Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer - Oat

1:35:00 PM mandy 17 Comments

I think I have mentioned this before, but I am not much of a body lotion user. Despite having very dry skin in the colder months, I hate how most lotions take forever to sink into my skin. Standing in the bathroom unclothed in the winter is not a very pleasant experience! Neither is having to put on clothes when lotion is still wet on the body.

When I saw this product in the Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox, I was both skeptically and excited. The way the product is housed reminded me of the spray on sunscreens. The feature I liked of those were how easy it was to just spray on sun protection and not have to rub anything in. However, I just wasn't sure how necessary it is for a lotion to be in a spray on form.

Unlike the name, I don't think this is necessarily a product where you can literally Spray & Go like how you could with a spray on sunscreen. After you apply this lotion onto your skin, you definitely do need to rub it in like you would need to for any other body lotion.

Ingredients:

One of the downsides I saw to the spray can was that it was definitely messy. When I used this moisturizer in my room and sprayed the product directly onto my arms and legs, some of the product would miss my body which ultimately landed on my furniture and floor. But because the product has a slipperiness to it, the product made the floor slippery to a certain degree. I would definitely recommend this to be used inside the bathroom or best inside the shower. I searched around for other reviews and others suggested to spray it into the palm of the hands first and then apply it like a typical lotion. Although this is a way to fix the problem, it kind of defeats the purpose of having it be a spray on lotion doesn't it?

Even though on the bottle it claims to be non-greasy I found it to not be completely true. When compared to other lotions, after the Vaseline lotion sinks into the skin and if I touch my skin it definitely will not feel greasy. However, when I picked up my arms after I had rested them on my desk there will be a greasy mark on the table. Luckily the grease stain does goes away after a while.

How the lotion looks sprayed straight onto my arm

This product is very different from any body lotion I have ever used. Typically the ones I am used to have a thicker and more cream like texture, even if it is dispensed through a pump bottle. The best way to describe the consistency of this body lotion is like that of liquid ice cream (but less sticky). Or if that is a little too weird, it is most similar to that of the milky lotions (such as the ones by Hada Labo or Juju Aquamoist). The product is very liquidy and runny, hence it is also very light. There are good and bad points to this feature. Yes, my skin does absorb the lotion really quickly and (like the bottle says) I can put my clothes on right away. But for my dry skin, this light lotion just isn't enough. Perhaps for those with normal-dry skin this will work better or even for anyone in the warmer weather when your skin isn't craving as much moisture.

There is a slight scent to it but it is nothing too overpowering. I have only used this lotion a few of times since I got it so I cannot really say how long one can will last. But since this is a metal spray bottle, it is kind of difficult to tell when I will run out of product. Of all the different products that have come in the VoxBoxes, this is probably one of the few that I still have not really seen in stores yet. (It could just be the stores in my area though.)

According to Influenster, one 6.5oz canister sells for about $7.99. There are two other variations: Aloe and Cocoa Butter. It seems to be quite expensive though just because it is in a spray form, especially when there is only 6.5oz of product per can. I did a quick browse on a few drugstore's websites and found that the typical pump dispensed lotions fall into the $5.99-$8.99 range while offering 2x the product per bottle.

I'm probably going to save it for the summer months because it doesn't do much for my dry winter skin. As for whether I will repurchase or not really would depend on if there is or isn't a good sale available for it.

What do you think? Would you give this product a try? Have it tried it before? What are your thoughts about it?

Bird Print & Peter Pan Collar

6:06:00 PM mandy 13 Comments

As per usual, I didn't have plans for the Spring Break that passed a few weeks ago. So while at home I took to experiment a little (more like once lol) with my outfits.

ZARA Knit Cable Cardigan | H&M Bird Print Shirt | AE Jeggings

Looking back at it now, this doesn't seem like such a hard ensemble to put together. But coming from someone who's "go-to" wear was always hoodies and jeans, sometimes a simple combo like a sweater and blouse can be easily overlooked.

Before I decided I needed a wardrobe change, my closet only consisted of solid colors. I have always been hesitant to try on clothing with printed designs. Something about it made me associate it with 'old'. But when I saw this bird print shirt in the store, paired with a peter pan collar, I just couldn't help myself. I am glad I ended up trying it on because (as corny as it sounds) it really opened up my mind to start trying on a different variety of clothes. What have I been missing out on my whole life? (Okay that was an exaggeration. Mostly my teen life, that's when I started choosing my own clothes.)

Sephora Chic Week Haul

9:26:00 PM mandy 14 Comments

It was that time of year again last week at Sephora. Sale time!
Or for me it meant one of the few times in the year that I make a purchase at Sephora.

Maybe it's the same for you too, but I always find myself with a huge wishlist. Every year without fail, no matter how busy I am with school work, I find time to sit and cross off as many items as possible to have it fit within my imaginary budget. Ideally the total should be $75 or less. This year I have to shamefully admit that I went over that amount by double!

The difference being that 2 items I bought are sets. Whereas in the past couple years I only splurged on 1 perfume or 1 brush at most along with some other smaller items. The up side to this, I guess, is these are things that I do see myself using regularly and for a long time.

Top: Clarins The "It" Kit and Clarisonic Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head Value Pack Middle: Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation in G20 and Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Bottom: Sephora PRO Flawless Airbrush No. 56

The night before I managed to narrowed my list down to 3 items.

