Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #powerofplants

A while back, I had received the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask complimentary from Influenster in the J’Adore Vox Box for testing purposes. Having struggled with stubborn blackheads for years, I was eager to try this out.

Since it states that it was developed with Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, I figured the ingredient list should be pretty good, an that I’d have no issues with it. Afterall, oceanic minerals and willow bark extract sounded like a pretty good combination.

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Ingredients

sea silt (natural oceanic clay), aqua (water), potassium sorbate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract

Looks pretty good, right? Well, according to the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetics products. I don't particularly feel comfortable with using anything that releases formaldehyde. So, I won't be using this again. EWG also states that this ingredient, as well as potassium sorbate, could aggravate allergies.

Personally, I’ve had no allergic reactions or other skin problems while using this product. My mother has also used it with no problems.

You can also find the ratings and info for the entire list of ingredients of this mask by clicking the link below.

Boots Botanics Ionic Shine Away Clay Mask

Strangely, EWG list some different ingredients than what is on the packaging. Not sure what that is about.

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Packaging

The mask that I received came in a 100g (3.5 US Oz.) squeeze tube with a screw-on lid. Lifting the back panel provides the instructions and ingredient information.

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Smell

It has a very light, fresh scent with a slight bit of muddiness to it. It’s barely noticeable at all.

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Texture / Consistency

Before you squirt any of this out, shake the tube first. Otherwise, you may end up with watery mask splatted everywhere. This may be a weird comparison, but it’s kind of the consistency of a slushie, not too watery and not too thick, with a slight grit to it. As long as you have it mixed up well, it’ll stay on your face just fine, and spreads well.

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Experience

This mask seems to dry quicker than others I’ve tried. However, it takes longer to dry around the areas that are oily/where there are blocked pores. I think it works well to help soak up extra oil, without leaving the skin dry. The little dots from my blackheads are still visible, even when the mask is dry, so I know it’s working on them. It didn’t get rid of them, but I think it may have made them a little less noticeable.

It tends to stick in my face cloth a bit, and a good rinsing is needed to get all of it off before using the cloth to wipe the rest of it off my face. I prefer to have a damp cloth to clean off face masks first, then give my face a good rinse. This way, I don’t have to worry about anything getting near my eyes, as they’re rather sensitive.

This mask has left both my mother’s face and mine nice and soft. We both like it, but I just don’t like all of what’s in the ingredient list….

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Opinion

Overall, this mask is a pretty good product, if you’re willing to overlook the information that EWG provides about some of the ingredients. Due to some of the information from there, I wouldn’t recommend it for those with allergies or sensitive skin, although I haven’t had any problems. I would like to keep using it to see if it can fully get rid of my blackheads, but I’m not willing to deal with the ingredients that I’m uncomfortable with.

 

 

FTC Statement: This clay mask was complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. No compensation has been accepted for this post, and no affiliate links have been included. Affiliate links are, however, present in my sidebars. This has not affected the opinions within this review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review–Red Rose Simply Indulgent Tea

To my delight, Influenster included samples of Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas in the J’adore Vox Box that I received. I had actually been checking out this tea brand, the day before I knew I’d be getting it in a Vox Box. How did I find out about them? Browsing Instagram, of course!

I had come across some figurines on Instagram, and learned that they came in Red Rose Tea. They only come in the 100ct Black Tea boxes, though, but you can send in UPC codes to get them anyway. They have some really cute little nautical figurines right now.

Anyway, their Simply Indulgent line of teas has loads of flavors that I’d love to try. Anyone willing to send me more samples for reviews?

I was sent three of the Crème Caramel and one of the Lemon Chiffon complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. The Lemon Chiffon one is decaffeinated, while the Crème Caramel one is regular.

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Ingredients

The ingredients weren't listed on the packets that I received, and I couldn't find them on the Red Rose Tea site. So, I did a little research and found the ingredient lists on Amazon.

