xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
Nude by Nature Perfecting Primer
I don't own many water-based primers, so I was happy to receive a (very generous) sample of this. I appreciate that this product is cruelty-free is free from certain chemicals, however, it does still contain quite a lot of added fragrance, which... +
I don't own many water-based primers, so I was happy to receive a (very generous) sample of this.
I appreciate that this product is cruelty-free is free from certain chemicals, however, it does still contain quite a lot of added fragrance, which not only has no benefit to your skin, but can often be an irritant for sensitive folks like me.
The scent on this is quite strong, but luckily it dissipates fairly quickly. The consistency is lotion-like, and it does appear to make foundation glide on quite easily. I haven't noticed a difference with longevity, but I don't tend to have a problem in that respect.
I haven't used this enough to be able to tell whether or not it has caused my skin any irritation. Overall, I would say that this is good, not great.
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Simple Dual-Effect Eye Makeup Remover
Chick Advisor was kind enough to provide me with this product for free as part of their Product Review Club. In exchange, I'm here to provide an honest opinion and review. Simple Dual-Effect Eye Makeup Remover is a unique and effective way to... +
Chick Advisor was kind enough to provide me with this product for free as part of their Product Review Club. In exchange, I'm here to provide an honest opinion and review.
Simple Dual-Effect Eye Makeup Remover is a unique and effective way to remove makeup. I have been using Simple products for years now, and I'm a big fan of several of their creams and cleansers. I have very sensitive skin, and Simple is one of the only brands I can use. I was very happy to get the chance to review this new product of theirs, particularly as I had been searching for a new eye makeup remover. I was very happy with the results!
As the name would suggest, this product removes makeup in two ways. It's both oil and water-based, which is something that becomes very apparent upon inspection -- there's a very clear separation between the two liquids. When you shake the bottle, they combine to become an effective cleanser that claims to remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascaras, no rubbing necessary.
Of course, I was a little bit sceptical, as so many products have failed me in the past, but any doubts I had were quickly dashed as this quickly cut through waterproof liquid liner, mascara, and glitter eyeshadow. I didn't have to tug at my eyes, but instead I simply pressed the soaked cotton pad to my lid and watched the magic happen! If anything remained behind, it was only a small amount of mascara on my lower lashes, but nothing more. The results were far better than any product I've tried in recent years.
The consistency is quite similar to a thin baby oil. It's not terribly greasy, and there's no discernable scent. Some eye makeup removers have been known to irritate my eyes or leave bumps on my eyelid due to harsh ingredients, but as effective as this makeup remover is, it's also very gentle. It's very suitable for my sensitive skin and eyes.
I would definitely recommend this product to those seeking a new form of eye makeup remover. Simple, once again, remains a brand that I can count on.
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Dove Shower Foam Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla Foaming Body Wash
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive skin... +
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive skin and environmental sensitivities.
I was sent three out of four new varieties of Dove Shower Foams. Each one comes with a really nice, pump-style package that contains at least 250 pumps. At less than $8, I think that's a great deal.
Of the three Foaming Body Washes I was sent, the Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla was definitely the best. However, considering how little I tolerated the other two, that isn't saying much.
The lather on this one felt a little bit more moisturizing than the others, most likely due to the inclusion of Shea Butter. It didn't dry out my skin as much as the other ones. I was disappointed to see that Shea Butter was so low down on the list of ingredients when it's being advertised as a key component. Likewise, Vanilla is being touted as part of this particular concoction, but not only is Vanilla not an actual ingredient, but the scent itself was lacking.
The scent itself was definitely quite a bit lighter on this one. I couldn't smell any Vanilla (sad face), but I do think I could smell the Shea Butter. I wish they had added some real Vanilla in there. I'm sure it would have been beautiful. Even so, this was still a little bit more heavily scented than what I personally tolerate and prefer, so I handed it off to my dad for his opinion. He seemed to really enjoy it.
Even though I still personally can't use this one, I feel that this is the only one I would recommend. The reason is because it feels the most moisturizing of the three, has some actual Shea Butter in there, and has the lightest scent. I believe this one will probably have the widest appeal.
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Dove Shower Foam Cucumber & Green Tea Scent Foaming Body Wash
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive skin... +
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive skin and environmental sensitivities.
I believe the Dove Shower Foam line is their newest one. I received this one along with the Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla, and Deep Moisture varieties. I believe they also carry one for sensitive skin, which I wish I had been sent, just so I could see if it was something that agreed with me.
The packaging on all of these bottles was very nice. The plastic is very hard and sturdy, and there's a pump which you can open and close with a twist. Each bottle is supposed to contain upwards of 250 pumps, which J feel is quite generous.
This immediately pumped out into a thick foam, no water required. This isn't unlike a foaming hand soap, only for your body, so if you're a fan of those, you may like these. The lather itself does feel quite rich and soft, and one full pump goes a long way. I didn't use a loofah, but I imagine that would make it stretch even further!
