Beauty Review: St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Lotion & Blemish Control Face Wash

I can remember when I first started having to wash my face with a blemish/acne control wash. Being a teenager and taking a trip with your mom to the store for acne wash is confusing. There are SO many different kinds, scents, colors, ingredients in each one.

I didn’t know where to start. I was IN THE CLOUDS. I would pick up a bottle, examine the package and “description.” I didn’t know what was what at that age other than the packages were pretty.

BUT wait, stop for a second. There was one that caught my eye. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub (ONLY $3.99). It wasn’t drenched in “here looky looky” type of bottle. It’s simple yet elegant and of course BLACKHEAD and ACNE scrub all in one? Yes!

I was very excited to be able to work with St. Ives. I ended up receiving two items: St. Ives Blemish and Acne Control wash and the Intensive Healing Lotion.

The Face Wash Review

This is definitely the best scrub on earth. It says you can use it 4 times a week, but I use it more. I have oily skin, so I need something to keep the oil from seeping deep into my pores and becoming blemishes and blackheads.

 

My pores stay smaller, blackhead free, oil/ shine free, and SO SMOOTH. I love that it makes me feel so fresh faced. The scent really does smell like apricots>>YUM! The scent lingers awhile too.

It thoroughly cleanses the skin and exfoliates the dead skin away so you’re left with nothing but a perfectly flawless complexion just after a week (or so depending on how bad your blemishes are).

I love exfoliating my skin but most exfoliation is harsh and leaves redness and irritation behind. The St. Ives Apricot Scrub exfoliates with Walnuts. Not only do they exfoliate naturally, but they help renew your skin cells- banishing the old dingy cells, and bring all new bright and beautiful cells to the surface!

You can definitely see an extreme difference in your skin when using this! Blackheads are gone, oil GONE, and my skin feels so healthy and rejuvenated. There’s nothing like a scrub that works, smells delicious, and costs under $5.

It’s such a great blemish wash that it has been one of their four Award Winning Products.

Key Ingredients

• 

  APRICOT »

  APRICOTS are known to contain one of the highest levels of carotenoids (think vitamin A) and super-effective antioxidants. All of this natural power might seem, well, too powerful, but they are actually quite gentle and nourishing and they help make fresher, more nourished skin beautifully possible.

• 

  CORN KERNEL MEAL »

  CORN KERNEL MEAL is actually flour ground from dried corn. It’s a soft, but gently powerful all-natural exfoliant that promotes skin cell turnover and regeneration. Cornmeal makes softer-feeling, fresher skin possible.

• 

  WALNUT »

  WALNUT is known for its hard shell, but when it’s ground, it becomes an amazingly effective, all-natural exfoliant ingredient in our scrubs. Not only are walnuts plentiful on the planet, they also help newer, healthier skin come to the surface.

Buy It: St. Ives Blemish and Blackhead Control Face Scrub  at your local Walmart, Target, Kmart.. and other convenience stores for under $5.

 

 

The Lotion

Keeping you and your skin looking and feeling fresh. Made with natural ingredients, and hypo-allergenic. Proven to help heal even the most severely dry skin, St. Ives Intensive Healing Lotion is clinically proven to lock in moisture for 24 hours. Helping to maintain skin’s moisture. Exclusive natural moisture complex includes olive leaf extract, cranberry seed oil, and grape seed oil.

Fresh, better, naturally. St. Ives is dedicated to bringing you the best of nature with formulas that delight the senses as they leave your skin with a soft, fresh feel.

 

My Review

Tanning at the salon brings very bronzed, brilliant color but it can also dry out the skin. I’ve recently gotten very dry, itchy, “ashy” skin when my skin isn’t properly hydrated.

“ANY” lotion just doesn’t do the trick. Some are too thick and don’t soak in very well. Some are too thin and watery and don’t hydrate for very long. I wanted something that could give me the hydration I needed without any fuss.

St. Ives has always been a favorite of mine. They have great products that are very affordable. When I use this lotion I know I am getting nothing but the best!