Crème Caramel Ingredients: black tea, natural crème caramel flavor, natural caramel flavor

Lemon Chiffon Ingredients: decaffeinated black tea, natural lemon chiffon flavor, lemon peel

Hurray for these teas being 100% natural, but the ingredient lists still leave me wondering what all is in them. Natural flavoring is kind of vague, in my opinion. Since they have a sweet aftertaste, I wonder if there’s licorice in them… (No, not like the candy. Licorice is actually just a sweet plant. The flavoring you’re probably thinking of comes either from anise or fruits.)

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Smell / Taste

Crème Caramel – After getting this tea bag out of the packet, I was SO excited to try this tea! If you’ve ever had homemade Thai Ice Tea, it smells so much like it. I wasn’t picking up much of the caramel smell, but it was more present once the hot water hit the tea bag. I think I had myself a little too built up on the idea of it being exactly like Thai Ice Tea, because I was slightly disappointed. However, keep in mind that Thai Ice Tea does have a decent amount of actual cream in it. The taste was still fairly creamy, and left the sweet aftertaste of cream on my tongue. It was a little tricky trying to detect the caramel, as it was pretty light. This was without honey or any other type of sweetener.

I took the other two packets over to my mother’s house, so we could have a cup together. She also enjoyed the smell of it, and was very impressed with it, after the first sip. I have to say, with some honey added in, I was definitely more impressed. The honey helped bring out more of the caramel flavor that I was looking for. And, we both agreed that, had I never had Thai Ice Tea before, I would probably be addicted to this tea. And, so, the hunt was on to find a box of this.

FYI Red Rose Tea has a store locator on their site. If you’re like me, and they don’t actually sell in your state, you can order online and still get $2 off. I’m not sure how long it lasts, but the coupon code is: 313038

Lemon Chiffon – This smell surprisingly similar to the Crème Caramel tea bag, with a very slight hint of lemon. Like the Crème Caramel, though, the lemon scent came through more during steeping. It has the same sort of sweet, creamy aftertaste that lingers, and a nice lemony zing to it. I really like this one, but I’m not sure I’m too happy about it being decaffeinated. There is some controversy as to whether or not decaffeinated products, like tea and coffee, are safe for your health. So, although I really like this one, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with getting it again.

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Opinion

Both flavors are wonderful, and are accurate to their names. Despite their lovely flavors, I do have to pick on them a bit. I’d really like to see the Lemon Chiffon in a regular version, in addition to the decaffeinated version. And, the fact that the ingredient lists are a little vague does bug me a little. At least it does say that the ingredients are 100% natural. However, natural doesn’t necessarily mean organic. They do have some teas that are specifically labeled as organic, though.

And….. I really wish this brand would be available for purchase in my state! Please? Pretty please?

 

 

 

FTC Statement: The Red Rose Teas were provided to me free of charge by Influenster for testing purposes. No compensation has been accepted for this post, and no affiliate links have been used. Affiliate links are present, however, in my sidebars. This has not affected the opinions within this post, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Noxicare™ Natural Pain Relief Capsules

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

I’ve honestly never been too comfortable with taking common pain relievers like Advil or the like. I’d just really rather go with something more natural. When the chance to review Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Capsules came up on Tomoson, I didn’t hesitate a second to request a bottle.

Noxicare is a blend of natural ingredients that have been used for centuries for relief of joint, nerve, and muscle pain. There were 60 capsules in the child-proof bottle that I received.They can be taken with or without food up to 3 times per day.

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Ingredients

• Alpha Lipoic Acids – antioxidants, increase blood flow to the nerves
• Boswellia Extract – anti-inflammatory
• Ginger Extract – helps alleviate muscle strains, arthritis, and rheumatism
• Holy Basil Extract – anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
• Rosemary Extract – for joint or musculoskeletal pain
• Turmeric Extract – anti-inflammatory
• White Willow Bark Extract – anti-inflammatory
• Vegetarian Capsule (hypomellose, water)
• Silicon Dioxide
• MicroCrystalline Cellulose

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Experience

My first test of the pills was with a leg cramp. I tend to get them often, unfortunately, and they can get pretty bad sometimes. I took the recommended dosage, and the cramp was gone in about half an hour. Two hours later, though, it was back. I took another pill. About half an hour later, the pain subsided, then returned about two hours later. This has pretty much been my experience with each time I’ve taken these pills.

