Shaunah
Member Since: December 9, 2009Reviews
Vichy Idealia Life Serum
I had the opportunity to review Vichy Idealia Life Serum as part of the Chick Advisor Product Review Club. I am currently 5 months pregnant with my first daughter, and have been experiencing a lack of radiance to my skin, uneven skin tone, and... +
I had the opportunity to review Vichy Idealia Life Serum as part of the Chick Advisor Product Review Club. I am currently 5 months pregnant with my first daughter, and have been experiencing a lack of radiance to my skin, uneven skin tone, and fatigued skin due to restless nights
I have been using Vichy Idealia Life Serum nightly for the past two weeks. I find two pumps to be enough to cover my face, neck, and decollete. The serum does have a strong floral scent to it, which I was not a fan of. It applies smoothly to the skin, does not feel oily, and absorbs quickly.
After several evenings of use, I noticed that my skin felt smoother and looked more hydrated. Some discoloration that I had on my chin became less noticeable, and I felt that I looked better rested. I had some compliments from my coworkers that I had that "pregnancy glow", when before I felt my skin looked rather sallow.
I've really enjoyed using this serum, and after 14 days of use (28 pumps), the bottle is about 2/3 full. My only dislike would have to be the strong scent. The bottle is made of thick glass, and looks great on m bedside table. While this may not be important to some, I love nice packaging for my beauty and skincare items.
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Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge
I have no problem spending more for products when I know the quality and value is there. I resisted purchasing a Beauty Blender for years, as I felt that a sponge was a sponge, and bought what I thought were "dupes" at the drugstore. I received... +
I have no problem spending more for products when I know the quality and value is there. I resisted purchasing a Beauty Blender for years, as I felt that a sponge was a sponge, and bought what I thought were "dupes" at the drugstore.
I received a Beauty Blender through Birchbox, and oh my, it is far better than the other sponges I have been using. I don't use it everyday, just for special occasions. It gives my Lancome Teinte Idole Freshwear an airbrushed look. I love the finish I get, and find application to be very quick and even.
Would I purchase again? I estimate it will last me quite awhile as I use it infrequently. I have no problem restocking when my current Beauty Blender bites the dust, knowing the difference in quality over the "dupes".
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Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo
I receive a gift card from a very generous family member for an Aveda salon for my birthday each year. I stock up on my favourites, which always includes the Rosemary Mint shampoo. While I can't say anything amazing about the quality (it works... +
I receive a gift card from a very generous family member for an Aveda salon for my birthday each year. I stock up on my favourites, which always includes the Rosemary Mint shampoo. While I can't say anything amazing about the quality (it works just as well as most other shampoo's), the scent is amazing. I love using Aveda Rosemary Mint in the morning before work, and find the scent so refreshing. It's definitely a splurge, but that's the best way to spend a gift card! -
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original Clean & Classic
I have been wanting to try Batiste dry shampoo for years, but have never seen it in store to pick it up. I was so happy to be chosen to review it as part of the Chick Advisor Product Review Club. My hair is medium/dark brown, very long, curly, and... +
I have been wanting to try Batiste dry shampoo for years, but have never seen it in store to pick it up. I was so happy to be chosen to review it as part of the Chick Advisor Product Review Club.
My hair is medium/dark brown, very long, curly, and dry on the ends. I wash it every 2-3 days, and always have to put an oil or serum in the ends. My roots, however, are usually fine for day 2, but if I'm skipping a wash on the third day, they get oily.
I've tried several brands of dry shampoo, and would have to say Batiste is great for an aerosol dry shampoo. The mist was very fine, had a lot of power to it, and left an appropriate amount of product in my hair. I was able to tousle it through my roots without a noticeable white cast, though, if you spray it too closely it is very noticeable.
The smell is lightly floral, not my favourite, but not too strong. I would love to try another variety in the future, perhaps a different scent or one of the ones meant for brunettes.
Batiste absorbed the oil at the roots, and while it didn't leave my hair looking freshly washed, it did allow me to wait to shampoo my hair until after my gym class in the evening.
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Maybelline New York Dream Wonder Fluid-Touch Foundation
When it comes to foundation, I usually stick with high end. I've recently been using the Lancome Miracle Air De Teint, after they discontinued Teint Idole Fresh Wear. I picked up a bottle of Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch foundation on sale... +
When it comes to foundation, I usually stick with high end. I've recently been using the Lancome Miracle Air De Teint, after they discontinued Teint Idole Fresh Wear. I picked up a bottle of Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch foundation on sale for $9 wanting to compare the two.
My results? Almost identical. Application, dry time, coverage. I wasn't able to find an exact match (the Lancome shade I wear is more yellow tones while the Maybelline is more pink toned), but the difference on my face is negligible. If I were to try out a few shades I'm sure I could find a closer match.
I love how lightweight this foundation is - it blends perfectly, and is so thin it feels like you have no makeup on. The coverage is also buildable, though I find that Maybelline Dream Wonder is slightly higher coverage than the Lancome.
A little goes a long way - if you exfoliate regularly, 5 drops will likely be enough. This foundation does cling to dry spots though, and makes them stick out more.
At .45 cents /ml for the Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Touch Foundation, and $1.60/ml for the Lancome, I'll likely be picking up another bottle of the Maybelline when I am through.
