July 2011 Collective Purchase

Sorry for the late post! =X

This may be the smallest haul (if it even is considered a haul heh...) yet..probably ever to appear on my blog. I didn't go out much last month so I didn't end up buying much of anything all month. Even this purchase was placed in June, it just happened to arrive in July. I must say I'm very proud of myself for not spending a lot last month. Hopefully, this will last a while! Must shop my stash for a few months hehe xD

When best friend noticed that Sasa FINALLY stocked up on the essential hair masks in June, we hurriedly asked our friend who was also ordering from Sasa (coincidentally) to add our lemmings on. I've been wanting to try these out for so long but no other store (in-store or online) seemed to stock these except for Sasa...

It finally came after I think a couple weeks..much slower since the order didn't rack up enough for expedited delivery like last time :P

L to R:Essential Ultra Honey & Shea Butter Rich Premier Hair Mask and Essential Ultra Honey & Shea Butter Nuance Airy Hair mask

I've only tried the nuance airy version a couple of times and I'm really liking it so far. It's a bit messy and I am not used to hair masks (my first ones!) but I can handle it.

Has anyone tried either or both? Which one do you like better? I still haven't figured out what the difference really is between the two..hehe

Review: H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment




Product Description (from website):
- Rapidly plumps and restores depleted skin, helping to distribute vital daily moisture
- Scientifically formulated oil free moisturizer with marine-sourced nutrients to minimize the look of fine lines and stimulate healthy cell growth
- Sea-derived essential minerals work synergistically with Sea Mineral Complex, scientifically advanced delivery system to ensure vital nutrients are rapidly absorbed at the cellular level

Ingredients (from website):
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glycereth-7, Glycosaminoglycans, Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phospholipids, Panthenol, Fragrance (Parfum), Trisodium EDTA, Zinc PCA, Benzophenone-4, Linalool, Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Ulva Lactuca Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Blue 1 (CI 42090), Methylchlorisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Algae Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Directions:
From website: After cleansing, massage gently into damp face and neck. For dryer skin, spread a thin layer over face, like a mask, and allow 5 minutes to absorb. Massage in excess.
From bottle: As a moisturizer: Apply to cleansed skin A.M./P.M.
As a mask: Spread a thin layer over face and neck. Allow to absorb 5 minutes. Massage in excess.
What I did: I lik to get the product and dab it around my face. Then I would pat it in and let sink it by itself.

Packaging:
Comes in a frosted plastic(?) jar. It has 1.7fl oz or 50mL of product. It doesn’t really bother me that it comes in a jar instead of a pump bottle or tube. I’ve read somewhere that there is probably a reason why the companies put it into jars or something similar. The only gripe I had was I wish they provided some kind of spatula or such. When the jar was fuller I was able to get it out with my fingers without getting anything under my nails but as I was getting towards the end that was inevitable and I had to start using Q-tips.

Price:
H2O+ website or store
1.7 fl oz / 50 mL for USD$34

Prositives:
-Light
-Moisturizes/hydrates (?) well. It helped my skin a lot through the winter and allergy season. I would usually have a lot of dry spots and such throughout the day but my skin was actually pretty normal when I used it.
-Has multiple uses as a moisturizer and as a mask (though I've never applied enough for it to be a mask).
-Can be used day and night.
-Didn't break me out.
-Doesn't make me any more oily than I already am.

Negatives:
-Can be difficult to get for some. There aren’t too many store locations.
-On the pricey side. But I’d say this is mid-ranged since there are a ton of other brands that are more expensive.
-Scent needs a bit getting used to. I think like with the other H2O+ products I've tried, they try to give it the sea water smell.
-Leaves a bit of a residue on my hands after applying (But I find with a lot of other products so I’m probably just being too picky =X Nothing tissues or water can’t take care of)
-I found that I used a lot more of this product at each application because of how light it is. But that's just how I am. With thicker products, I use less and with lighter, products I use more. But if you could control yourself better than I do, it'll probably last a lot longer than it did for me.
-Takes a little longer than other moisturizers to sink in (but then again I pat rather than massage it in)
-Has silicones and fragrance (for those who are sensitive/allergic)

Note:
I’m not sure how well the minimizing fine lines part work because I don't those yet (I hope..)

Repurchase?:
Yes but not right now. If I my skin doesn’t work well with whatever I am trying next winter or allergy season and I will probably buy this to use since I know it works. But as of right now I would like to continue to try new products and search for an HQ :]

Rating:
4/5

Recommend?:
Yes. It is a bit pricey but it does work well (for me at least). I just hope to find a product that does what this does and maybe a bit more natural and less –cones and fragrances and such. If such a product exists =P

Disclaimer: I purchased this product with my own money. I am not affiliated with the company or any other sites mentioned above. These are just my opinions so please research more about a product before buying it. I'm just trying to share the experiences I get from using a certain product. I'm not endorsing it or anything. If anything this is for my own memory of what I liked and what I didn't like. Also...my skin is my skin...your skin is your skin, please don't blame me if the product doesn't work for you. Appropriate credits mentioned wherever I copied and pasted from the brand's website.

Commitment

As 2011 began and probably even in 2010 there were quite a few bloggers and youtubers that I followed who were talking about weight loss and working out and such. Some were giving their tid bits on how they kept fit while others were sharing how they were really trying to shed those pounds.

When summer came around I decided to try my best to not lose interest in working out and trying to lose the weight that I've accumulated over the years.
I must say it wasn't extremely successful nor a complete failure.
I did end up going to the gym more than usual but whatever I did..I never seemed to be able to get the same soreness I felt before. I was probably going too easy on myself and just making an excuse to work less since I made the effort to go to the gym. (terrible yes but saying and doing are so difference and the latter being very difficult..especially committing)

Once it came that time of the month, working out went out the window =.=

But while I was watching dramas (hehe..I'm a drama addict :X) I became motivated again. Specifically in three of them.
One where a girl lost a lot of weight through dieting and working out, jumping rope.
One where a stunt woman trained/worked out through also jumping rope. and
One where there was just a lot of action scenes in general.

They're strange influences. But I'm the type of person who gets inspired quite a lot by watching others :P

So in the last two days I've been trying to jump rope again. I didn't count exactly how many I did but I did quite a few sets of 100 or so jumps. It isn't much but I'm hoping I can build up and improve my stamina and such (I can't run on the treadmill for longer than 5mins hehe..>__>;;)

For the first time in a while my calves and legs actually felt a bit sore. It doesn't feel great but it's awesome to know that it is working..right?

With the nagging of my younger brother I also played the Wii (my lazy person's excuse for moving around :X). Maybe because I don't usually use my arms often but afterwards they were very very sore. Does this happen to anyone else? Could doing a few of those Wii Sports games everyday help me on my journey? Or is that hoping for too much out of a gaming system? Nevertheless..it did make me break out quite a sweat haha :D

With the rest of the month, as the title of this post says..
I'm going to try to commit towards these little exercises and with going to the gym.
I just hope I don't make more excuses too soon.

I'm not confident enough to share any numbers yet but believe me..they need working on :X

How does everyone else stay fit? Please do share.
Exercise wise, eating wise, I'm open for anything. ^__^