Taking them regularly for a few days didn’t seem to help my mom out either. She has varicose veins that can be very painful, especially when there is a change in the weather and barometric pressure. They only provided her temporary relief, and she wasn’t impressed. Since this has been an ongoing problem for her for years, I was really hoping that these would help her out…

Neither of us seemed to experience any side affects, until we started talking about our crazy dreams. We each just thought it was just something weird going on, until we talked to each other about it. Then, we realized there must be something else going on if we’re both having nightmares. The common factor? The pills. So, we haven’t taken any since, and no more crazy dreams. I’m not really sure what the problem was. The ingredients seem fine. I guess it was just how the combination of them was working on our minds.

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Opinion

They’re okay for just temp relief, but my mom and I need something stronger. I think, maybe, we would have done better with the topical cream. Seems like there’s more positive reviews for that. I have some pills leftover still. I’ll probably just keep those around for if I really need something. I don’t particularly like the weird dreams they give me.

Everyone reacts to certain herbs differently, though. So, if you’re looking for natural pain relief, this may be worth a shot. To find out more about Noxicare, check out their website: www.Noxicare.com

 

 

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.

Review: Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops

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

Pine Bros Softish Throat Drops are lozenges with a long history. Their stoy begins in 1870, when J. Herman Pine and his brother started selling 'Pine Brothers Glycerin Tablets'. They were created as an attempt to soothe his own sore throat. He determined that combining the natural soothing qualities of glycerin with the healing properties of gum acacia could help soothe and ease the mild discomfort of a sore throat. Some natural flavoring and sweetener was added, and these throat drops were born.

I received numerous bags and a few pucks in three of the flavors to test out, all in a nice canvas tote bag. What you below are the Natural Honey drops. The bubbles in some of the pieces just looked so pretty that I couldn’t resist. Size-wise, they’re as big as a typical cough drop.

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Ingredients

Natural Honey: Gum Acacia, Sugar, Honey, Corn Syrup, Glycerine, Natural Flavor, Sunower Oil, Caranuba Wax

Wild Cherry: Gum Acacia, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Glycerine, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Colored with Elderberry Concentrate, Sunower Oil, Caranuba Wax

Licorice: Caramel Color, Carnauba Wax, Corn Syrup, FD&C Lake Colors (Blue #2, Yellow #6 and Red #40), Gum Acacia, Licorice Root Extract, Natural Flavor (Anise Oil), Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Water

Overall, the ingredients are pretty good. Those with gluten intolerance need not worry. All of these are gluten-free. If you’d like to check out the nutrition facts for these drops, you can find them on the Pine Bros website by clicking the image of the three flavors above.

The only thing I don’t like is the artificial coloring in the Licorice flavor. I understand that most people expect black licorice to be black, but color doesn’t matter to me. I’d be happier without it.

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Packaging

Each flavor comes in a bag or a puck. The bags have 32 drops, while the pucks have 26. Of all of my family and friends that tried these, they liked the pucks better. Since the drops in the bags aren’t individually wrapped, it would be nice if the bag were resealable, to keep the drops fresh and sanitary. With the pucks, you don’t have to worry about that, because you can just close them back up. Plus, they’re the perfect size for travel.

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Flavor

Natural Honey: The honey flavor is a little mild, to me, but my mom thinks there’s plenty of honey flavor. It’s a bit like clover honey, and is sweet without being overly so. This is also the flavor that some of my friends chose.

Wild Cherry: This is the flavor that my husband prefers, but he says it’s not quite as strong as his favorite cherry throat drop, which is a kid’s lozenge sold in Germany. I, however, think the cherry flavor is pretty good, and is stronger than the honey.

Licorice: This is my favorite of all the flavors, as well as my dad’s. It’s the strongest of the flavors, and the black licorice seems to help somewhat like a mentholated cough drop does.

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How Soft is ‘Soft-ish’?