I’ve taken some out of the bottle and put in a travel bottle and take it with me to the tanning bed. I love rubbing this on my skin and feet after I tan. It doesn’t add to the “scent” that tanning lotion smells like after you’ve tanned. It feels invigorating and is so refreshing to my dry skin!

It feels so silky, creamy, and luxurious. I love that there is absolutely no greasy residue or build-up. I have been faithfully massaging this into every single part of my body when I wake up, after tanning, and before bed.. I can’t help but love the lovely creaminess.

Every summer I have issues with my skin drying out after a day in the pool with the kids. The chemicals and chlorine dry it out, and I can’t wait to see how this helps! I know I won’t be battling the dryness for long!!

It has a light, hypo-allergenic fragrance that is dermatologist tested and proven to keep even the driest skin moist all day! The natural ingredients is exactly what keeps the skin moist, soft, and helps to repair it.

Most lotions that claim to be “moisturizing” only MASK the dryness. They aren’t really doing anything other than that. This amazing St. Ives lotion uses cranberry to help repair the dry skin and mango seed oil to protect your skin from further dryness.

Key Ingredients

• 

  OLIVE OIL AND OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT »

  OLIVE OIL AND OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT: Both of these ingredients are rich in skin-softening glycerides, which means they not only cleanse gently, they can help to improve your skin’s appearance with easily absorbed moisture. They also offer multiple benefits:

• 

  CRANBERRY »

  CRANBERRY is already a proven antioxidant ingredient found in juices, and now cranberry seed oil can be equally effective for your skin, too. This small berry unleashes a unique, all-natural balance of Omega oils to help moisturize, condition and repair your dry skin. Prepare yourself for softer-feeling, smoother-looking skin.

• 

  COCOA BUTTER »

  COCOA BUTTER is known for its gentle, island scent, but that’s just the beginning. Rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C and E and essential minerals, this soothing emollient helps to heal and moisturize skin that’s seen more of the elements than shade.

• 

  GRAPESEED AND GRAPESEED OIL »

  GRAPESEED is known to be an intense skin healer as well. Add to that the naturally occurring antioxidants to fight free radicals, and the result? Your skin can feel significantly moisturized and healthier. GRAPE SEED OIL contains a high level of natural linoleic acid, which helps to maintain your skin’s health. This powerful, yet gentle ingredient helps to moisturize dry, cracked skin, so it not only feels healthier, it feels beautiful too.

• 

  100% NATURAL MOISTURIZERS »

  100% NATURAL MOISTURIZERS, which St. Ives sources from plants, form the basis of all triglycerides that make up essential oils. Glycerin is a great example; it’s an excellent moisture-holding helper for your skin and keeps it smooth-looking.

• 

  MANGO SEED BUTTER »

  MANGO SEED BUTTER is known as the “apple of the Tropics” because it’s rich in beta carotene, essential fatty acids and skin-loving vitamins A and E. This ingredient also makes it ideal for helping to treat dry skin and protecting it from future dryness.

Buy It: St. Ives Intensive Healing Body Lotion at your local Walmart, Target, Kmart.. (Under $5)!

 

You can join in on our commitment!

One of our goals is to get more materials that can be recycled… recycled. Here’s some guidance on how you can help to recycle our products.

Step 1: Locate the recycling number on our product package to find out what can be recycled and where to take it

Step 2: Carefully cut the end tubes off and rinse out the containers

Step 3: Keep the cap with the tube when you recycle the packaging

Step 4: Recycle it!

Connect with St. Ives on Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Bring Luscious Lapis Spa treatments Home with These Easy DIY Treatments

As the summer season is finally upon us, Josie Feria, Director of Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau, shows you how to bring luscious Lapis Spa treatments home and get rid of dry, unseen skin just in time for summer!