I have been wanting to try the Clarins "It" Kit ever since Karyi mentioned how great a deal this little box was. A full sized sunscreen + some trial sized items for a little more than how much the sunscreen costs by itself. When I got to the store, I was afraid they wouldn't carry any because this set was released quite a few months ago. Luckily the SA found one for me in the back! Other than the UV Plus Sunscreen, the set also includes the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, Beauty Flash Balm, Total Eye Concentrate, and the Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch. I haven't looked into any of the other products included besides the sunscreen. But from reading the descriptions on the box I can't wait to try everything out.

The one item that has been on my list for months was definitely this Clarisonic 4 pack value set of brush heads. I have been neglecting my Clarisonic for close to a year now because I couldn't bear to shell out the money to buy the replacement brush heads. Sephora offered a few different brush head varieties in the pack. I was a bit overwhelmed. After a chat with lilladyslife, I ended up getting the deep pore version. (To clarify her favorite is the delicate version, which sadly did not come in a 4 pack.) I have been using my Clarisonic nightly for a week now and so far so good. (I just remembered how I completely failed to update everyone my results with the Clarisonic...epic fail! I will try my best to soon though!)

This has become a reoccuring habit of mine to buy an expensive brush when a sale rolls along. But it is totally understandable right? I am always on a lookout for a good foundation brush. Not that the ones I have are bad, but I am a curious person who likes to try things out. To me the Sephora PRO No. 56 is like a cross between the Sephora Mineral Power Brush and the typical synthetic paddle foundation brush. I used it a few times since bringing it home and I am starting to like it.

The Cover FX foundation and Josie Maran Argan Oil were the complete impulse purchases.

I walked around the store for maybe an hour thinking over whether to buy or not to buy the foundation. The SA/MUA I asked to help me color match actually tried to steer me to buy a Stila foundation (but I did not like how the finish looked on me, or it could have been that she applied too heavy a layer). In the end, I have decided to return the foundation because 1) color is not right 2) after taking a second look at my makeup drawers, I know I don't need another base product right now. However, this return doesn't mean I didn't like the product. In fact, it's the opposite. I was really surprised by how skin like the foundation is when I applied it. Perhaps after I plow through some BB Creams and foundations that I currently own I will give it a second try.

The trial sized bottle of Argan Oil found its way into my basket as I was browsing the checkout area. I am anticipating very dry and flaky skin when my Spring allergies kick in. Hopefully this will help soothe and moisturize my skin when that comes comes around. I dabbed a bit of the cream version on my hand to try and it didn't soak in nearly as well as the oil version does. Plus, the oil form is pure argan oil whereas the cream is formulated with a few other ingredients. Nowadays the less ingredients the better/safer right?


Whew! That was a long one. Kudos to anyone who read through that ^__^
Have you tried any of these products before? Any favorites that you can't wait to share?
What goodies did you pick up during the CHIC sale?

Giveaway Package from labellemel

7:51:00 PM mandy 15 Comments

What are the odds of winning a giveaway? ... Slim
Now what are the odds of winning a giveaway hosted by someone more than once? ... Pretty rare I'd say!
This is actually the 2nd time I have won a giveaway from labellemel! The first time, if anyone remembers, was an epilator along with other goodies. This time around I won her "Fashion Kit" package during her Blog Revamp Giveaway.
It included this lovely chain bracelet from J.Crew (my first J.Crew item!!) & a giftcard to THEOUTNET. I haven't found the time to really search the website yet but at a glance, everything seems to be on the pricier side. Will have to choose my item(s) wisely!
Right after I took the previous photo, I went to try on the bracelet. And that's when it kind of fell apart. One of the jump rings used to attach the lobster claw clasp had a bit of an opening so the pieces just slipped right off. Good thing I have pliers at home from DIYing bracelets.
I cinched those jump rings with all my might. Hopefully it won't come loose again! Had I not gotten the itch to DIY and bought some tools, I would have declared this shiny bracelet certified, unfixable.

Although I really love accessories, I'm at a loss of how to pair this chunky style chain bracelet. It hangs loose when I have my arms by my side. So it probably won't be something I would grab for on a day to day basis.
What do you think? What would you wear this with? and When?

belVita Breakfast Biscuits - Cinnamon Brown Sugar

10:06:00 AM mandy 6 Comments

I finally got around to trying something from my Sugar 'N Spice VoxBox. I had been carrying this package of belVita biscuits around with me to school before Spring Break, but it got lost in my bag and I forgot about them. (Note to self: organize my bag.)

The packaging says it's a breakfast biscuit but I can see myself snacking on this any time of day. The Cinnamon Brown Sugar flavor tastes just like a combination of a snicker doodle cookie and an oatmeal cookie. Maybe it's because of the oat bits, it was a little hard to swallow  it if I didn't chew enough. This is also a drier cookie type so I would definitely eat this together with something liquid the next time (whether it be water, juice, or milk). In which case, this could definitely be a sort of filling breakfast option. One thing I don't completely buy is the energy providing claim. It just seems a little far-fetched for a package of crackers. But if these biscuit does provide me with some energy you won't find me complaining. I can always use any extra energy with my night owl habits.

According to their website the only stores that carry these in my area are places like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Which probably explains why I don't remember ever seeing this at my local supermarkets. I think I may try to look for some of the other flavors to try as well. In addition to Cinnamon Brown Sugar they also have Golden Oats, Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Chocolate. It is a bit pricey, $3.69 for a box of 5 packages of 4 biscuits (according to Influenster) but with the CVS coupons and such I can probably get these on sale...hopefully.

Has anyone else tried these before? Or is there any flavor(s) that caught your interest?