mamaluv
Member Since: September 8, 2006Reviews
Annabelle Cosmetics Lipsies
I have "Grandma's Peppermint", a fuchsia-coloured gloss that's really sheer. In fact, I really hesitate to call it tinted because it's just a hint of colour really. The nice thing is that this tint is a pretty universal shade so you can't go wrong... +
I have "Grandma's Peppermint", a fuchsia-coloured gloss that's really sheer. In fact, I really hesitate to call it tinted because it's just a hint of colour really. The nice thing is that this tint is a pretty universal shade so you can't go wrong. The wear is very comparable to other non-sticky balms, especially for the price point.
And who doesn't love a peppermint candy-scented gloss? Exactly.
A fun idea for a little gift add-on (think stocking stuffer, mini pick-me-up, etc)!
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Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Truly Radiant Toothbrush
I bought these a month or so ago for my kids - the superhero versions for my young sons and the adult version for my teenager. For $6-$10 each (they were on sale), these were a great buy for my family! The kiddie version is a little more basic, and... +
I bought these a month or so ago for my kids - the superhero versions for my young sons and the adult version for my teenager. For $6-$10 each (they were on sale), these were a great buy for my family!
The kiddie version is a little more basic, and the heads are not replaceable. I was a little disappointed about that, but for the lower price point it's probably just as well. After all, you can only stare at Thor for so long and then it's time to defect to Spiderman, right?
The adult version has replaceable heads (sold separately) so that's fantastic for sharing a unit or even just getting a lot more life out of it. Of course, the batteries are replaceable on all units (AAAs I think).
The adult version also seems to be a bit better quality, with more variety of brush bristles at different heights to get between teeth. The child's version is much more basic, but in fairness it's a bit of a chore to keep them brushing for the full recommended 2 minutes.
But here's the selling feature: manual toothbrushes for kids AREN'T COOL. Any parent can relate to how hard it is to get kids to brush their teeth every night (never mind 2x per day). Most of the time, kids will only run water over their toothbrushes so they look wet and go to bed with their horribly fuzzy, plaque laden teeth.
These Spinbrushes are COOL. The kids versions come in stereotypical boy and girl versions with the latest superhero and princess characters. The adult versions come in sleek simple designs of various colours.
And of course, because they are not rechargeable, they are fully travel ready. No fussing with plugs and outlets when all you need is a couple of Duracells tucked in your luggage.
This mom definitely recommends Spinbrush as a solid entry-level electric toothbrush for the whole family.
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Cle de Peau Beaute Correcting Cream Veil
I was sent Clé de Peau Beauté's Correcting Cream Veil to try, and it's a good thing too! The price point would have been a little steep for me to splurge, but now that I have it, I don't know how well my resolve will hold up once my product runs... +
I was sent Clé de Peau Beauté's Correcting Cream Veil to try, and it's a good thing too! The price point would have been a little steep for me to splurge, but now that I have it, I don't know how well my resolve will hold up once my product runs out!
This correcting colour treatment is seriously the very best I have ever tried. It checks all the boxes for what this type of product ought to do and much more. All-day wear, works well as a base for other makeup, and a little goes a long ways - can I say anything negative about it?
Only the price, unfortunately. Still, I would definitely splurge if I found it on sale or as part of a gift-with-purchase deal.
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GOSH Lip Lacquer
I have this in a nude colour (001 Innocent Lips) and agree with the other reviewers who complimented the wear of this product. Any lip product has some degree of stickiness to it, and this lacquer is as non-sticky as you can get in the category... +
I have this in a nude colour (001 Innocent Lips) and agree with the other reviewers who complimented the wear of this product. Any lip product has some degree of stickiness to it, and this lacquer is as non-sticky as you can get in the category.
This particular colour is probably a little too tame for me but based on the wear I would probably buy the product again in a brasher shade. Great product!
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Annabelle Cosmetics CC Colour Control Instant Perfecting Base in Luminous Finish
Decent primer for colour correcting. I recently tried this after having many similar tinted products. I have a fair amount of skin pigmentation (melasma thankyouverymuch) and didn't think a non-tinted product would be good enough. And in... +
Decent primer for colour correcting. I recently tried this after having many similar tinted products. I have a fair amount of skin pigmentation (melasma thankyouverymuch) and didn't think a non-tinted product would be good enough.
And in fairness, this product did not fully mask my melasma (I would have to use a lot of concealer and foundation to do so, but that's of course bad for skin). It did however, significantly reduce the appearance. It's like it blurs the complexion a little, minimizing pores substantially and providing a matte, velvety finish instead of a shiny oily appearance.
What I also really love is that it doesn't completely wash out my natural colouring like a lot of tinted products do. In those cases I usually have to draw my features back in but with this CC cream I can get away with using less makeup and going for a more natural, less troweled-on-like-certain-celebs look.