It’s about the same as an old-fashioned licorice. You know, the somewhat hard stuff that you have to gnaw on for a while, not that soft Twizzlers stuff. Everyone that I had try it seemed to liked the consistency of it. I love it.

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Effectiveness

The verdict is kind of split 50/50. While my parents and I like them to help with coughing spells and throat clearing issues, my friends with terrible coughs from a cold didn’t feel they were quite up to the strength they needed. I think, if you have a mild scratchy or sore throat, or you’re just having a random coughing spell, they’re pretty good. If you’re coughing to beat all, though, they might not be enough.

To be honest, nobody that I had try these actually had a sore throat in the amount of time that was given to review this product. Scratchy? Yes, but not sore. So, whenever anyone gets a sore throat, I will be updating this review. Meanwhile, if you have a scratchy throat, or you keep feeling the need to clear it, give them a try.

If you’d like to get some, you can find them all on the Pine Bros website. If you’d rather pick some up at the store, you can find out what stores carry them by clicking here. There’s also a Lemon Citrus flavor coming in 2015-2016! And… You can get free throat drops, if you’re an opera singer! Details here.

 

 

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.

Review: The Stone Heart Madagacar Agate Ring

A little while ago, I won a lovely, hand-carved Madagascar Agate Ring from The Stone Heart. She’s very sweet artist, and has lots of beautiful rings in her Etsy shop in various stones. You can also find her on Instagram, which is how I discovered her.

I didn’t know what stone the ring was going to be. So, it was a nice surprise to open up the cute little cardboard box to find this beauty nestled in shredded paper.

Agate is a stone of strength, and is also referred to as the "warrior stone". It lends courage and strength for both the body and the mind, and is very protective. This stone is also grounding and cleansing, as it is said to be able to eliminate and/or transform negative energies. Who couldn’t use a little bit of that in their life?

The first thing I noticed was this patch of specs in the bottom of the band. They sort of make me think of moss agate a bit, which is one of my favorite stones, aside from ocean jaspar.

In case you’re wondering, yes, the specks are in the stone, which is completely smooth. The whole ring is perfectly polished without a scratch, nick, or matte spot in sight. It’s absolutely perfect.

Looking over it in the sunlight, I also discovered this nice little inclusion along the side of the top of the ring that sort of reminds me of seafoam.

And, the chunky top also has some lines across it in various thicknesses. You can see, somewhat, that there is a color variation from the peachy-tan in the bottom left corner, to a slightly blue-ish gray.

Although the ring is fairly chunky and has a nice weight to it, I almost forget that it’s on my finger. It’s an excellent statement piece, and her Etsy store has even more attention-grabbing rings than this. So, make sure you have a look!

Again, I want to thank The Stone Heart for this lovely ring. I’m betting I’ll be taking more photos of it in the future! Keep an eye on my Instagram account for them!

 

 

FTC Statement: I won this ring in a giveaway. No compensation has been accepted for this post, and no affiliate links have been used. Affiliate links are present in my sidebars, however. This has not affected the opinions within this post, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Mini Squishable Kappa

When Squishable announced the arrival of the Mini Squishable Kappa for sale, I just had to get one. I love anything kappa-related. So, I bought myself this little guy. In case you’re wondering, that photo was taken while visiting the Japanese garden section of Mobot. The bridge leads to the tea island that is only open during the Japanese festival to hold tea ceremonies for visitors.

So, some of you may be wondering what a kappa is. Well, they’re a Japanese “mythical” creature that’s often referred to in English as a “river imp” or a “water sprite”. Depending on who is telling the story, these little guys can be a creature you don’t want to mess with, or adorable little pranksters. Overall, though, they’re generally portrayed as loving sumo and cucumbers no matter what their disposition.

(Yep, that below is photoshopped. No way I’d leave him out in the lily pads. This photo is from the Shaw Arboritum.)

