Reviews on beauty products and others. I am not endorsed by any company, but if you have a product you'd like me to review leave a message in my "Ask." Search for specific reviews by /tagged/name of brand. xx-Rachel
MerLady Box is âa monthly subscription box full of mermaid themed bath, beauty, lifestyle and fashion items.â - $28.95 + shipping.month (or cheaper for longer subscriptions)
The box itself is printed with seashells and is logo-ed on the top as well as the outside. I think itâs a nice addition to the box so you get the full âMerLady Box experience,â and itâs obviously beautiful, but if a plain box lowered costs, Iâd be ok with that.
Iâd prefer the removal of the crinkle grass tissue many other sub boxes use. Mine had grass sticking out of the sides of the box upon arrival and as I picked up a handful of it to throw away, I nearly threw away one of the items hidden inside it. Itâs just a mess that gets all over the floor.
Mermaid Kiss acai blueberry lip scrub from Natural Annie Essentials - $9.50
This is a great size lip scrub for the price and is semi-liquid which means it wonât dry out and will apply well. Iâd be excited to try it but the blueberry smell is so overpowering it makes me sick - I donât like the smell or taste of blueberries but thatâs just me!
Pumpkin spice bath bomb by Whiskey Mermaid Co. - Â $4
I wish I could smell this bath bomb through the plastic but itâs a very light scent. Pumpkin is the perfect fall smell and mixed with the seashell shape and the fact that itâs a bath bomb seems like a positive no-brainer for this box! I will be passing this off to a friend as I canât use bath bombs.Â
Octopus tentacle tote by Zen Threads - $7.99
This is easily my favorite item in the whole bag. Red is my favorite color and I love octopi! Plus, everyone can use another bag! The MerLady team actually had a poll with three different designs, asking their subscribers which pattern theyâd prefer and this is the winner!
Itâs thick and though itâs cheap, it certainly doesnât feel that way. Also, Iâve found a new favorite Etsy shop!
Iâm actually a mermaid beanie by Resilience Wear - $19.22
I actually lost my beanies so this is perfect timing for me! Not to mention a beanie is a great fall accessory. Itâs thick to keep your head warm and the color is a unique seafoam green.Â
Mermaid bead necklaceÂ
There wasnât any information about this necklace in the box - still cute anyway! I think it was supposed to come wrapped around the candle?
Mermaid Lagoon soy candle by Earth Meets Water - $5
I literally canât stop smelling this candle! It smells amazing. The website says it smells like âBlooming Moon Flowers and Awapuhi Sea Berriesâ and while I have no idea what either of those are, they sure make for a unique scent! I favorited this Etsy as well.
I havenât heard that soy candles burn very well but weâll find out!
I didnât realize until writing this review that all the MerLady Box items were from Etsy. I think itâs a great way to promote small and local businesses for sure! With a total of about $50 (give or take a little for the necklace), the value for the box is definitely there as well as a great variety of home and beauty items.Â
Iâll be subbing in next month as well and canât wait to see whatâs in store!
-I paid for MerLady Box myself. All opinions are my own.-
â7th Heaven is veggie herbalists and they pulp the fruits, press the flowers and herbs, and collect the mud and leaves to relax and de-stress you. Get in the T-zone and target problem areas with the super soothing 7th Heaven Tea Tree Peel-Off Mask. Tea tree, witch hazel and Canadian willowherb come together to calm and clean up skin impurities.
7th Heaven Tea Tree Peel-Off Mask:
Helps to purge pores and clear skin
For all skin types
Peels off easily
With crushed witch hazel, pressed tea tree, and pressed willowherbâ - Walmart.com
Pros:
Smells niceÂ
Easy facial application
Cheap
Cons:
Burned my skin/stings
Make me break out in bumps
Caused redness/irritation
Messy application/clean up
Enlarged pores
Dried out skin
Recommend?: No.
Iâve tried many masks from this brand before and Iâve loved all of them. I usually use their wash off masks and while I donât think theyâre as effective as other brands Iâve tried, they usually leave my skin feeling/looking a little better. The first thing I notice about this mask is that itâs more of a gel.
The mask smelled like a mixture of aloe and peppermint - which is a typical tea tree oil smell but this smell was so intense my eyes started watering as I put it on. I applied a layer of the mask all over my skin and waited about 20 minutes like the package said.