Pre-Summer Body Exfoliation

Simulates Spalicious Body Scrub

Skin softening natural all body exfoliating treatment

· Ingredients:  ½ cup olive oil, ¾ cup fine sea salt and drops of your favorite aromatherapy oil. Keep in mind the oil selected should be specific to treatment goal – citrus is energizing – lavender relaxing – peppermint stimulating

· Place all items in a bowl and blend together

· Next, step into the shower and moisten the body – apply the blend by hand in circular motion or for increased exfoliation apply with loofah mitt or body brush

· Rinse off thoroughly.  Skin will feel smooth and soft and supple. For further hydration apply body lotion directly to moist skin

Pre-Summer Facial for Extra Dry Skin

Skin softening avocado mask for combination or dry skin

· Ingredients:  ½ avocado, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

The avocado and coconut oils work as an instant skin softener as the baking soda works as a mild exfoliator

· Place all items in bowl and blend well together

· Apply the mixture to your face and leave on for 10-15 minutes

· Rinse off with warm water

Foot Scrub for Dry Feet and Heels

Simulates Foot Rehab Pedicure

· Begin by soaking feet in ¼ cup baking soda to reduce inflammation and cleanse feet thoroughly for 10 minutes

· Using a wet pumice stone rub heels thoroughly yet gently to remove dry callous

· Next, apply coconut oil to feet

· Finally, wrap feet in plastic and cover with soft socks for 30 minutes. The plastic and warmth will help the oil to soften the skin.

 

Jessica Renee

Top 5 Activities to Enjoy with Your Son this Summer

 

Many parents, especially moms, are at a complete loss when it comes time to entertain little men over the summer. Believe it or not, it isn't difficult. Most of these activities are fun for everyone, especially the little guy, and are quite affordable.

 

1. Camping Adventures

Image via Flickr by Paul Stainthorp

A camping trip can be as simple as a tent in the back yard or as elaborate as an RV rental to travel across the country. Hiking trails, such as the Arizona Trail and Appalachian Trail, afford an opportunity to hike a short distance to set up camp or a longer hike lasting several days. Or, set up camp at a nearby state park. If you're not into roughing it, consider renting or borrowing an RV for a few days.

Local rivers are ideal for camping trips, because you can fish, canoe, and swim to pass the time. Boys will even help out with cooking if there's a grill or open fire involved. It's an excellent opportunity to teach him skills in self-sufficiency. When planning a camping trip, learn the difference between primitive and improved campsites. Among other things, Primitive sites have no running water or electrical hookups. Improved sites do.

2. Fishing Trips

Image via Flickr by Pedronet

Moms who aren't up for a few nights sleeping on the ground can still enjoy the great outdoors with their sons on a fishing trip. There are several ways to enjoy this popular sport. If there's a river or lake nearby, this is ideal. Or, you can head to the beach for a deep-sea fishing expedition.

Like camping, fishing can be simple or elaborate. For a simple day of fishing, all you need is a shore or pier to toss in a line. If you want the trip to be something special, rent a boat or charter a fishing boat to get him out into the deep waters where the big ones usually lurk. Don't forget to get applicable freshwater or saltwater fishing licenses.

 

3. Sports Events

Image via Flickr by eviltomthai

Is your little guy into cars or hoops or diamonds or pigskins? Indulge his love of sports by choosing an activity he can relate to. Car lovers can enjoy one of the short tracks around the country, many of which host weekly races all summer long. Your baseball fan would enjoyNew York Mets tickets.

Baseball season runs all summer long, and tickets are quite affordable (usually less than $20 per person, less for younger kids). Though football season is far away, most pro stadiums offer tours of the facilities year round, giving him a chance to see areas normally off-limits.

4. Concert Opportunities 

Image via Flickr by Michigan Municipal League (MML)

A love of music can open new worlds up to your son. Even the youngest kids are enthralled at the majesty of a symphony orchestra. Look for your local symphony to host summer concerts at a nearby park (many do). Or, treat him to tickets to the latest music sensation of his age group.

5. Museums for Boys

Image via Flickr by EyeNo

Boys might not enjoy paintings and sculptures, but they certainly appreciate a good engine. Look for science museums, aviation museums, automotive museums, and history museums in your area he'll enjoy. Great examples are the Cradle of Aviation Museum in New Jersey or the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama.

The most valuable thing you can give your son this summer is your time. He'll enjoy most anything you plan, so long as he's with you.

