Skincare – Page 6 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Skincare

FOREO LUNA for Combination Skin Review | #LUNAbyFOREO

Posted on July 2, 2015October 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I’m excited to share with you a review on a luxury beauty product – the FOREO LUNA for Combination Skin. I’ve been wanting to try out a facial cleansing device for a few years now, but haven’t had the means to do so. When I got the opportunity to try the FOREO LUNA, I was ecstatic! I have really bad combination skin that likes to be dry in patches, and quite greasy in others, so I was excited to test out this device to see how it would work for me. Of course, I’ve done some research to ensure you can all score an amazing deal on the FOREO LUNA as well!

ABOUT FOREO LUNA

The FOREO LUNA is the only cleansing device with T-Sonic pulsations to effectively cleanse the skin with a nonabrasive silicone brush. When your LUNA first arrives, let it charge using the provided cable. Then, simply touch the center button and your LUNA is ready to go! It has several different speeds, but can reach up to 8,000 pulsations per minute to gently remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Once cleansing mode is over, simply press the button twice, and the LUNA will switch to Anti-Aging Mode. This mode helps to direct your regular skincare products into wrinkle-prone areas with lower-frequency pulsations. I think it’s fantastic that you are getting a product with two distinct uses!

MY EXPERIENCE

I’ve been using the FOREO LUNA for about 10 days now, and so far I’m really loving the results! I’m amazed at how easy the LUNA is to use. Every 15 seconds, the device will pause in its pulsations to let you know it’s time to switch to a different region of your face. Then, once the full minute is over, it pauses a few times. I did experience a couple minor breakouts on my chin and forehead, but that is normal when using a new cleansing device. That means this is working, and all of the dirt is being released from my pores!

I’ve found it’s most convenient to keep my LUNA in the shower, so I typically use it only in the mornings. It’s an invigorating way to wake up! I also love how it is made with silicone. Not only is it soft, but it is hygienic. Germs do not stick to silicone like they would to a brush, and to wash the LUNA all you need is a bit of soap and water. Finally, it’s great that you can use any cleanser you want with the LUNA. I’ve been using a gel cleanser, and it’s been working quite effectively. I can already see how my skin is evening in just the 10 days I’ve been using this tool.

WHERE TO BUY & SAVINGS TIPS

The FOREO LUNA is definitely an investment product at $199. That being said, I think it is worth the investment for sure. Unlike other cleansing devises, you never need to purchase a replacement brush for the LUNA. That saves you about $120 per year on brushes! In addition, if you shop with Ebates HERE you earn 7.5% cash back on your FOREO purchase. That means your price tag automatically drops to $184! Finally, FOREO has a deal this summer that when you purchase any LUNA device you will get a free beach bag! To snag that deal, make sure you shop on FOREO’s website HERE. If you’re in the market for a facial cleansing device, I highly recommend FOREO LUNA!

Have you tried a cleansing device? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased view. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. #iFabboMemer

Softy Individually Wrapped Hand Sanitizing Wipes Review

Posted on May 2, 2015May 14, 2020 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I’m here with a different kind of review, but one I’m so excited to share. I’m one of those people who loves to use hand sanitizer on a regular basis. I always have a travel bottle in my purse, and there is a big pump on my desk. It’s so convenient, but it also dries out my hands. I was thus very interested to try Softy wipes. They are individually wrapped hand sanitizing wipes that are alcohol free, but still kill 99.9% of germs. Let me go ahead and share my thoughts on Softy with you!

Softy wipes are individually packaged, and I have to say I love the simple packaging. The wipes are easy to open, too. The wipe itself is very soft and strong. It truly lives up to the Softy name! While the wipes are labeled as having a citrus scent, the scent is very light and fresh.If you have sensitivity to fragrance, I wouldn’t worry, because the scent is barely there. I typically despise citrus smells, but the wipes just smell clean!

I’m also really impressed with the cleansing experience. The wipe is saturated with enough moisture so that I can feel my hands being cleansed, but my hands dry within seconds. I appreciate that I don’t have to wait for the wet feeling to dissipate! I also love how soft and moisturized my hands feel after using a Softy wipe. Instead of the dry, stinging feeling I typically get with hand sanitizer, my hands feel so smooth and hydrated with Softy. Talk about a win-win!