This mask claims right on it that itâs for âall skin typesâ but I would stay away from it if you have sensitive skin. Iâm on the semi-sensitive end but I havenât ran into more than one or two products that have damaged my skin and Iâve used tea tree oil before without problems. However, this mask didnât tingle so much as it burned like Icy Hot. I found it hard to relax, âd-stress,â or âfeel fabâ or say this mask is soothing.
My issue with gel/peel-off masks is that no matter how hard you try, you can never get it all to dry or peel all the way so you have to wash your face anyway. What do I do with the peel-off dried mask? Wash it down the train? I threw it in the trash but now it just creates more mess than just using a washcloth to remove a wash-off mask.
Currently (itâs been about 15 minutes since I removed the mask) my skin feels tight. I had to immediately put on moisturizer after taking this photo because my skin felt so dry (Iâm dry skinned). As well, my cheeks and nose were, and still are, bright red from using the mask. I looked at my skin closely and my cheeks and nose now have little bumps on them and my nose pores actually look bigger.
Sadly, this mask did the opposite for me that the package promised and I wonât be purchasing but I still think 7th Heaven makes some great wash-off masks (the chocolate mud masque is my favorite).
Kind of random but I think they should change their packaging as well. My mask isnât thick or green like the photo.
*This mask was sent to me free by #Influenster in my #PepVoxBox to review in exchange for for my honest opinion*
âSlip into something seductive with Lip Lingerie, our new weightless liquid lipstick with a plush matte finish. Available in a range of color-kissed nudesâfrom cinnamon pink and chocolate brown, to warm mahogany red and classic nude beigeâeach sultry shade will coat the curves of your lips with irresistibly creamy color.â - Product listing on Nyxcosmetics.com
Pros:
Long-lasting (even through eating)
Good price value
Quick-drying
Non-sticky
Lightweight
Cons:
Hard to remove
Slightly drying
Not a large color variety
May need to apply multiple layers
Repurchase?:Â Yes!!
Ruffle Trim
I seriously canât speak higher of these little beauties. As you can see, I have a good chunk of the Nyx Lip Lingerie line in my collection and carry one with me often in my bag.
Some people have compared these to the Colourpop Ultra Matte liquid lipsticks and I have to disagree. Even after exfoliating and prepping with a primer or lip balm, Colourpop dried out my lips within an hour and I had to remove it whereas I can wear Lip Lingerie under the same circumstances and feel almost full comfortable all day! The product is slightly drying but as someone with constant dry lips, I didnât think it was too bothersome.
Applying the Lip Lingerie is easier than any other liquid lip brand Iâve tried so far not only because of the productâs formula but because with the flat sponge applicator, I can outline my lips with precision and then fill them in quickly without making a sticky mess all over my face. Did I mention the liquid matte isnât sticky? Just make sure to let it dry before you touch it.
Unfortunately, some of the colors require multiple (3-4) layers (you have to let each layer dry before applying the next) such as Corset, but others like Ruffle Trim require just one good-to-go layer. I rarely had to do a touch up throughout the day either. The only real down side I found is that because of the multiple layers, scrubbing the lipstick isnât very effective.I had to let makeup remover sit on my lips before wiping it off with a damp cloth and then my lips desperately needed some Chapstick.Â
For the price, this product is amazing! Iâve bought extras and given them as gifts to friends who now love them too. I get compliments any time I wear one but I do wish they came in more colors and these have gotten me to wear colors I normally wouldnât wear! I understand that itâs âlingerieâ and they come in nude-ish tones but the formula is too good to only keep to nudes!
*These are my own opinions. I purchased the product myself and am not sponsored by any brand.*
âHydroSenn+ is a plant-derived ingredient exclusive to Sephora that leaves skin feeling soft and luxuriously comfortable. This product is ophthalmologist tested and suits sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
HydroSenn+: Moisturizes intensely; forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface to retain water for optimal moisture that lasts all day.â - Product listing on Sephora.com
Pros:
It works
No parabens, Sulfates, or Phthalates
Not tested on animals
Cons:
It burns/isnât for sensitive eyes/skin
Leaves oily(?) residue behind/canât put makeup over it, greasy
Dries out skin
Expensive
Repurchase?: No and I wouldnât recommend it.
This makeup remover is the same product that Sephora keeps at their makeup testing stations in store and I always thought it worked great but after using it over time, Iâve come to hate it.