Author Bio:

Christy Wilson is a freelance writer and avid traveler working from her lakeside home in Pell City, Alabama. She received her degree in journalism from Samford University, and enjoyed a career in newspaper writing and editing before taking her passion for writing online.

Acure Organics- mandarin orange + moroccan argan stem cell advanced triple moisture body lotion

Rough day? Late night got you feeling like a zombie? Break out of that funk with this uplifting lotion that restores brightness and rejuvenatues your spirits. Non-greasy formula so that much needed coffee won’t go flying out of your hand! Vitamin C you later stress! Advanced Triple Moisture System of Organic Argan Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, and Organic Olive Oil provide serious hydration.

This lotion isn’t too thick or too liquidy- it’s the absolute perfect consistency. It smells incredible when freshly applied and stays smelling great for awhile after too. I love how moisturized my skin feels without the oily/greasy feeling that some lotions can have.

These lotions do NOT have alcohol in them, which most DO. Some people are allergic to alcohol or it breaks out their skin. Now that isn’t an issue with the Acure line. There isn’t anything in the lotions that are even derived from alcohol.

Most organic product prices are THROUGH THE ROOF. Everything is priced at extreme prices because of the “natural” and “organic” ingredients.. but Acure isn’t like that. Nothing in the entire line is too expensive. The lotions and body washes are $10, most face products; cleansers, toners, night creams range from $10-$20.

It smells like oranges with a spice added in or something, but you smell more of the orange than anything. It smells great, is creamy, and soaks RIGHT into the skin and keeps it hydrated for a long time!

This is rich enough to use on my ashy knees, ankles, and legs. I’ve been tanning religiously since January and although I love the bronzed skin—ashy skin comes with it if you don’t moisturize well. This is perfect for keeping me moisturized without an overpowering smell. It smells like summertime—yum—oranges~!

Buy it for yourself!

Acure Organics Mandarin and Mango Lotion $9.99

Connect with Acure online: Facebook and Twitter

 

  Jessica Renee

 

Acure Organics- Lemongrass + Moroccan Argan Oil Firming Body Lotion

Skin reluctant to snap back? Feeling baggy & saggy? Snap out of it with Acure Organics Lemongrass + Moroccan Argan Oil Firming Body Lotion! This unique antioxidant formula restores buoyancy and stimulates collagen production. Evening primrose, cranberry and rosehips help tighten while Organic Argan Oil and Cocoa butter replenish needed moisture.. 7 oz.

Fight back against free radical damage and firm up. Don't slack, this is a firm offer! Act now! 

My Review

This lotion is lemony fresh smelling! If you’ve never smelled lemongrass, it’s about time you start! My skin not only smells amazing, but looks and feels healthy and supple!

I’m using this more of a PREVENTION to sagging, bagging, and wrinkles then actual reduction to them. I don’t want to start getting them, and the SKIN IMMUNE technology that is inside the lotion is the perfect start.

This line of Acure lotions is really the only lotions that I’ve known to have the Skin Immune technology! This and the Orange lotion are great summer lotions, especially when you tan.

Moisturized skin tans a lot better and holds the tan longer—this and the orange lotion has definitely helped me to keep my skin looking healthy and luscious.

These lotions absorb so quickly and the moisture is heavenly! I can put this on my body AND feet after tanning and don’t have to worry about the ashy skin that can come through if I forget to put lotion on.

My skin feels soft and silky because the lotion is so thick and creamy! No greasy residue, no weird smells, and nothing but organic clean ingredients! What else could you ask for from a lotion?

The effects isn’t super shine but also not a matte—it’s more of a healthy glow that makes you want to touch your skin again and again because of how soft it is!! AND every product you purchase a $1 of the profits go to Breast Cancer Research!

Buy It! Acure Organics Lemongrass + Moroccan Argan Oil Firming Body Lotion $9.99

Connect with Acure online: Facebook and Twitter

 

Jessica Renee

Airwick NEW! National Park Collection <Limited Edition> Plug-in Scented Oils

Spring is in the AIR! Literally. With the new Air Wicks National Park Limited Edition Scented Oil Plug-ins it smells like spring/summer ALL the time. Having your house smell absolutely wonderful is something that everybody wants to enjoy; whether they use candles, scented oil, air freshener..etc.

