Month: June 2014

The Healing Tree Bamboo Charcoal Soap | Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Happy Tuesday! Today I have another soap review for all of you. When I got the opportunity to review a charcoal soap from The Healing Tree, I was really excited. I’ve tried a couple other charcoal products in the past, and my skin has always loved it! Let me tell you more about this soap, and stay tuned to the end for a giveaway!

ABOUT THE SOAP

The Healing Tree Bamboo Charcoal Soap | Review & Giveaway The Healing Tree Bamboo Charcoal Soap | Review & GiveawayIt can be scary to use charcoal in your skincare products for the first time, but it’s truly an amazing and all-natural ingredient! Charcoal helps to clear your pores of dirt and oils to leave your skin clean both above and below the surface. This is especially helpful if you suffer from acne, eczema, or another skin condition, and charcoal will help to rejuvenate your skin completely. It allows your skin to moisturize itself naturally, without the need for excess oils. Plus, this soap is made with four all-natural ingredients: vegetable oil, water, glycerin, and bamboo charcoal. The Healing Tree brand does not test on animals, and uses no dyes or chemicals in it’s products. If you’re looking for a natural soap, this is definitely for you!

MY EXPERIENCE

I was a bit nervous to use this soap at first, because it does have a slight charcoal scent, and it does have a dark grey color when you’re washing with it. Thankfully, the color washes off easily with water, and I was surprised that it did not stain my bathtub at all. I used the soap in my shower, and one bar lasted for about three full weeks. While I didn’t like the charcoal scent, my skin absolutely loved this product! I can definitely see a difference in my skin – my pores are less visible, and my skin is overall more smooth and clear. My skin also feels softer, and I think it more moisturized overall. Taking the scent into consideration, I would rate this soap a 4 out of 5 stars.

GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is being hosted through Tomoson. Please note that while the widget does ask for your shipping information as part of your entry into the giveaway, all of your personal information will remain private. I cannot see any of the entries, and only the winner’s shipping information will be released to the company so they can mail you your prize. Please read all of the Terms & Conditions carefully, and feel free to ask me any questions.

All in all, I really like the Bamboo Charcoal Soap from The Healing Tree! It is a great soap if you are looking to rejuvenate your skin, and is perfect for the summer months when our pores can get clogged quite easily. You can purchase this soap on the company’s website for just $3.99 HERE. Talk about fabulous and affordable! Let me know what you think about this soap in the comments. Have you ever used a charcoal product before? If so, what did you think of it?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Jet Away June | What’s in My “Liquids” Bag? (3-1-1 Rule)

Happy Monday, and welcome to the first official day of Jet Away June here at Adventures in Polishland! If you missed my Jet Away June announcement, you can read it HERE. I decided to start off this themed month with a fun take on the “What’s in My Travel Makeup Bag?” series that many beauty gurus do. I’ll be sure to show you my makeup bag at some point during Jet Away June, but first we’re starting with the liquids bag that we’ll all have when getting on an airplane.

Jet Away June | What's in My "Liquids" Bag? (3-1-1 Rule)The Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) has what is known as the 3-1-1 rule. You can read the official rule on the TSA’s website HERE, but the basics of the rule is that all liquids in your carry-on luggage must be 3oz or less, put into 1 quart size plastic bag, and there is only 1 bag per person. You can put larger size liquids into your checked luggage, but if you’re like me and like to travel without checking a suitcase, you’ll need to follow the 3-1-1 rule carefully. Let me show you what I included in my liquids bag during my recent trip to Los Angeles!

HAIR CARE

Travel Size Hair Care

PRODUCTS:

  • Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo [BUY]
  • Beauty Protector Protect & Condition [BUY]
  • Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle [BUY]

I’ve gotten the entire Beauty Protector line in my Birchboxes over the past several months, so I decided to take it along with me! I like to take the very basics with me when I travel, so all I needed was a shampoo, conditioner, and heat protectant.

Helpful TipPack products that are multi-use to cut down on the number of products you need to pack. For example, the Protect & Detangle product I used is a heat protectant, detangler, and frizz-fighter all in one. 

SKINCARE

Travel Skincare   PRODUCTS:

  • Paula’s Choice Resist Serum [BUY]
  • Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen [BUY]
  • Menza Daily Face Wash [BUY]
  • Fresh Soy Face Exfoliant [BUY]
  • Michael Todd Damascus Rose Moisturizer (not pictured – used a foil packet!) [BUY]

I used many of my travel size items from subscription boxes in my liquids bag! Many of these products are high end, so I was sure to pamper my skin when traveling. This is also a great opportunity to use up those darn foil packets!

Helpful Tip: Lotions are considered liquids! When in doubt, include the product in your liquids bag just to be safe. It will cut down on your time going through security. 

MAKEUP

Makeup Travel

PRODUCTS:

  • L’Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Mascara [BUY]
  • Maybelline The Elixir Lipgloss in Nude Illusion [BUY]

I keep my makeup routine very basic when I’m traveling. I’ll show you all of the makeup products I took with me on this trip when I share my travel makeup bag, but these are the only liquid products I took.

Helpful Tip: To cut down on the number of liquid makeup products, bring a stick foundation, cream concealer, and lip crayons. They’ll get the job done, and won’t fill up your liquids bag!

BODY CARE

Travel Body Care

PRODUCTS:

  • Herbal Essences Body Wash in Hello Hydration [BUY]
  • Bath & Bodyworks PocketBac Antibacterial Hand Gel in Rainforest Sugarcane [BUY]
  • Bee Kind Body Lotion [BUY]
  • Crest Toothpaste (not pictured) [BUY]

I always like to bring my own body wash and body lotion with me even if I’m staying in a hotel. It’s better to be prepared ahead of time even if you don’t end up using the products you brought with you!

Helpful Tip: If you’re traveling for a long period of time, consider bringing two body washes, i.e. That way you won’t have to repurchase anything during your trip. 

These are all of the items I took with me in my liquids bag! Of course, you can customize your bag to bring all of the liquids that fit into your own skincare and bath and body routines, but I hope this post helped you plan for your next vacation. Don’t forget to skim the official TSA 3-1-1 rule to make sure you’re ready for airport security. I also recommend bringing an extra quart sized bag (or two) just in case yours rips during the trip. Stay tuned for more Jet Away June posts, and let me know what you have in your liquids bag in the comments or by using the hashtag #JetAwayJune on social media!

Some of the products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. Some of the links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Jet Away June | Announcement & Welcome

Happy Sunday! Today is the first of June, and I’ve decided to make June a special month here at Adventures in Polishland. Summer is a time when many of us like to travel, and because I’m making a couple trips to Los Angeles this summer I was inspired to write a series of blog posts all about traveling. Thus, welcome to Jet Away June!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during June I’ll be writing posts related to traveling, with, of course, an emphasis on beauty. Get ready for packing tips, fashion ideas, and even airport security 101 – I have a lot of fun and interesting things to share with you during Jet Away June! Plus, in addition to my Jet Away June posts, I will still be posting my regular beauty and nail polish reviews on the other days of the week when I have something else to share with you.

I hope you are as excited for Jet Away June as I am! This themed month will officially begin tomorrow with my first post. If you have any questions related to travel, or any blog posts that you would live to see during Jet Away June, please let me know in the comments! Plus, feel free to use the hashtag #JetAwayJune on social media to connect with me throughout the month.