All in all, I highly recommend Softy Individually Wrapped Hand Sanitizing Wipes! The packets are convenient to throw in your purse or backpack, and are perfect for kids and adults. You can also use Softy wipes to clean surfaces, as well as your hands. A pack of 100 wipes is $19.95 on Amazon HERE. It’s a bit more expensive than liquid sanitizer, but I think it’s worth the price, especially for the quantity of wipes. I will not be running out any time soon!

Please let me know in the comments what you think of Softy wipes! Will you be purchasing them?

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Thank you for finding my blog! It appears this product is no longer available. Please consider a more environmentally friendly option from Mrs. Meyers on Amazon HERE! (affiliate link)

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes | #WipeforWater

Posted on April 23, 2015August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am here to review some new makeup remover wipes from the brand Neutrogena Naturals. You all know that I love cleansing wipes, and I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect brand for me. I was so excited when I was chosen as a part of the #WipeforWater campaign with Neutrogena and Influenster! I got a pack of the new Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes to test out so I could participate in the #WipeforWater campaign Neutrogena is currently hosting. Let me go ahead and share with you my thoughts on the product and what the #WipeforWater campaign is all about!

ABOUT THE #WIPEFORWATER CAMPAIGN

As you may know, April is Earth Month. In fact, we celebrated Earth Day yesterday! In order to show its support for water conservation, Neutrogena is partnering with The Nature Conservatory to save water. Every day, you can use up to 5 gallons of water just by washing your face. So, to help reduce the amount of water we use per day, Neutrogena is challenging us to #WipeforWater and use cleansing towelettes instead of water to wash our faces. I pledged to go three days in the #WipeforWater campaign, and you can pledge as well by signing up on the #WipeforWater website HERE. Make sure to check out the website for a lot of information regarding water conservation!

PRODUCT REVIEW

Now it’s time to talk about the wipes themselves! The Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes are designed to remove dirt, oil, and makeup, and claim to even remove waterproof mascara without leaving a greasy residue. The wipes are also designed to be ultra-soft and 97% naturally derived. I love that Neutrogena includes a thorough ingredients list on the back of all the products in its naturals line. I also think it’s great this this product is not tested on animals.

Unfortunately, these wipes do not live up to the claims for me. First and foremost, they did not remove all of my makeup. I had a lot of leftover mascara that would not come off using the towelettes. In addition, I found these wipes do not contain a lot of moisture. Because of this, they felt very rough and abrasive on my skin. I much prefer wipes that are wetter, because they remove all my makeup and are soft to the touch. I will say that I do really like how my skin feels after using the wipes – it is soft to the touch and feels really clean. However, I will not be repurchasing these wipes due to how rough they are on my skin and because they don’t remove all my makeup.

All in all, I’m so glad I got to test out the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Makeup Remover Towelettes. The #WipeforWater campaign is such a great idea, so I definitely recommend participating with whatever makeup remover wipes you currently use. You can find the new Purifying Makeup Remover Towelettes at the drugstore for around $6.50 for a pack of 25 wipes. Please let me know in the comments what you think of these wipes if you’ve tried them, and if you’re joining the #WipeforWater challenge!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Day by Day Beauty Luxury Blotting Paper Review

Posted on February 5, 2015August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you may know that one of my must have beauty products is oil blotting sheets. I always like to keep a pack with me in my purse so that if my skin gets shiny throughout the day I can take care of it easily without messing up my makeup. I’ve tried some high end blotting sheets in the past, but I have to say I always go back to the drugstore. When I got the opportunity to review Day by Day Beauty’s Luxury Blotting Paper, I was excited to see how well the product would work for me. Let me share my thoughts with all of you!

The Day by Day Beauty Luxury Blotting Paper is designed to gently remove excess oil and shine while leaving your makeup intact. The brand aims to leave your skin “petal fresh,” and each sheet is made with premium-grade, natural pulp fiber. I love the simple packaging, and it’s adorable that Day by Day includes a “Hello, beautiful” message inside the flap.

These blotting sheets are plain white, and have the feel of tissue paper. They are very thin, and I found they would break during use. Overall, they worked extremely well. I did sometimes have to use two sheets to get all of the oil off my face, but in the end I always got the shine-free result I wanted. They definitely left my makeup intact, but I did notice a bit of my foundation came off onto the sheet. This is probably due to the oil, and not the blotting sheet, but I still wanted to mention it.

