page at a time, then line each page with a different colored washi tape to make specific themes/topics stand out. For example, as part of the regional community building process I am a part of at the moment, there are three major things in my service notebook: studying what community building is, notes from meetings with my other team members, and my to-do list. I choose to washi tape in blue all pages on which I jot down my to-do list, making it a lot easier to flip open to that page when in the middle of the action.
I prefer the hard cover version as they make for a much more comfortable writing experience pretty much anywhere, something that is important to me—I pretty much whip open my journal anywhere and everywhere. When opened on a hard surface, it opens easily at a 180-degree angle without any strain on the spine and any paper tears.
The elastic closure is really practical and long-lasting—I can stuff my journal with random bit of paper that will not fly away without the elastic stretching. It does become a little loose after 5-6 months, but it still remains usable. The ribbon bookmark is really practical for obvious reasons. It does tend to fray at the bottom but not so much; also, a regularly applied dab of clear nail polish takes care of that problem easily.
On top of its regular line of hard cover ruled notebooks, Moleskine regularly releases special editions journal collections, including Alice in Wonderland, the Audio Cassette, Lego, Coca-Cola, Le Petit Prince, The Simpsons, Minnie Mouse, Peanuts, Hello Kitty, Batman, and the seemingly ever-expanding Star Wars collection. All the ones I have purchased come with stickers, which makes the child in me quie happy. I’m currently intrigued by the new Blend collection, which seems to be journals that come with a fabric-based cover.
Recommend?
As you can tell, I love Moleskine, but enough questions have been raised during the writing of this post that I can only recommend them temporarily, until the second part of this review at least when I try to find the answers to the questions in this post.
For more: http://www.saharsblog.com/review/product-review-review/product-review-moleskine-hard-cover-ruled-large-notebooks-part-1-2/
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