See the blue on top? That’s a water plate. Kappa get their power from keeping that moist. If it dries out, then they’re in trouble. For those who believe that kappa are dangerous, they may bow to them to weaken them. Popular folklore states that kappa are very polite and will always return a bow. The theory goes that they will bow in return and lose the water in their plate, and then be subject to the human. This also goes for during sumo. Cucumbers are a more peaceful approach. To prevent any harm, people would carve names on cucumbers and leave them in the river for the kappa. At least, that’s the history lesson that I was taught.

Naturally, I decided to name my kappa “Kyūri” (キュウリ), which means “cucumber” in Japanese. It was the first thing that I thought of. So, I just went with it.

Kyū-chan came in a rather small box. At first, I thought maybe Squishable had sent the mini squishies that I ordered separately. When I opened the box, though, I found both of them squished inside. After a bit of fluffing, they were fine. Also, each was sealed in a plastic bag as an added safety precaution to keep them from getting dirty during shipping.

The first thing he did was try to hide my fireplace remote from me. Look at that little smirk. I know what you’re up to, mister! Gimme that! You’re a kappa. You don’t like heat, remember?

He came with a Project Open Squish tag, meaning he was a Squishable designed by an artist and won the voting for the round of squishes he was in. So glad he did! The tag below shows the original art. Since it’s a limited-edition Squishable, each comes with a numbered tag. Mine was 133/1000. There’s also a tush tag that’s about the length of my finger.

I’m pretty impressed with the quality. His eyes and nostrils are nicely embroidered. The length of his main body fur makes it a little tricky to keep out of his eyes, though, and to show the definition of the shell’s pattern on his back. Everywhere else, the length of the fur is shorter.

Below is a close-up of the long body fur. It’s parted to show the fabric underneath. You won’t see this, unless you carefully part it. Normally, he’s just a fluffy little critter.

I love his little webbed feet! Well-done with no loose strings or problems, just like the rest of him. I’ve inspected him closely and found no issues.

He’s even got a chubby little tail. See what I mean about the length of the fur preventing the shell pattern from coming through as well as it could?

The only thing I kind of wish had been done with this Squishable is to have kept the body a lighter green than the shell. I think it looked nicer in the concept art. Still, he’s a cutie!

Right now, there’s still a few of the Mini Squishable Kappas left. While I’m writing this (2/2/2014), there’s 25 left. Since they’re limited edition, if you want one, I wouldn’t wait.

P.S. I’m trying to get an Open Squish design of my own made! Please check out my Squishable Mushroom design, and vote for him to be made into a plushie! Tell your friends and family to vote, too, and soon! There’s less than a week left before this voting round is over! Click here to vote!

 

 

FTC Statement: The Mini Squishable Kappa was bought by me. No affiliate links have been used, and no form of compensation has been received for this post. Affiliate links are present in my sidebars. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer

And we’ve come to the last product review in my Influenster Jolly VoxBox! Along with the NYC eyeshadow, I was given Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna to complete my makeover for the new year. I had used Rimmel when I was a young teenager, but I hadn’t used it since. So, I was curious to see if the quality had gotten any better.

The Show Off Lip Lacquer is marketed by Rimmel as “the end of color as you know it!”, and is designed to have the pigmentation of a lipstick, while having a satiny gloss. Sounds like a pretty good product to try, huh?

It comes in 13 shades, which you can actually click on to see on a model. That’s kind of nice, but I don’t find it accurate. Maybe it’s the way my screen displays colors, but Luna doesn’t show up as the quite the same color on the site.

Actually, what I have looks like a combination of the Luna that they display and the color on the far right. It’s not that nude-looking. It’s kind of coral-y.

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Color

Luna isn’t the most flattering shade. It’s a sort of peachy/orange pink color, and it just didn’t work for me. I have pale skin, green eyes, and dark auburn hair. It really didn’t look good, and I know a lot of other Influenster members that didn’t like the color either.

The pigmentation is pretty good and covers in one coat. It does seem to gather more in any creases that you may have in your lips, though. I’ve also noticed that the brush tends to leave stroke marks, and it’s easy to pull it out of the tube with too much product on it. Sometimes it’ll come out with one of those little DQ-type swirl tips that I have to wipe off. I did that for this photo, just so it wouldn’t made the rim of the tube look messy, since you can just wipe some of it back in the tube. There’s a small ring inside that helps catch most excess before you pull it out, though.