All in all, the Day by Day Beauty Luxury Blotting Sheets work very well. The best part about them is the price tag. For $9.97 you get two packages of 100 sheets each. In other words, you are getting 200 blotting sheets, with each one being just 5¢! That is definitely a huge bargain, even when compared to the drugstore brand I usually purchase. Even if I use two blotting sheets at a time, I will not have to repurchase them for a while! I highly recommend the Day by Day Beauty Luxury Blotting Sheets. You can purchase them on Amazon HERE.

Please let me know in the comments what your must have beauty items are, and whether you love blotting sheets as much as I do!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

New Year Skin Resolutions featuring nügg Face Masks!

Posted on February 3, 2015August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I am excited to share with you a review of some face masks from the skincare brand nügg. In addition, I will be sharing nügg’s New Year Skin Resolutions with all of you. Even though January has come to a close, it is not too late to make positive changes in your life in the form of resolutions. We still have eleven months left of 2015 to make sure our skin is healthier and more pampered than ever! Let me go ahead and show you the nügg masks!

nügg’s NEW YEAR SKIN RESOLUTIONS

To help combat dry and tired skin, nügg has created a list of New Year Skin Resolutions to keep you on track! If you follow this list, nügg is ensuring you will have a glowing complexion in 2015!

Wear sunscreen every day. Try using a moisturizer that has SPF, that way you don’t have to add an extra step to your morning routine.
Never sleep with your makeup on. Washing your face at night will prevent any dirt and impurities from seeping into your skin and causing breakouts. To ensure a thorough cleanse, use our Deep Cleansing mask. The Jojoba Lite Oil in this face mask dissolves sebum in a gentle, healthy way so that excess sebum can be rinsed off leaving you with hydrated, nourished skin.
To lock-in extra moisture, apply your moisturizer when your skin is still slightly damp. For even more hydration, apply a thin layer of our hydrating mask as a sleep mask or below your foundation in the morning which also can serve as a beautifying primer.
Clean your makeup brushes. Not only does old makeup start to build up on the bristles, but dust particles will stick to them as well. Be sure to wash your brushes at least once a week using any hair shampoo you have handy. You will notice quite the difference in makeup application and the clearness of your skin. Especially with sensitive skin, also make sure to use synthetic brushes (such as Tweezerman brush iQ).
Drink no less than 8 glasses of water a day. Hydration is important on both the inside and out. Use our Hydrating mask twice a week to infuse moisture to the skin. The Spirulina Extract in this face mask provides a reservoir of water which it releases into the skin when needed.

REVIEW

Now that you have nügg’s resolutions in mind, it’s time for me to share my experience with the brand’s face masks! Each face mask comes individually packaged in a one-time-use pod. I really enjoy the packaging, but I will mention that I often needed scissors to get into the pod because the top layer of packaging peeled off leaving behind a clear film over the product. It’s not a big deal, but it did take some extra effort to get to the mask!

Here is a quick look at what the masks look like inside the pod. Both the Cleansing and Hydrating masks I tested looked and felt exactly the same. The mask is a lotion-like substance that is white in nature. Unlike other masks I am familiar with, the nügg masks do not dry on your skin during application. Instead, they remain the same texture, making the rinse-off process take some extra time. Finally, there is no overwhelming scent with either of these masks, so if you are sensitive to smells you can use these masks for sure!

Deep Cleansing Face Mask

I first tried the Deep Cleansing Face Mask that contains cucumber extract and jojoba oil for an ultra clean, shine-free look and feel. To use the masks, simply apply over clean and dry skin and let sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing. You can use each mask once weekly or more often, depending on the care you need. I did like the Deep Cleansing mask, but it was difficult for me to tell if it really worked. My skin did appear clear and smooth afterwards, but I think I will see more of a difference after using the mask on a regular basis.

Hydrating Face Mask

This week I tested the Hydrating Face Mask. This one contains camellia seed oil and spirulina extract to intensively hydrate and replenish dry skin. The application process is the same with this mask, but I do have to say I love the results much more! My dry skin was visibly better after the mask, as much of my redness went down significantly. In addition, my skin felt so plush and soft afterwards. I’m really loving this hydrating mask!

WHERE TO BUY

All in all, I am really enjoying these masks from nügg! They are easy to use, effective, and super affordable! You can purchase a single pod for $3.29 or grab a pack of five pods for $16.45. If you are looking to rejuvenate your skin in this new year, these nügg face masks are your new best friends! Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried these masks, or which one you are going to grab for yourself!