I think the easiest and most convenient way to achieve having a great smelling home without the perfume or alcohol smell attached to it is scented oil. Air Wick always hits it right on the nose with their scents. They always smell so amazing, invigorating, and never give off a "JUST sprayed" smell.

The Airwick scented oil plug-ins slowly heat up the oil to release the scents a little at a time but it smells great all the time. I've had people walk by the plug-in (LOW to the floor in my living room) and tell me my home smelled so good. They didn't know they were about a foot from the plug-in.

It's a compliment I take seriously. Nobody wants someone walking in and saying "hmm.. Your house smells a little weird today" lol. You want people to associate your home as clean, fresh, and smelling good.

These new National Park scented oils all smell amazing. I got to test 4 of the 6 that are new. I was sent the Hawaii, Denali, Grand Canyon, and American Samoa. They all have their own unique, distinct, amazing smell.

The Hawaii Scented oil smells like a mixture of Exotic Papaya and Hibiscus Flower. When you walk near the plug in, it smells like pineapples and exotic flowers though (or so I thought). It does take you to a place with ripe amazing smelling fruit, beautiful flowers, sun, and fun.

The Denali Scented Oil smells like soft cotton grass and spring air. I love the soft smell that this gives off. To me, it smells like recently washed and clean clothes. It smells like a nice spring day with the clothes blowing on the clothes line.

The Grand Canyon Scented Oil smells like cactus flower and Warm Breeze. To me this smells like freshly grown flowers, summer time, and a slight breeze. Those long summer days filled with picnics, barbecues, family, and hanging out. Nights filled with campfires, lightening bugs, and lots of conversation.

The American Somoa Scented Oil smells like Sweet Coconut and Island Palms. This smells more like coconuts mixed with a pretty homegrown flower. Although I don't like how coconuts taste, I LOVE how fresh and milky they smell. This scented oil has captured the essence of that milky thickness that coconuts are known for.

It’s hard to choose a favorite even between these 4. They all are very different scents, yet all smell so amazing. Each one captures different aspects of the place it represents. I am a huge fan of these and wish they weren’t just a limited edition, I’d buy them all the time. I guess it’s time to stock up NOW! LOL

They each come with their own cap, so that you aren’t wasting the oils when they aren’t in use. When you get ready to change it to another, just unscrew the top and snap it in the plug-in and plug it in! Easy and simple as that! Hmm.. nice smelling house in a snap!

The National Park Collection is available in Air Wick’s full range of products, including Scented Oils, Freshmatic Auto Spray Refills, Scented Candles and Reed Diffusers.  Retailing from $2.99 - $5.99, the National Park Collection can be found at all major retailers nationwide. For more information, please visit: http://www.airwick.us/ and www.facebook.com/AirWickUS.

Buy them for yourself! You can buy them from the Airwick website or at your nearest retailer; Walmart, Dollar Store, Target..

Jessica Renee

Swiffer WetJet & 360* Duster with Gain Review

CLEANING

Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. The most dreaded part of cleaning for me isn’t dishes or even laundry. It has always been mopping the floors and dusting.

The Swiffer WetJet with Gain Solution

It just seemed like it took FOREVER. The mop buckets are a thing of the past! No more back breaking work! Filling up buckets, dipping the mop into the bucket, mopping the floor, and rinsing the mop..  The water turns a dirty dingy color and it just FEELS like I’m spreading more germs on my floor than cleaning off with a regular mop.

With the Swiffer Sweeper it’s nothing like that. It’s totally different from mopping with a regular mop. There’s no bucket, steaming hot water, and dipping and squeezing (STEAMING) hot water over and over.

You pull the battery pack down, put the batteries in, attach the solution and wa-lah! You press a button to squeeze the solution and the bottom of the WetJet has velcro strips on the bottom that attaches the pad to the machine.

