getupkid144
Member Since: June 6, 2016Reviews
Tom’s of Maine Rose & Vanilla Deodorant
Tom’s of Maine was the very first natural deodorant that I ever tried, when first experimenting with these types of products. It’s great to see them still thriving all these years later. This deodorant is of course aluminum free and contains... +
Tom’s of Maine was the very first natural deodorant that I ever tried, when first experimenting with these types of products. It’s great to see them still thriving all these years later. This deodorant is of course aluminum free and contains glycerin and aloe vera jleaf juice. Not only does it not contain any aluminum, artificial fragrance, parabens, or baking soda, Tom’s also is dermatologist tested, not tested on animals, is a certified B corporation and donates back 10% of its annual profits to charity. That’s a whole lotta good! This deodorant was effective at combatting odour throughout the day for me. It’s hard to say whether it will be as effective for me personally during the hotter, sweatier summer months, but it’s an ideal choice during the winter, when I try to use more natural deodorants on the daily. I wouldn’t necessarily say that it helped with wetness, as I tend to experience that no matter what I use on my underarms. The scent was irresistible – like rose mixed with a more hempy, natural smell. It really reminded me of the yummy smell you get a whiff of whenever you enter a natural foods store, but mixed with the floral rose scent. I couldn’t get enough of it! -
CLEAN RESERVE H2EAU Nectarine Petal
Immediately upon smelling this fragrance, I was transported back...back to a simpler time, when the internet was just blossoming and we had to turn on the television or flip through a physical magazine to learn the latest and greatest in makeup and... +
Immediately upon smelling this fragrance, I was transported back...back to a simpler time, when the internet was just blossoming and we had to turn on the television or flip through a physical magazine to learn the latest and greatest in makeup and fashion. Fruity scents were so commonplace during my younger times that at one point as I grew up, I had a bit of an aversion to them, considering them too immature a fragrance. The Nectarine Petal scent from Clean Reserve’s H2Eau collection is a more upscale and mature twist on those fruit-based scents. I love that it’s a way to honour that time in my life, while also having it fit my currenty lifestyle and look. The rollerball itself is sleek, with a silver cap and the fragrance tinted aqua. The ball glides so smoothly along the skin, without ever catching or hitting a dry spot. It’s difficult to describe the scent other than an elevated floral-peach. This is a water-based (as opposed to the standard alcohol-based) formula, which makes it gentle on the skin. I will say the longevity is not the best I've ever had, but it's enough for a few hours. Ever since receiving this, I’ve been carrying it around in my purse on a daily basis and using it for little touch-ups throughout the day. It’s absolutely fantastic for that purpose, or for longer-term travel when you don’t want to bring along something bulky. -
Blue Lizard Australian Sensitive Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreens have come a really long way over the years with recent formulas showing a lot of improvement and innovation. I had been hearing about Blue Lizard for a while, but was constantly wary of trying yet another mineral formula. I regret... +
Mineral sunscreens have come a really long way over the years with recent formulas showing a lot of improvement and innovation. I had been hearing about Blue Lizard for a while, but was constantly wary of trying yet another mineral formula. I regret waiting so long, as this was unlikely any other mineral sunscreen I had tried in recent years. Not only did it absorb quickly into my skin, it didn't leave behind any greasy or tacky texture and the white cast I had come to dread was nowhere to be found. It looked a bit shiny when I first applied it to my face, but that dissipated pretty quickly and if anything, my skin just looked a little "pinker" than usual. It also held up really well when exposed to water and sweat, so I have no concerns using this under the strongest rays even when at the ocean. Speaking of which, this is a reef-safe formula and small enough to bring along in your carry-on luggage, making it a must-pack for any beach trips. -
YSL Lashclash Mascara
I have a pretty standard routine and preference when it comes to my daily makeup application. Even after trying almost every mascara out there, I always come back to a few selected tried and true products. So, naturally, I was skeptical to try out... +
I have a pretty standard routine and preference when it comes to my daily makeup application. Even after trying almost every mascara out there, I always come back to a few selected tried and true products. So, naturally, I was skeptical to try out yet another mascara which I figured would inevitably lead to fretting over raccoon eyes all day. I don’t say it often, but…I was way off the mark on this one - the Lash Clash Waterproof Mascara from YSL Beauty knocked it out of the park! Even after marching outside in the rain-snow blend that is the hallmark of early spring, my mascara didn’t budge an inch. When YSL claims that this mascara is action-proof (including sauna-proof!), they aren’t messing around. This is absolutely going to be the go-to mascara for days when I need true waterproof mascara in my life. It also doesn’t compromise on volume at the expense of longevity, either. The double conical brush is large and in charge, baby! And somehow that’s not all – the formula is enriched with a hair conditioning agent to help protect lashes. The lift and separation were also great, which I’m very picky about. The only downside about this mascara comes at the end of the night: it’s undoubtedly a lot of work to fully remove it from your eyes. I typically use an oil cleanser on my dry face, rinse, follow up with a cream cleanser in the shower, and then wipe my face with a makeup removing cloth. This tends to do the trick but there’s occasionally a bit of residue left behind, which I usually handle with a facial milk lotion and a reusable cotton round. All around, this mascara far exceeded my expectations and adds a nice touch of luxe to my makeup routine.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Skin Defense Primer