Connect with nügg:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Defeat Winter Hair & Skin with InstaNatural | Argan Oil, Argan Oil Hair Mask & Vitamin C Serum Reviews

Posted on January 18, 2015August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have three product reviews to share with all of you. I recently discovered a brand called InstaNatural that is dedicated to creating safe, affordable, and natural skincare products. InstaNatural recently came out with its first hair mask as well, so they sent me three goodies to test out. If you’re looking to pamper your skin and hair in these cold winter months, this is the post for you!

ARGAN OIL

4oz Bottle – $17.95

BUY: Amazon | InstaNatural Store

About the Product

“InstaNatural’s 100% Pure & Organic Argan Oil is a multipurpose moisturizer essential to helping you achieve beautiful skin, hair, nails and body. The cold-pressed oil is lightweight, fast absorbing, and free of fragrances, chemicals and preservatives. Whether you are looking to freshen and soothe dry skin, repair damaged hair, or strengthen brittle nails and cuticles, the application of natural Argan oil is a perfect addition to your daily regime.” – InstaNatural

My Experience

I was nervous to test out this Argan Oil because in the past a similar product broke out my skin terribly. I decided that I would not use this oil on my face because my skin can be sensitive. Instead, I use it primarily on my hands. It is perfect for my dry hands, and it really soothes my cuticles. I do find the scent a bit weird, but that’s due to InstaNatural leaving the oil in its natural state. It’s not totally overwhelming, so I can deal with it! Plus, I really love that this oil comes with a pump bottle so I don’t have to worry about a mess. Just one pump is enough to moisturize my hands.

ARGAN OIL HAIR MASK

8oz Tub – $17.95

BUY: Amazon | InstaNatural Store

About the Product

“InstaNatural’s Argan Oil Hair Mask is a deep conditioning treatment designed to transform dry and damaged strands into soft, shiny, healthy hair. Its restorative ingredients – such as Argan Oil, Japanese Green Tea, Amino Acid Complex, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil & Vitamin B5 – work together to penetrate hair deep down and deliver ultimate nourishment and hydration to enhance texture and shine. This intensive blend full of organic ingredients also serves to strengthen hair to defend against heat damage and other external aggressors.” – InstaNatural

My Experience

This hair mask came into my life at the perfect time! Not only am I about to run out of the hair mask I’ve been using, but my hair is definitely suffering in this dry, winter weather. My favorite thing about this Argan Oil Hair Mask is that it can be used either as a deep conditioning treatment 1-2 times per week or in place of your regular conditioner. To use as a treatment, let the mask soak into your hair for 5-20 minutes and then rinse out. Otherwise, use as you would your daily conditioner. I chose to use the mask as a treatment. I really like the texture as it is lighter than a typical hair mask but still heavy enough for some deep conditioning. I left it on my fine hair for about five minutes and was really surprised when I didn’t have much to rinse out. My hair was so dry it absorbed nearly all of the oil! In fact, my hair looked shinier and felt smoother all day long, too. I’ll be using this on the regular for sure!

VITAMIN C SERUM

1oz Bottle – $16.97

BUY: Amazon | InstaNatural Store

About the Product

“InstaNatural’s Vitamin C Serum is an enriched formula packed with ingredients that hydrate and nourish skin to fight against the signs of aging. Our new formula now includes even more nutrients to help diminish the appearance of spots and discoloration, such as rosehip oil, argan oil, plant stem cells, algae extract and sea buckthorn oil. The vigorous combination of these ingredients form a super serum blend that delivers ultimate antioxidant care for your skin.” – InstaNatural

My Experience

I’ve used a different Vitamin C Serum in the past and fell in love with it. Same goes for this one from InstaNatural! I was a bit surprised to see that this serum is a bit on the thick side and is a bright orange color. However, this serum feels amazing and I can definitely feel the difference in my skin after just one week of use. My skin is more hydrated, even, and clear, and it just looks better as well. I’ve even gone a few days without my normal makeup routine because I just feel more confident. This Vitamin C Serum is a keeper for sure!

All in all, I’m so glad InstaNatural gave me the opportunity to test out the brand’s products! I’m really impressed with each one, and I’m especially loving the Vitamin C Serum and Argan Oil Hair Mask. I also love the amazing prices of the InstaNatural products. You get a LOT of product for the price – it’s almost like buying in bulk when it comes to the Hair Mask! I highly recommend you check out this fabulous line!