When  you’re done with the pad (it cleans 2 entire rooms with just one pad) peel it off and throw it away! How easy is that to maintain? It even has a scrubber on the top of the WetJet so that if you run into something that’s hard to get off- you can scrub it and then wipe it up with the pad.

The new Gain solution smells absolutely incredible. I was cleaning the floor one night before Adam came home on his lunch break and he told me that the house smelled like clean clothes.. LOL.

I love walking into the rooms I just cleaned with this solution. It smells so fresh and invigorating. I swear- mopping with the WetJet is nothing like mopping. It’s actually fun and less of a chore.. I love that it’s easy to use and maintain (and easy to put together).

The freshness is unbelievable. Usually a floor will smell like the cleaner for 15 minutes after it’s been cleaned, but the Gain WetJet solution seems to last for almost an hour. Freshness for that long I can live with, especially with kids in the house.

I love that this has saved me time AND sanity. I have mop at least every other day. My floors are linoleum and I have a gravel driveway. No amount of rugs can keep the dust and dirt at bay!

With the WetJet I can just spray a little here and there and go over it after it’s been swept. It doesn’t seem so much like a chore now! AND I save tons of time that can be spent on other things (LIKE ME TIME!) Woo-hoo!

The Swiffer 360* Duster with Gain

The 360* dusters make dusting the tables, knick knacks, and electronics SO much easier. The other dusters don’t work very well and there were still traces of dust left, even after going over them more than once.

It was horrible because it would take me more than 45 minutes just to dust the necessary items (that isn’t even including the random stuff around the house).

This was an unbearable chore, something that has to be done on a daily basis on my house! It was so MUCH work- to the point I would try and find something better than the regular dusters. I ended up using a regular washcloth there for awhile—even though that didn’t even work very well.

When I got the 360* dusters with Gain I immediately fell in love. The Gain dusters are refills to the regular 3608 dusters, so if you have a duster you can just buy the refill pack.

They are nice because they actually get the job done the first time around. I didn’t have to swipe, swipe, swipe and still see dust sitting there. The feathers actually grab the dust mites and hold them in. You can see the dirt stuck to the side of the duster when you’re done.

It’s awful living in a house with a gravel driveway, because all that dust from the gravel gets brought inside. No matter how many times I wash off our glass coffee and end tables, electronics, and T.V the dust is still there thick as ever the next morning. My patience was wearing pretty thin!

With the 360* duster, I can move it around the knick knacks and electronics without having to pick them up. I can swipe it one time and be done with it. I don’t have to keep wiping to make sure all the dust is gone.

I love that it not only cleans the dust and dirt, but because they now have gain on them- they leave a freshness behind where a dusty smell once was. I am IN LOVE with this new partnership, it is truly marvelous!

Buy It: Swiffer WetJet System $21.99

WetJet Gain Solution 

Swiffer 360* Duster $4.99

 Swiffer 360* Gain Refills

Connect with Swiffer on Facebook and Twitter

Jessica Renee

Review: Tiny Prints Personalized Mother’s Day Coffee Mugs

Waking up in the morning to a nice steaming cup of coffee couldn’t get much better, could it? It could if the people you love most is on your coffee cup.

Mother’s day is less than 2 weeks away and I decided to get my mom, my mother-in-law, and myself a nice coffee mug with the kids’ pictures on it for that special day.

I am big about pictures. I love and cherish each picture that I have taken through the years. It’s memories that can’t ever be replaced. Whether it was their birth, holding their head up, crawling, walking, or a special place or event.

Those are what mean the world to me, and I know that is the case with other mom’s as well. They cherish those beautiful eyes and smiles, goofy grins, first teeth popping through, and first day of school.

Every morning I wake up to my 2 beautiful kids saying hello to me from my cup. I love it. There’s nothing in the world that could have said “Happy Mother’s Day” more than that. Even though it was a present to myself!

I ended up giving mom and my mother-in-law their gifts early. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they seen the cups. They already have the random pictures spaced around their home, but neither of them have actual “THINGS” with the kids pictures on them.

My mom came and got hers first. She was in shock. She loved it! She was thoroughly happy with her gift. When you give someone a personalized gift like that, there’s no way that they won’t be happy with it.