I don't always use primers, but tend to turn to them more during the dry winter months, applying them after my morning moisturizer and before my foundation. I find that the extra boost of moisture helps my skin stay more hydrated throughout the day... +
I don't always use primers, but tend to turn to them more during the dry winter months, applying them after my morning moisturizer and before my foundation. I find that the extra boost of moisture helps my skin stay more hydrated throughout the day. The only downside to layering so many products is it can sometimes highlight larger pores and fine lines. That's why my preference has usually been to use "blurring" primers, which unfortunately rely heavily on silicones. This formula promises (and delivers) blurred pores without any silicones whatsoever. The formula is quite gentle and natural, especially when compared to other primers on the market. It includes things like mushroom extract, lavender oil, rose flower oil, grapefruit peel oil, and more. After using it for a straight week under a powder foundation (yes, probably not the best choice for the winter), I can see a noticeable difference in my makeup application and the way it holds up throughout the day. The pores around my nasal folds are less noticeable and my laugh lines do seem to be softened. I also recently damaged by hydration barrier using a particular cleanser, so have been trying to rehydrate my skin and ensure that it stays well-moisturized throughout the day. I found that this primer really helped lock in the moisture to the point that my skin still felt good and hydrated by the time I was removing my makeup in the evening. I really do like having this handy, but am not totally sure whether I'll repurchase given the price point. Yes, a little goes a long way, but at this price for a primer, I'd expect it to last me the entire year.
I received this as a #freeproduct to try in exchange for my honest review.
- Product received for free from Grown Alchemist in exchange for an honest review.
I received this as a #freeproduct in exchange for my honest review.
- Product received for free from Grown Alchemist in exchange for an honest review.
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Aveeno® Calm + Restore Daily Face Moisturizer Mineral SPF 30
I've tried SPF moisturizers in the past but never one that incorporated mineral sunscreen ingredients, as I've always been wary of having a white cast left behind on my face. I was really impressed with this one right off the hop. For starters, it's... +
I've tried SPF moisturizers in the past but never one that incorporated mineral sunscreen ingredients, as I've always been wary of having a white cast left behind on my face. I was really impressed with this one right off the hop. For starters, it's a tinted formula - it's very slightly peachy-pink and blended seamlessly into my skin without any noticeable patches or streaks. This also makes it great for applying before a full face of make-up, but I can just as much see myself using this on its own over the summer, with maybe a bit of concealer thrown on top. The texture is also very light and absorbed easily and quickly. One of the biggest reasons I avoid sunscreen on my face (I know, I know!) is how greasy and messy it all gets, leaving me looking like a sweaty mess in no time and often dripping into my eyes. There was absolutely none of that here. It applied exactly like a moisturizer and didn't budge throughout the day. The scent is very inoffensive - it's purely that which I normally associate with sunscreen with no noticeable added fragrances or any other notes. A huge plus is also the size of the tube, which can be brought along in your carry-ons if travelling by plane. I always look for multi-use sunscreen products that come in this sort of size to help make things easier. -
Grown Alchemist Restorative Body Cream
As soon as I slathered this on my body post-shower, I immediately felt transported. The scent is so divine and unique. The best way I can describe it is as a “vanilla-herbal orange” smell, which makes absolute sense after taking a look at its... +
As soon as I slathered this on my body post-shower, I immediately felt transported. The scent is so divine and unique. The best way I can describe it is as a “vanilla-herbal orange” smell, which makes absolute sense after taking a look at its ingredients, which include tangerine peel oil, orange peel oil, rosemary leaf oil, and plant-derived vanillin, among other skin-saviours like aloe leaf extract, glycerin, carrot root extract, shea butter, sweet almond oil, and more. The consistency was very light and it absorbed very quickly, without leaving behind a greasy film like other body creams I’ve used in the past. Most importantly my skin feels incredibly soft after using this and it looks so much better. I really suffer with hydration during the winter months especially, so the nourishment and obvious hydration that this cream gives to my skin has been a god-send. Whenever I use this cream, it feels so luxurious and really heightens my post-shower routine to another level. I’ll definitely be picking this up the squeeze tube so that I can carry it around in my purse for day-to-day.