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Bioderma Crealine H2O Make-Up Removing Micelle Solution
Bioderma absolutely lives up to the hype. I keep a small bottle handy to remove any winger liner/mascara "oops" in the morning, and also a small bottle bedside to remove any makeup on those nights I'm just too lazy to remove my makeup. Is it... +
Bioderma absolutely lives up to the hype. I keep a small bottle handy to remove any winger liner/mascara "oops" in the morning, and also a small bottle bedside to remove any makeup on those nights I'm just too lazy to remove my makeup.
Is it pricey? Of course - but cheaper than makeup removing wipes. Bioderma is unscented, not irritating or drying, and does not leave any residue on the face. It's also one of the few makeup removers that can get Benefit's "They're Real" mascara off!
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First Response Digital Ovulation Test - 20 Tests
February 2015 will mark 5 years of trying to get pregnant with my husband. There are several issues that prevent me from getting pregnant, one of which is irregular cycles and only ovulating once a year. I do get regular bloodwork that lets me... +
February 2015 will mark 5 years of trying to get pregnant with my husband. There are several issues that prevent me from getting pregnant, one of which is irregular cycles and only ovulating once a year. I do get regular bloodwork that lets me know whether I have ovulated, but this tells me after the fact, not prior to ovulation.
First Response Ovulation Tests have been so helpful in helping to predict ovulation, especially when cycles range between 26-95 days. Through consultation with my doctor, I am on medication to help further regulate them. My doctor recommended I use ovulation predictor tests rather than charting/temperature taking, as in his words "You have enough to worry about, charting will just make the process more stressful". I couldn't agree more.
After several months of using First Response Ovulation Tests, and learning more about my body's natural cues leading up to ovulation, we were successful in getting pregnant in the spring of 2014. While this pregnancy ended in heartbreak in the first trimester, we are still trying each month, knowing that it did happen once!
I am confident that a combination of a great doctor, awareness of my body's natural cues each month, and the ability to use ovulation tests will help us succeed in getting pregnant again in 2015.
A word of advice for those who are trying to get pregnant unsuccessfully - if you have been trying for over a year without getting pregnant, speak to a doctor in order to have further testing done. You may have underlying issues that can be addressed by speaking with a professional!
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Lancôme Paris Miracle Air de Teinte
Lancome Miracle Air De Teint is a lightweight foundation - it is dispensed from a dropper, and has a very thin consistency. You need to spread it quickly on your skin, and it dries to a powder finish. I find it very natural looking, with a... +
Lancome Miracle Air De Teint is a lightweight foundation - it is dispensed from a dropper, and has a very thin consistency. You need to spread it quickly on your skin, and it dries to a powder finish. I find it very natural looking, with a semi-sheer finish that can be built upon for more coverage where needed. the directions recommend that you shake the bottle before use, but I find this makes a mess of the cap. Instead, gently shake it from side to side. If you are looking for weightless coverage that looks natural, give Miracle air De Teint a try! -
Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb Parfum
I am absolutely horrible at describing fragrances, but I will say that Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb is my current favourite scent. I usually wear light floral scents with a sweet undertone (Lise Watier Desirable and Vent Du Sud), but as I near my 30's... +
I am absolutely horrible at describing fragrances, but I will say that Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb is my current favourite scent. I usually wear light floral scents with a sweet undertone (Lise Watier Desirable and Vent Du Sud), but as I near my 30's have been wanting something a bit more - mature - without being overly floral.
I received a rollerball of Flower Bomb in a Sephora favourites set, and have been saving it for special occasions. It has floral notes, but also a strong sweetness and a bit of musk. I get quite a few compliments on it, both from males and females. It's an evening scent to me, though some may wish to wear it during the day.
My only complaint - the price. I can't justify buying a bottle until I finish up my old favourites, but can't wait to have the beautiful V&R;Flower Bomb bottle on my vanity!
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OxiClean Max Force White Revive Laundry Stain Remover & Booster
My husband is a carpenter, and he wears a white undershirt and tshirt daily. His shirts become stained quickly due to sweat, sunscreen, and caked on dirt. Several years ago we started using another bleach-free powder to clean our whites, as we... +
My husband is a carpenter, and he wears a white undershirt and tshirt daily. His shirts become stained quickly due to sweat, sunscreen, and caked on dirt. Several years ago we started using another bleach-free powder to clean our whites, as we noticed that soaking them in bleach was causing him to wear through them sooner. Our routine consists of saving out whites for last, running them in a load of hot water before we go to bed. I add laundry detergent,a couple scoops of our whitening powder, and allow the washing machine to agitate for a few minutes before pausing the cycle. I leave the lid closed overnight, and resume the cycle in the morning.
This routine does help to maintain the brightness of his whites, but over time they do get dingy. During the summer, the mix of sweat, sunscreen, and dirt on the neck can stain quite badly.
I was sent a tub of OxiClean Max Force White Revive courtesy of the Chick Advisor product review club. I followed the same routine, only using the OxiClean product this time. We compared the cleansed shirts to those washed with the "other" whitening powder product, and found that the OxiClean had whitened the shirts ever-so-subtly more.
I'm interested to watch the price cycle of this product - I can currently purchase the "other" product on sale for about $4 a tub, and there are often free rebate offers for it. I haven't seen many promotions for OxiClean Max Force, but would likely not purchase at full price given the only subtle difference in whitening.
Keep in mind that the overall impact of OxiClean Max Force White Revive was not subtle, it was only subtle in comparison to my other clothes that had been washed with a similar product. My brother gave me a shirt of his that he had worn during a multi day outdoor music festival to try cleaning, and the end effect was a significantly brighter shirt that was nearly stain free (you wouldn't be able to see the one stain that remained if you didn't know where it had been originally.
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