For this price point especially, I would certainly recommend it. I still use additional concealer for some of my darker patches when I wear full makeup on certain occasions, but this is a good everyday choice for me.
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Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
I'm waiting for that magical day when a serum drops 10 years off your appearance after just a few days of use. That's obviously never going to happen, and anyone who expects that is bound to be disappointed. That being said, this is the... +
I'm waiting for that magical day when a serum drops 10 years off your appearance after just a few days of use. That's obviously never going to happen, and anyone who expects that is bound to be disappointed.
That being said, this is the best serum I've used so far - EVER. I have used a couple of anti-aging serums and lotions and honestly can't say that I saw a big difference. This one may not truly turn back the clock either, but it takes what I have and makes me look noticeably fresher, healthier, and more awake.
I'm in my late 30s so my aging concerns are still relatively minor - some coloration inconsistency, some fine lines, and when I don't get enough sleep or am slacking on my water intake, I look tired and generally slightly ill. I don't need to be mistaken for a 20-year old but it would be nice to shave 5 years or so off my first-impression age.
This serum absorbs into my skin like nothing I've used before. The scent is extremely mild and does not linger. It's a translucent colour, but yet seems to even up my skintone slightly. Fine lines are improved (not erased, let's not be naive), and I generally just look better when I use it.
Best of all, I have had no skin issues after switching to Ultimune. The product I was using before had a yellowish tinge and clogged my pores quite noticeably. I could feel it tight across my cheeks - almost like an egg white mask. I gave that other serum probably 3 months of regular use and desperately wanted to see a difference but other than some nice moisturization can't say I'd buy that other product again.
Ultimune is quite expensive, but if I would find it on sale or with a purchase incentive I can definitely see myself buying it again.
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Quaker Harvest Crunch Cereal Original
I really love this cereal, but of course it is a bit rich to have a whole bowl every morning. Instead, I enjoy it on top of some plain greek yogurt plus fresh fruit. Makes a healthy and well-rounded breakfast!
I really love this cereal, but of course it is a bit rich to have a whole bowl every morning. Instead, I enjoy it on top of some plain greek yogurt plus fresh fruit. Makes a healthy and well-rounded breakfast! -
Purina Dog Chow Complete & Balanced Dog Food
I have almost always fed my pets Purina, starting with the Puppy (or Kitten as it may be) version and then continuing with the Adult blends at 1 year old. My dog is currently 7 years old and we continue to buy the Complete & Balanced food for her... +
I have almost always fed my pets Purina, starting with the Puppy (or Kitten as it may be) version and then continuing with the Adult blends at 1 year old. My dog is currently 7 years old and we continue to buy the Complete & Balanced food for her.
We have occasionally tried other kibble when our usual bag is sold out, but as with most pet food switches, this can lead to digestion issues as they transition. The green Purina bag is one of the most affordable name brand dog chows out there and since she does very well with it I see no reason to change. We like to add a little variety into her diet with dog-appropriate meal scraps (bones, bacon grease, etc) but for the most part we don't stray from Purina.
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Purina Healthy Weight Cat Chow
My cat is an active outdoor cat, but has always tended to be a little chubby. This past winter being colder than usual, she was a lot less active and really put on weight over the winter. We are using portion control to try to keep her caloric... +
My cat is an active outdoor cat, but has always tended to be a little chubby. This past winter being colder than usual, she was a lot less active and really put on weight over the winter. We are using portion control to try to keep her caloric intake at the correct level (following instructions on the packaging) but she always whines for more (and what can I say - my kids are suckers for that little furball's mewling).
As a result we are trying out Healthy Weight Chow to see if this will make a difference. Now that the weather has warmed and she's outside again full-time, she is slimming down some though it's hard to say if this is due to more running around versus the different diet. She certainly whines less for food when her bowl is empty, but again - this could be due to hunting too. We have found a few half-eaten mouse corpses around the yard.
Either way, I have always fed my pets Purina products and feel pretty good about doing so. I will certainly continue doing so for the time being. Both my cat and dog's coats are full and shiny, and (sorry for the TMI) their BMs are healthy too.
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Purina One Smartblend Salmon & Tuna Cat Food
This cat food is paws down my cat's favorite kibble! I usually feed her the regular Purina Cat Chow because it's more affordable, but I watch for sales on Purina One and stock up when I can for a nice treat. Only problem is, she likes it so much... +
This cat food is paws down my cat's favorite kibble! I usually feed her the regular Purina Cat Chow because it's more affordable, but I watch for sales on Purina One and stock up when I can for a nice treat. Only problem is, she likes it so much that she overeats! I have had to now put her on the Weight Control Purina chow and am rationing the Salmon & Tuna stuff.
Great choice as a treat kibble, but due to the overeating and whining for more maybe not the best choice for an everyday food for my little porker!
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