I #gotitfree in exchange for my honest review.
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Grown Alchemist Energize Body Cleanser
This body cleanser (i.e. body wash) was very gentle on my skin and smelled fantastic. It’s a gel consistency and lathered just the right amount without being over the top when used on a standard loofah – I don’t actually like when too much... +
This body cleanser (i.e. body wash) was very gentle on my skin and smelled fantastic. It’s a gel consistency and lathered just the right amount without being over the top when used on a standard loofah – I don’t actually like when too much foam is produced, so this was just perfect - and was very effective as a cleanser. The scent definitely leaned more towards the rose end, with bergamot and chamomile secondary notes – all that to say, it’s certainly floral so if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s perfect. It’s also sulfate-free, which is a huge bonus, and made in the USA. What’s especially nice is that it actually contains extracts from the plants that it boasts on the front. So many brands rely on artificial fragrances or additives, but this actually contains rose fruit and flower oils, bergamot fruit oils, and chamomile fruit oil, along with other naturally-derived ingredients. All in all, using it made for a very relaxing, aromatherapeutic shower experience and I was very pleased with how smooth my skin felt afterwards.
I #gotitfree to try in exchange for my honest review.
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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Monopoly Board Game Giant Edition Game
This was a really interesting (and fun!) twist on classic Monopoly. The gameplay is slightly updated to allow for much quicker play, as long as 30 minutes a game. I have limited patience/attention span when it comes to games depending on the day, so... +
This was a really interesting (and fun!) twist on classic Monopoly. The gameplay is slightly updated to allow for much quicker play, as long as 30 minutes a game. I have limited patience/attention span when it comes to games depending on the day, so this was absolutely ideal for me! It uses a giant vinyl mat as the game board, which folds back up into a thin, nearly nothing square. Because of the material, you can bring this along to play anywhere outdoors, even the beach. I can definitely see us pulling this out over the summer when we’re entertaining friends, or bring this along to a friend’s cottage or when we visit our family/friends with younger children. I think it could also be a very fun thing to play when having a backyard garden party. There aren’t many games that are so large and interactive, which can actually be played outdoors without compromising on game play. It’s a very cool and different way to play Monopoly. There’s also a real sense of novelty in playing around with oversized tokens and a big foam die.
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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NOMA iQ™ App for Android
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this app since my experience with other smart home device apps has been disappointing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the app worked immediately and smoothly – that is, right off the hop it was able to... +
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this app since my experience with other smart home device apps has been disappointing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the app worked immediately and smoothly – that is, right off the hop it was able to seamlessly detect my Noma smart devices, connect them to my wifi network, and add them to the app. It was also very easy to integrate the devices from this app into my Google Home “home”. There are a lot more features in this app that I haven’t noticed in others. You can create all sorts of custom “experiences” in your automation set-ups, including schedules/routines and timers. We set up the smart bulbs in our bedroom to turn on simultaneously with when my alarm goes off, and customized the shade and intensity of the bulbs to be as unintrusive as possible for a pleasant wake-up call. You can also group different devices together by room. It was very easy to set up these different routines, including timers for vacations. I only hope the app continues to be supported and receive regular updates for the years to come, as that seems to be a shortfall for many smart devices on the market these days.
- Product received for free from Butterly.com in exchange for an honest review.
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