Connect with InstaNatural

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Amazon

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. This post contains some affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Oleavine Beauty 100% Natural French Green Tea Infused Beauty Sponge Review

Posted on January 12, 2015August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of a cool skincare product to share with all of you. Lately I’ve noticed sponges become increasingly popular in the beauty community when used as a facial cleansing tool. I got the chance to test out the Green Tea Infused Beauty Sponge from the brand Oleavine Beauty, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts! Let’s jump right into the product details and my experience.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT

Like with most skincare reviews, I like to include a direct product description from the brand so that you can read the claims associated with the product. When it comes to the 100% Natural Konjac Fiber Ultra Soft Beauty Sponge, Oleavine Beauty states:

“No other beauty sponge will work so hard for you! This luxuriously soft sponge gently exfoliates, cleanses, and is naturally pH balanced. The French Green Clay helps absorb excess oils, impurities and acne causing bacteria while leaving your face refreshed and radiant. Even preps skin to boost the absorption of your favorite serums and creams.”

Oleavine offers the sponge in a few different varieties. I chose the French Green Tea Infused Sponge, but you can also choose from Bamboo Charcoal Infused, French Red Clay Infused, or the Original Pure White. Because my skin has been struggling with clogging and breakouts after the holidays (too much junk food!), I thought the green tea would be great for me.

MY EXPERIENCE

The Beauty Sponge arrived shrink wrapped. It is about the size of my hand, and has a string attached so you can hang the sponge up to dry. I was surprised that the sponge did not grow much when I soaked it in water. However, it did get extremely soft! I cannot even begin to describe how soft and luxurious this sponge felt on my skin. It glided over easily, and felt so, so nice. My skin has been dry and flaky, and I couldn’t believe how soft and smooth it felt after using this sponge just one time! I really loved the process of cleansing with this sponge and can’t wait to continue using it!

While this Beauty Sponge can be used with cleanser, I chose to test it without any additional product. I was again happy to see that it removed my makeup and left my skin clear and soft. I have to say this product lives up to all of the brand’s claims! Plus, I love that Oleavine created a product that is 100% natural and vegan.

WHERE TO BUY

You can purchase the Oleavine Beauty Konjac Sponge with French Green Tea on Amazon HERE. The original retail price is $24.95 but as I write this post it is on sale for just $10.00! That is such an amazing deal! It can be reused over and over again, and is perfect for the most sensitive skin types. I truly can’t recommend it enough. I will definitely be using this as part of my regular cleansing routine. Please let me know if you would use this sponge or have used something similar in the comments!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Most Successful Sephora Haul Ever | $100+ in Product for $33!

Posted on December 29, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! If you’ve been a follower of Adventure in Polishland for a while, you’ll know that I only shop at Sephora a few times per year. And when I do drop some cash on high end products, I make sure to get the most for my money. I’ve written two step-by-step guides on How to Get the Most for Your Money at Sephora in the past (see them HERE and HERE), and today I just have to share my latest haul! Let’s jump right into the products!

REGULAR PRICE ITEMS

As always, every Sephora haul starts out with the purchase of regularly priced products. I always spend as close to $50 as possible to get free shipping online. This time around I hit the $50 mark right on the nose! Here is what I purchased from left to right:

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray – $30 [BUY] – This product is the entire reason for this Sephora purchase! I absolutely love this setting spray, but it’s definitely a splurge item. One bottle lasts me nearly a year, so it’s definitely worth it when I can afford to spend the money.
Soap & Glory The Righteous Body Butter – $6 [BUY] – I added this body butter to my cart in order to make it to $50. I can always use a nice moisturizer, and I’ve loved the products from this line that I’ve tried in the past.
Lavanila Pure Vanilla Mini Deo Duo – $14 [BUY] – I’ve heard great things about this natural deodorant from several beauty gurus, but most recently Ingrid Nilsen (watch her on YouTube HERE). I love my Dove deodorant, but I’ve been wanting to try a natural option, so I figured now was the time. More thoughts on this product to come in a future blog post!

With these three items, I hit the $50 for free shipping, but I also lucked out big time! I used my $15 off of $50 coupon that all Beauty Insiders received in December and only spent $35 total. I was so excited that I still got to use free shipping! And, that means all of the products I show you in the rest of this post were completely free.