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Packaging

I have one major gripe about the packaging; there’s no ingredient list printed on it! The first thing I look for when deciding whether or not to buy a product is not present anywhere on this. I thought companies were required to print their ingredient lists on packaging no matter what?

Above is the only info listed on the packaging, aside from the color labeled on the UPC code.

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Ingredients

RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, TRIISOSTEARYL CITRATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, OZOKERITE, KAOLIN, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, SILICA, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, SERICA /SILK POWDER/POUDRE DE SOIE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, TOCOPHEROL, ETHYLPARABEN, RETINYL PALMITATE, TIN OXIDE. [May Contain/
Peut Contenir/+/-: MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), D&C RED NO. 7 CALCIUM LAKE (CI 15850), D&C RED NO. 6 BARIUM LAKE (CI 15850), IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FD&C YELLOW NO. 5 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 19140), D&C RED NO. 27 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 45410), D&C RED NO. 33 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 17200),
FD&C BLUE NO. 1 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 42090), FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 ALUMINUM LAKE (CI 15985), CARMINE (CI 75470)].

First of all, I had to go to the manufacturer’s website to actually find out what the ingredient list is. It wasn’t printed on the package, and actually doesn’t appear on the US version of the site. When you click the “i” for info, it’ll take you to their UK version, which is called “Apocalips” instead of “Show Off”, but Rimmel did confirm via a Twitter response that these are the same item and the ingredient list is the same.

I’m not pleased with the presence of parabens, among other ingredients. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, you may want to stay away from this. Phenoxyethanol is a know skin and allergen irritant. After searching the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database for the rest of the ingredients in the list, I came across a rating of the actual product with all the ingredient ratings listed in one place. It did not score very well at all. Click “Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer Luna” to see the entire list of ingredients with ratings and health concerns. 

So, aside from testing this for the review, I will not be using this again, and I do not recommend it to others. I do encourage you to click each ingredient and check it out for yourself, or to click on the product review on EWG to go through the whole list in one go.

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Smell / Taste

I’ve noticed a slight smell, but no taste. It’s a very light, fake candy watermelon kind of smell. Although I’ve seen other Influenster members complain about it having a “chemical” or “plastic” smell, it smells just like the fake watermelon flavoring that’s used for candy.

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Consistency

I find this product to be somewhere in between lipstick and lip gloss. It’s highly-pigmented and glossy, but not sticky or thick-feeling. It seems to be moisturizing, but I did not want to properly test it out for the long term to see how it performs over a few days. I got rid of this, after I made all my notes for the review.

Longevity

Expect it to last maybe two or three hours before having to reapply it. If you kiss anyone or put anything to your mouth, about half of it will probably come off. Below is what it looked like after kissing my arm. It’s like having spaghetti sauce on your lips; some of it will stay on, but it’ll make a mess on whatever your lips touch.

And that was just a light smooch on my arm on the left. That’s a lot of product to come off. I’ve smooshed this all over my husband for a kiss test, and this did not pass. Also, he was none too pleased with me after. He promptly went to go clean the “lip gunk” off his face.

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Opinion

I really wasn’t impressed with this product at all. The lack of an ingredient list on the packaging was my first turn off, then the color and what I found while researching the ingredients, along with how it performed. Even if the ingredients were totally safe and all-natural, I don’t think I’d keep it or buy another. I just don’t like the way the color settles, and that so much of it comes off. Cleaning that off a glass or a significant other really isn’t my cup of tea, nor is it my husband’s, who avoided me like the plague the next day of testing.

So, thank you to Influenster for the oppurtunity to try this out. I’m sorry I couldn’t give it a better rating, but I have to be honest.

 

 

FTC Statement: I received this product for free for testing purposes. No affiliate links have been used in this particular post, but they are present in my sidebars.This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Duck Tape Ducklings Mini Rolls

When Influenster put up the list of what was going to be in the Jolly VoxBox, I was excited to see something from Duck Tape. I hadn't actually seen the Mini Ducklings before, so I popped over to their site. After looking at the patterns, I couldn't wait to see what I'd get.