Although my skin did feel very clean after rinsing and drying, I didn't feel particularly moisturized, which is something that this product claims to be. As someone who has educated herself in cosmetic and skincare ingredients, there really aren't too many ingredients in here that I was overly impressed with. I think that there are worse options, to be sure, but there's nothing really here that is going to nourish your skin in the way that Dove claims -- the opposite may occur, depending on your skin and usage of the product.
The scent of the product itself is nothing that I would describe as Cucumber OR Green Tea, and considering neither of those things are listed in the ingredients, it's safe to say it's all synthetic fragrance. Unfortunately, it's very fragrant indeed, the most fragrant of the three I tried. I was nearly choking on it and found myself feeling ng very sick after using it. Although I didn't experience a reaction on my arms, where I tested the product, after putting my face up to each bottle to smell them individually, I noticed that my face began to burn very badly.
I asked my mother if she would like to try this and offer her thoughts to give a differing point of view, however this one was too fragrant for her to even want to try. I can safely say that this product is one I will not be able to use, and it's definitely not one I would recommend for those with any sort of scent intolerance.
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Dove Shower Foam Deep Moisture Foaming Body Wash
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive... +
I was sent three different Dove Shower Foam varieties as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club. I received these products for free in exchange for honest reviews. Please keep in mind when reading these reviews that I have highly sensitive skin and environmental sensitivities.
The Dove Shower Foam line is a new one from Dove. The first thing that really caught my eye was the packaging of the product -- a nice, sturdy bottle with a pump. On the back, it advises you that you should be able to get 250+ pumps out of a bottle, which is a good amount of product.
Although all three produced a foamy lather, I found that the Deep Moisture variety was perhaps slightly lighter and sudsier in comparison to the other two I tried. It still provided a very creamy sensation, not unlike a foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works. This type of soap feels very nice when you're lathering it over wet skin, but truthfully, I'm not entirely sure it's really all that moisturizing. The reason I say this is because this product is severely lacking in natural ingredients, such as any oils or butters which feed moisture back into the skin, and instead focuses on ingredients that go towards building up that foamy texture that is sure to become a trademark.
My skin did feel clean after washing and drying off, but unfortunately, my skin did indeed feel quite tight. Typically, the foamier and sudsier a product is, the more likely it is that it will leave my skin feeling this way. They're just more stripping on the skin, I find.
The scent of the product itself is somewhat fruity. I would say it falls somewhere in between the other two I tried, as far as the intensity of the fragrance goes. Unfortunately, I couldn't really tolerate the added perfume here. It was too overwhelming for me, and even after rinsing it off, I could still smell it. Although I didn't experience a reaction on my arms, where I tested the product, after putting my face up to each bottle to smell them individually, I noticed that my face began to burn very badly.
I asked my mother to try this and see if she felt any differently than I did, as she's not quite as sensitive as I am. She enjoyed the feel of it, did not find it drying, but agreed that the scent was intolerable. She would ask that companies please not add so much fragrance to their products, or at least provide an alternate, unscented variety in addition to their scented versions, so that no one feels left out.
As for me, I don't think I would be able to use this even if it came unscented. The ingredients just feel too stripping and chemical-based. With a name like Deep Moisture, I expected something better for the skin.
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Captain America Civil War
Captain America: Civil War is a 2016 comic book film, which is part of phase three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU). It's directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, and... +
Captain America: Civil War is a 2016 comic book film, which is part of phase three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU). It's directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, and others.
The plot centres around The Avengers, who have been told that they need to take accountability for their actions. Civilian lives have been lost during the big fights that they've had with various villains over the years, and the government has drawn up the Sokovia Accords as a way for superheroes to register under their real names; that way, if anything goes wrong, they know who is at fault. Tony Stark/Iron Man is all for it, but Steve Rogers/Captain America is against it. Other members of The Avengers choose sides and it becomes a Civil War between the group of heroes.
This is honestly less a Captain America film and more of an Avengers film. Pretty well every cast member is there, except for Hulk and Thor, who are notably absent (each of them went off on their own at the end of Avengers 2 last year; Thor will be reappearing in Thor Ragnarok in 2017). Everyone else, including newbies Ant-Man, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, are all present. The latter two will be getting their own spin-off films in the near future, which will be interesting to see.
This is absolutely action-packed from start to finish, but there is a very good story involved too. Everyone knows that there's massive amounts of damage whenever superheroes get into a battle, so the idea of them having to be held responsible for that damage brings a sense of realism to an otherwise unrealistic universe. Both Captain America and Iron Man have very good reasons for either opposing or supporting the Sokovian Accords, so it's interesting to hear both sides and realize that they're both right for different reasons.
Aside from all of the drama and in-fighting, there's also a great amount of levity. Ant-Man, who had his own movie last year, is like an Avengers fanboy. His delivery is so nerdy and perfect! Spider-Man is very funny as well, giving me hope that this newest reboot (and hopefully final one in my lifetime) will be a success.
This is a really great action film, and one which I would easily recommend to any fans of the MCU or of action films in general. The film is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 147 minutes.