WEEKLY SPECIAL COUPON CODE

The reason I love to shop at Sephora online is because of the freebies available in the Weekly Specials section of the Sephora website, which you can find HERE. This page includes all of the bonus coupon codes that can be used. There is always a great perk for spending $25 in regular priced merchandise, but this time I surely hit it big! I grabbed the Pampered Party Prep makeup bag filled with all of these samples! Let me tell you all of the products inside and their retail values.

Living Proof Style Lab Satin Hair Serum – $3.29 [BUY] – I am so excited about this hair serum sample! I recently discovered the amazing product line that is Living Proof, and want to test out everything.
Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly – $ n/a [BUY] – I can’t assess the value of this foil packet, but it’s definitely a nice bonus in the bag. I use foil packets when I travel, and facial cleansers are always great to have on hand.
GLAMGLOW Powermud Dualcleanse Treatment – $9.74 [BUY] – I’ve been wanting to try the coveted GLAMGLOW line for so long! As you can tell from the sample’s retail value of nearly $10, this is a luxury skincare brand known for its masks. This one sounds awesome!
Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil – $5 [BUY] – This is the only goody in the bag I’m not too excited about. My skin does not like face oils, but I know Fresh is a great brand. It is definitely a good product to include, and has an awesome retail value!
Calming FX Calming Primer – $6.08 [BUY] – I’ve never heard of this brand before, but this primer sounds great! It’s formulated for sensitive skin, and is designed to reduce redness. I can’t wait to put it to the test!
Benefit Stay Flawless Primer Stick – $2.37 [BUY] – I’m surprised there was another primer included, but I’m not complaining! Primers are very expensive, so getting free samples is perfect.
Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish – $3.76 [BUY] – This is a face exfoliant that I’ve yet to try. I’m sure it will be great! Laura Mercier has a wonderful reputation in the skincare world.
Lancome Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate – $1.85 [BUY] – Wow, can you believe this foil packet is worth so much?! It’s because this serum is valued at over $100 for the full size bottle.

The grand total for the Pampered Party Prep makeup bag in terms of retail value is $32.09! How awesome that I get to try them all for free! In fact, that’s nearly how much I paid out of pocket for this order. I’ve almost doubled the value already!

3 FREE SAMPLES, BIRTHDAY GIFT, & POINT PERK

I know I sound like an infomercial when I say this…. but wait! There’s more! I still have more free products to show you! Each Sephora online order comes with three free samples. This time I got:

Algenist Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector Gel Moisturizer – $1.63 [BUY] – I’ll definitely be using this moisturizer when I’m traveling this month! Foil packets come in handy!
Agave Oil Treatment – $1 [BUY] – Oil treatments for hair are always a plus during the cold winter months. I’m sure this will smell amazing and tame my frizz!
Anna Sui La Nuit de Boheme – $1.80 [BUY] – My last sample is perfume. I love getting perfume samples because it’s fun to try out new scents without having to walk into a perfume store and spray ten of them!

Next, I got my annual Birthday Gift, and I discovered a way to cheat the system! My birthday is actually in October, but I didn’t plan on purchasing anything. So, I logged into my Sephora account in October and added my Birthday Gift to my cart. There it sat all the way through to December. So, here is your trick – add the gift to your cart during your birthday month and it will be there when you want to make a purchase in the future! This year, Beauty Insiders received a Make Up For Ever mascara and lipstick duo worth $22.14! Amazing!

Finally, the last product I got was a Point Perk that I cashed in 100 rewards points to receive. I got a mini Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb that has a retail value of $8.56! I’ve heard so many great things about this lipstick range, but I didn’t want to drop $22 for just one. Now I get to test the formula!

My grand total retail value for all of the products I purchased in this Sephora haul is (drum roll please) $101.95! That’s right, I got over $100 worth of products and only spent $35. That’s nearly triple my spendings! Of course, I also shopped through Ebates and received $2.00 cash back on my purchase. That means I only spent $33. I think this is definitely my most successful Sephora haul ever! Now, it’s not every day that Sephora offers a coupon or such an amazing Weekly Special, but you can use all of the tricks I shared here to get an amazing Sephora haul as well. Please share your amazing Sephora goodies in the comments!