Aidan, my 6 year old son asked my mom if she was going to drink out of the cup and she said No. She said “Nana’s going to put this up, this is a keepsake”. He said “Did you see me on your cup?” He was happy that his picture was on her cup. It made me laugh to see the way he was looking at the cup when she pulled it out of the Styrofoam.

Anita, my mother-in-law came the next day to get hers. She was ecstatic with the cup. Adam woke up when she was here and she said “Did you see the cup Jessi made for me?” She was smiling from ear to ear.

She called me later that night and told me that she was showing and telling everyone about the cup. She said she even hid it in her bedroom so that it wouldn’t get broken. I was laughing because you would’ve thought it was an antique vase worth millions the way she was acting about it.

I was truly glad that they both liked their gifts! I really love my coffee cup too. I’ve seen people with their “mugs” and never using any other mug even though they have more than 10 in their cabinets. They’d always use the same one and I wondered why. I’ve never been like that until now, and now I know why. It’s something that is cherished, loved, and YOURS!

I was very surprised at the quality of the coffee mugs. For only costing $19.99 a piece, they were VERY high quality. The pictures were very clear, you could see all the details and nothing was the least bit foggy.

The designs on the mugs are priceless, they are SO cute. There were many to choose from too, which also surprised me. They had so many that I liked, and you can customize the words, text, and colors of the background.

I am always scared of buying something breakable through the mail. Not because of the company but because the way the mail companies, UPS, and FedEx usually treat the packages. Even if they say breakable on them, they usually get thrown and tossed (it seems like it).

Even the package when it came had a hole in the top of it like someone stuck their fist through it, so I was expecting the worst when I opened it.

They all arrived perfectly though. I was so glad. Tinyprints knows exactly what they are doing when it comes to packaging something so it doesn’t get broken. The cups were snugly fit inside hard Styrofoam cases and taped tightly together.

Each box was individually placed in their own box, which is great for gift giving (in my case). There was one picture that was a little too grainy to put as a BIG picture on one of the mugs and Tinyprints emailed and called me about it so I could fix it right away. I really liked that, because it let me know right away that there was a problem and it couldn’t be sent out until the picture was changed.

So I immediately changed it, and a notice was emailed to me that the order was being shipped and I got it within 2-3 days of placing the order and finalizing it. It was easy to upload my pictures, choose which ones should be on what mug, and change the colors and texts!

It was fun, simple, and cheap! If you’re looking for a unique, personalized gift for your mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, or grandma—this is the PERFECT place to pick one up!

Tiny Prints Mother’s Day Custom Mugs starting at $15.99

Jessica Renee

Beauty Review-MyChelle Dermaceuticals: Vitamin A Plus Serum & Supreme Polypeptide Cream

 

Vitamin A Plus Serum

Skin-refining Vitamin A and nourishing antioxidants improve the texture and smoothness of rough, dull, and congested skin. Retinol and naturally-derived Vit-A-Like* work together to resurface skin, clearing pore blockage and minimizing the appearance of lines. Argan oil, naturally high in Vitamin E and Essential fatty acids, works to balance sebum production.

Give tired skin a healthy boost of restoring vitamins and antioxidants for renewed vibrancy, clear pores, and ultra-smooth textures.

Directions: For ultra-smooth, vibrant skin apply two pumps in the evening. Wait 30 minutes before following with the mist and nourishing cream. Serums may be layered for multiple benefits. This product will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun; use only at night.

 

My Review

I love that this has a pump action top. It makes it so much easier to get the amount that you need without wasting. You get the right amount and no more.

It is a yellowish creamy like serum that smells absolutely delicious. It smells like flowers to me, but it may smell different to you. It’s the first serum that I’ve seen that actually smells good.

It soaks right in, although they tell right on the bottle to wait 30 minutes before putting anything on top of it so that it has the maximum time to sink into the skin before being smothered by something else.

Just the two weeks that I’ve been using this, I can already tell a big difference in my pores and the clarity of my skin. I had been using a nightcream that was very thick and was clogging up my pores. I could see the blackheads stuck like glue inside my nose pores.