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M&M;Food Market Gluten-free Ancient Grains with Millet and Chicken in Tomato Sauce
The Gluten-free Ancient Grains with Millet and Chicken/Tomato is a frozen entreé offered by M&M;Food Market. Each portion is individually packaged and sold separately. When you first open it up, all of the ingredients have literally been frozen... +
The Gluten-free Ancient Grains with Millet and Chicken/Tomato is a frozen entreé offered by M&M;Food Market. Each portion is individually packaged and sold separately.
When you first open it up, all of the ingredients have literally been frozen into this funny little cylindrical shape. You put it in a bowl and defrost it, and suddenly you have a bowl of gluten-free grains, chicken, vegetables, and sauce. It's magic! ;)
Although the meal itself is quite mushy once cooked all the way through, the smell alone will be enough to entice you. The taste is not at all spicy or hot, but it is very flavourful. Quinoa and millet are naturally very flavourful grains, packed full of protein -- just one of these portions has 30g! Combined with the chicken, tomato sauce, vegetables, and seasonings, this meal has a very aromatic, Italian feel to it.
Because this is so full of protein, one serving is very filling and nutritional. As far as frozen dinners go, this is a much healthier alternative, free of any chemicals or preservative ingredients -- everything listed on the label is something you can find in your own kitchen, which is so refreshing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this entreé and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and easy meal.
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M&M;Food Market Gluten-free Chicken Pad Thai
The Gluten-free Chicken Pad Thai is a frozen entreé offered by M&M;Food Market. Each portion is individually packaged and sold separately. These meals come with pieces of chicken, gluten-free noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, peppers, peanuts, and... +
The Gluten-free Chicken Pad Thai is a frozen entreé offered by M&M;Food Market. Each portion is individually packaged and sold separately.
These meals come with pieces of chicken, gluten-free noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, peppers, peanuts, and Pad Thai sauce. Each individual portion is very generous in size, unlike many frozen dinners which are often on the small side.
There's a ton of flavour to be had here, as there's a lot of sauce and it's very sweet and spicy. I'm quite sensitive to spicy foods, so while I would definitely prefer a bit less heat, I'm still able to bear it (with the help of some water!). All of the individual ingredients taste great, with my only complaint being the lack of chicken pieces in comparison to everything else. While all other ingredients are available in abundance, chicken chunks are often only seen a handful at a time.
Of course, this is something that could be easily remedied by adding some extra chicken at home, but the whole point of having a frozen dinner is that you don't have to do any actual cooking. It's a minor issue that I have with this product, but it's an issue nonetheless.
Still, the taste is so good that it's difficult not to recommend this. If you're as sensitive as I am to spice, or even worse, this may be a bit hard for you to tolerate, but I would still recommend trying it to see.
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M&M;Food Market Gluten-free Breaded Chicken Fillets
These are breaded chicken strips with a gluten-free coating. They come in a 2lb box of 15-25 strips. I've had home-made gluten-free chicken strips, but these are the first ones I've bought from a store. They're absolutely delicious! The chicken... +
These are breaded chicken strips with a gluten-free coating. They come in a 2lb box of 15-25 strips.
I've had home-made gluten-free chicken strips, but these are the first ones I've bought from a store. They're absolutely delicious! The chicken itself is made up of tender, juicy white meat that's very good quality. It's definitely not a lower quality of meat masquerading as "100% all-white chicken breast" -- it actually is what it says it is.
But my favourite thing about these strips has to be the coating. Not only does it have a wonderful crispy, crunchiness to it, but it also contains a great mix of different spices. The meat and coating combine to make such a truly awesome flavour that I haven't experienced since my days of eating restaurant chicken strips! They're just that good.
Each strip is a fairly generous size. I tend to eat two at a time, along with a side dish, for a meal. The nutritional content is very reasonable -- not too high in calories, bad fats, sodium, or cholesterol. I do wish they had a tiny bit more protein (14g per 2 strips), but overall I can't complain.
These are a great option if you're in need of a quick meal throughout the week and you can't eat gluten. The taste can't be beat! I absolutely recommend them.
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Christie Gluten-free Rice Thins
The Christie Gluten-free Rice Thins come in a variety of flavours, including Original, Multigrain, Sesame, and Cheddar. As it says on the box, they're baked, not fried! I have personally tried the Original and Sesame flavours. The Sesame flavour... +
The Christie Gluten-free Rice Thins come in a variety of flavours, including Original, Multigrain, Sesame, and Cheddar. As it says on the box, they're baked, not fried!
I have personally tried the Original and Sesame flavours. The Sesame flavour had a bit more crunch and taste, but overall these crackers are very mild in flavour, don't contain too much salt, and are nice and lightweight. This makes them suitable for when you want a light snack or if you're having some stomach troubles.
These pair very well with different toppings. I myself enjoy them with a bit of dairy-free cheddar cheese, melted or unmelted. The crackers do hold up well under the heat of the microwave. I've found that some gluten-free crackers, particularly rice crackers, do not, but these are absolutely fine.
These come in quite small amounts, but the price isn't too bad and they go on sale quite frequently. I would definitely recommend them to anyone with food sensitivities, or even to those without. They make a very nice base for snacks.
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