Ageless Derma Oil Free Purifying Facial Cleanser Gel Review

Posted on November 14, 2014August 8, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! I am excited to be back today with a review for all of you. I’ve been so busy lately, as well as battling a cold. I’ve got some fun posts in store for the holiday season, but today it’s all about skincare! I got the Oil Free Purifying Facial Cleanser Gel from Ageless Derma to review, so let me tell you about this product.

The Ageless Derma Oil Free Purifying Cleanser Gel is an energizing cleanser designed for everyday use. It is made with certified organic aloe vera and chamomile extracts, and has an advanced formula to deeply cleanse pores. This cleanser can remove makeup and surface oils without stripping the skin of hydration. Plus, this product does not contain paraben and is not tested on animals.

This cleanser’s unique gel formula looks a bit like shampoo when it comes out of the bottle. It has a slight fresh scent to it, but I don’t find it irritating at all. I did use makeup wipes to get off the majority of my makeup, but I love how this cleanser leaves my face feeling fresh and clean. My skin is clear and soft after use, and I can feel the aloe vera working to retain moisture and help calm my skin. I really enjoy using this cleanser in the colder months when my skin is already sensitive and dry.

All in all, I am really liking this cleanser from Ageless Derma! It’s great for those with dry skin, but I think it will also work well for other skin types. You can get this 4oz bottle of the Oil Free Purifying Facial Cleanser Gel on the brand’s website HERE for $25. Though that is a bit more expensive than the drugstore, I think it’s very reasonable for the size of the cleanser and the organic ingredients. Please let me know in the comments if you’ve tried the Ageless Derma brand and your thoughts!
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.

Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Gel in Mandarin Burst Review #SkintimateHappyLegs

Posted on September 11, 2014August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have something a little bit different to share with all of you, and it’s a review of the new Skintimate Shave Gel in the scent Mandarin Burst! I got the opportunity to test out this product through the website Crowdtap, so I wanted to let you know about my experience. I am not usually a shave gel or shaving cream user at all. In fact, I remember using Skintimate way back in the day during the “Skintimate…. or not” advertising campaign in the early 2000s and not enjoying it. But now that years have gone by, I was excited to give this a try and see how I like it!

Crowdtap sent me a full size bottle of the Skintimate SignatureScents Moisturizing Shave Gel in Mandarin Burst (phew, that’s a mmouthful). This product is designed not only to replenish your skin with six moisturizers including Vitamin E and Olive Butter, but to smell refreshing as well! The scent is a combination of fresh mandarin, lemon and lime. Of course, Skintimate is supposed to give you a close shave without irritation.

Before I review the product, I think it’s helpful for you to know my own personal shave gel story. I know, that might sound weird, but I really dislike shaving creams! I find that they are pointless – why buy a separate product for shaving when I can just use the soap or shower gel I’m already using? I don’t have problems with razor irritation, and I also find that sometimes shave gel prevents me from getting a close shave. Lastly, it adds time to my shower. Taking all of these factors into consideration, I decided to test out this gel with an open mind. I used it on my right leg for about a week and a half, and stuck to my regular system on my left leg as a control.

Here is what the shave gel looks like out of the can. It first looks like a pink gel, but once you begin lathering it up it becomes a white foam. The scent is quite nice – I like the citrus smell and don’t find it overpowering at all. I actually wish the scent was stronger, because it doesn’t linger at all! I think the only time I smell it is while I’m using it. If you don’t like lingering fragrances, though, that’s definitely a plus for you!

While I did enjoy the shaving experience, I found that using the shave gel did not make much a difference in my skin. Right out of the shower, my right leg was a bit more moisturized, but in the long term I can’t tell the difference. I do think the shave is close with this product, and I didn’t find it sticky to the touch like some other shaving creams. Finally, I enjoyed a specific fringe benefit with this product! Because I wear glasses, it’s often easy for me to miss a spot while shaving. However, with the shave gel it is clear which parts I have or have not shaved yet. Definitely a bonus for me and any of my other glasses wearers out there!

All in all, I’m definitely glad I gave this Skintimate Shave Gel a try. It is a great product, but to be honest I don’t see it fitting in with my lifestyle all that well. It adds time to my shower routine, and there are no significant changes in my skin. That said, if you are looking for an affordable shave gel that smells great, I would recommend this to you. It all depends on your personal shaving routine! Please let me know in the comments if you use a shave gel, and what you think of it! Use the hashtag #SkintimateHappyLegs on social media to see what others think of this shave gel as well.

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.