I needed a strong makeup remover to get rid of waterproof makeup because I was sick of scrubbing at my face for minutes to remove mascara, eyebrow makeup, and eyeliner. I can put a dab of this on a cotton swab and get rid of makeup with one swipe.Â
My issue is that it leaves behind an oily residue on the skin that feels gross. Even after cleaning the skin with water, the area still feels oily, greasy and I canât put makeup over it. Iâve tried letting the area dry or drying it with a towel and the skin wonât let me reapply my makeup - I draw on my brows and I was unable to use my ABH Dipbrow, brow pencil, cream pencil, or powder after using the makeup remover. This has happened every time I use it. I donât have an hour to wait before redrawing on part of my brow! This has happened when I attempt winged liquid eyeliner on my eyelid as well.
After using this product on my skin, the area burns and turns red if I use it multiple times in a row (ex: erasing and reapplying my eyebrows). The burning was so intense it brought tears to my eyes multiple times. It got to the point where the area, red and stinging, would have dry patches the next day and even moisturizer couldnât cure them; I had to stop using the makeup remover.
Sephora claims this is for sensitive skin and contact wearers (which I am) but it isnât.
Sephora claims it hydrates skin, but it left me with dry, flaky patches.
It isnât âluxuriously comfortable,â it burns.
It works better than any moisturizer Iâve tried:Â hydrating, blemish-clearing, skin-smoothing, redness-reducing
Having a mostly/all natural product is important to me in terms of overall health; Iâd rather have a product I can read/know what every ingredient on the label is and with Promise Organic, it meets that criteria.Â
CONS:
Price
Only at CVS
Repurchase?: YES!
I have dry skin and finding a moisturizer that actually worked to keep my dry patches at bay has been a challenge but Iâm lucky to have found this moisturizer in my Ipsy bag earlier this year. I have two tubes - one in each bathroom - and use it every day to keep my skin smooth and hydrated.
My chemo medication made my face break out in a bumpy red rash all over and not even prescription facial cream helped but the argan oil and olive oil in this moisturizer helped calm my skin and make a noticeable difference literally over a few days of continued use.
It really does live up to its claim of improving skin texture and smoothness because my face has never felt better. I havenât had a blemish since I changed to this moisturizer now that I think about it...After all, it is dermatologist-tested and pH balanced.Â
The moisturizer is pleasantly fragrant but you canât smell it once you rub it on. The formula isnât thick or heavy, it just leaves skin feeling refreshed.
This product is a little expensive - I think it was about $14 or so for 1.7oz but a tube will last forever because of how little you have to use. This product is American-made which Iâm saying is a positive because so many prducts - even skincare - are made in China (such as Dermasil).
Iâm excited to see how well it works in the winter! This is my holy grail for skincare and I would recommend it to ever - even those with oily skin.
I received my first #influenstervox box and I'm excited for the new products I'll be testing! ---- 1. A trio of coffee pods from Hills Bros Coffee, Chock Full o'Nuts, and Kauai Coffee. They're compostable containers - an amazing idea for coffee lovers. I can't wait to take these to the office and have my own coffee at work. 2. The Vitamin Shoppe sent 3 protein powders but I tore open the vanilla one as soon as I got it! It didn't taste much like vanilla - I would compare it to the taste and consistency of pancake batter, which I could sip on but not drink in one sitting. These are supposed to be a meal replacement but I was hungry soon after consuming so I can't say it was a success product in that respect. 3. Snackwell's Biscuit Thins are my favorite product in this box! They're made from real coffee and just as delicious with the dark chocolate combo. They look just as pictured on the package; I swear I could eat these all day. They come in caramel macchiato and French Vanilla Latte as well as this flavor but I think this is the best of the trio in terms of flavor as I'm not one for vanilla or caramel, though all coffee is good coffee. They make a great on-the-go snack and I think I'll be purchasing a full box of these! A great healthy snack. 4. SheaMoisture shampoo and conditioner have already gotten a new home in my shower as you can see. I've tried these out a few times and I honestly think they're ok but nothing that makes me want to change from my current brand of haircare. Based on the photos on the packages I thought these products would smell amazing but they just smelled like regular shampoo/conditioner and didn't leave my hair smelling like any scent. A little goes a long way with this combo, however. I have short hair and literally needed only a dime-size of each because of how well they lather. They did leave my hair feeling revitalized but not very soft or nourished like the product claims. If anything my coarse, curly hair needs more moisture now than with my regular shampoo/conditioner combo. I like the products enough to use the rest of the packets but sadly not enough to buy the bottles. -Items sent to me complimentary for testing purposes-
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