I tried and tried to get the blackheads out. Using tons of different blackhead washes, creams, and ointments and nothing was working. I felt like I had GUNK and JUNK inside my pores. I leaned in real close to the mirrors and started pressing on the blackheads with my fingernails and they were so bad that they started seeping oil out.

It was very nasty, and I ended up cutting my nose with the side of my nail trying to get all the blackheads out. My skin felt like my hair feels when I don’t wash the conditioner all the way out. Greased up and too much product.

This is the only thing that really started helping with the thickness of the pores. I’m not mentioning what night cream this was that clogged them up in the first place, but I will never use it again.

I already have oily skin, but it promised to rejuvenate and replenish my skin cells. Hydrate, moisturize, and renew the skin so I bought it and used it. Worse mistake ever. It’s okay for people who have dry skin, but not me.. I ended up giving it to my mom.

I’m just thankful for the clear, blackhead free pores that I am now sporting. I absolutely HATE wearing foundation unless I have to, and I was seriously sporting foundation AND concealer on my nose to try and hide the hideousness before using the Vitamin A Plus Serum!

I love how healthy and glowing my skin looks now. Now I don’t have to wake up and cake on the concealer and foundation trying to hide blackheads that shouldn’t have been there in the first place!

I can now (on every other day) scrape the dead skin cells off my face. This serum is hands-DOWN the best serum I’ve ever used. Just within the short amount of time I’ve used this- my skin has turned a 180*. All those blocked pores, the oil, and the “dinginess” that came from the blocked pores are now gone!

I can’t believe how amazing this smells, feels, and works in just a short period of time. This is for a variety of skin (all/combination).. so whether you have oily, dry, combination, or even sensitive skin—this is perfect for you!

Buy It: MyChelle Vitamin A Plus Serum for $39.99

Supreme Polypeptide Cream

Unscented, nutrient-rich recontouring cream lifts and retexturizes skin for a more refined, youthful appearance. Matrixyl* synthe’6* reduces wrinkle volume by 21% and wrinkle depth by 19% in 8 weeks. Proteasyl* TP Pea Peptide is clinically proven to improve skin’s elasticity, increasing overall firmness by 35% in just 6 weeks. Rice Peptides improve the skin smoothness while Syn*-Coll Peptide triggers skin’s own reparative function to accelerate collagen production.

Directions: For youthful, smooth and radiant skin, apply a quarter-size amount to face and neck AM and PM after cleansing, treating, and applying serums.

My Review

This cream is a thick, white, creamy lotion like cream that goes on after you’ve cleaned your face and applied your toners, mists, and serums. It smells like a fragranced baby powder to me- which is a good thing.

It has immediate actions when going on. The skin just soaks it up and lavishes in it. Although I haven’t been using it for 6-8 weeks, I’ve already noticed that my skins texture has already improved. It increases not only the skin’s elasticity but it improves overall firmness.

I haven’t been using it long enough to say anything about the elasticity, but I can already tell how much my skin loves this cream. My skin looks so moisturized, healthy, and much more supple now.

It is thick but it doesn’t clog pores like other creams *ahem NIGHT creams*.. and it can be used day and/or night and can be applied before sunscreen and after moisturizer during the day.

I love the fact that it moisturizes but isn’t so thick that it causes zits or blemishes in my already oily zones. It has an amazing consistency, thick yet applies lightly and soaks in immediately.

It’s light enough to go under makeup without making it roll up, dissolve, or come off before the end of the day. It actually provide the perfect base for foundation- to where it looks almost airbrushed. Although it has a fragrance, it’s a light refreshing fragrance that doesn’t linger for a very long time.

This cream triggers your skin’s own reparative function so that it helps boost your collagen production. This is what helps your skin look and feel smoother and more firm over time.

As we get older our skin loses much of it’s elasticity and collagen. Although nothing is going to make you look 20 again when you’re 45- other than a face lift of course—there are products out there that can help you along the way!

Buy it: MyChelle Supreme Polypeptide Cream Unscented $53.39

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Jessica Renee