A little roll of Blue Surf Flower arrived. You can see that, along with the other colors/patterns available, as of 1/28/2014, below.

I was pretty happy with what I was sent. To me, it’s a decently versatile pattern and pretty neutral in terms of looking feminine or masculine. My first project was to fix up my ugly old phone. It’s been with me for a long time, and has been through a lot. It really deserved a makeover. So, I set to work with my tape, scissors, and a craft knife and went to work.

In my opinion, it turned out really nicely. The new “skin” I gave my phone has been wearing nicely. Haven’t had any tears, scratches, loose tape, or sticky edges to deal with. It’s still as perfect as the day I made it over, which was probably about a month ago or so.

Also part of this makeover was my hot pink iPod. My husband had gotten it for free, and I’ve loved it, but pink really isn’t me. So, I taped it up! Woo! And… I may have gone a little overboard making lots of little bows. (You can find the bow tutorial on Duck Tape’s website, along with other craft tutorials.)

I’m definitely impressed with the adhesion, durability, and ease of crafting with this tape. This was the first time I’ve used Duct Tape to make anything. I have to admit, it’s actually pretty addicting.

With all this crafting and the reviewing that I needed to get done, I wanted a little buddy to keep me company. And so, Squeak was born…and then he ate all of our cheese….

Then, I decided he needed feet, and he scurried up my toffee can and ate all that, too. Bad, Squeak! Bad! Oh… How can I stay mad at that cute little face? Okay, I forgive you. ♥ Let’s make a star!

So, he helped me with his tiny paws to make this little beauty for the Christmas tree. If anyone is interested in a tutorial for the star, let me know!

And, I know I need to work on a tutorial for Squeak. He’ll get a little brother soon, since I’ll basically have to make another mouse to explain it. Squeak was totally freehand, no pattern.

Anyway, thank you so much, Influenster! I loved my Duck Tape Duckling Mini Roll, and I may have to get some other colors for Squeak’s siblings to come. (｡◕ ∀ ◕｡)

 

       

 

FTC Statement: I received this product for free for testing purposes. No affiliate links have been used in this particular post, however, they are in my sidebars. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolates Peanut Butter Crème

When I found out that I was getting some Skinny Cow candies in my Jolly VoxBox from Influenster, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get. The cheat sheet that gave me a preview of what was on the way literally just said “Skinny Cow Candy”. Much to my husband’s delight, my package contained a complimentary box of Divine Filled Chocolates Peanut Butter Crème for testing purposes.

I can’t say he volunteered to be a guinea pig, so much as he just claimed the whole box as his own, the moment I opened my mouth as to what it was. He loves peanut butter, especially in combination with chocolate. So, I kind of figured these would get a pretty good rating from him.

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The Basic Rundown

The box that I received contained 6 pouches, each with three candies inside. If you want something that you can easily slide in your desk/purse/bag/etc for snack time, the pouch is pretty flat and about the size of a Hershey’s bar, as of 1/24/2014 (Including the date because they seem to keep getting smaller, along with other candy bars.)

Below are the nutrition facts that are listed. You can also find these for various Skinny Cow products on the Skinny Cow site.

I’ve seen nothing about being gluten-free, and Nestle, to my knowledge, does not use GMO-free ingredients. So, that’s something to keep in mind. Also, artificial flavoring and coloring have been used in this, and TBHQ has various studies (according to Wikipedia) that link it to being a possible carcinogen and possibly associated with stomach tumors. This isn’t something that bothers my husband, but I don’t think I’ll be eating anymore of these.

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Taste Test

Although my husband claimed most of these, I did get a couple to sample for testing. We both agree that the chocolate is smooth, not waxy at all, and that the peanut butter is very creamy, almost kind of gooey. It’s not really the consistency that I would expect from peanut butter.

Compared to the popular Reese Peanut Butter Cups, there’s a definite difference. If you love Reese, you may not be too fond of these. The peanut butter is sweeter, and the consistency is much different. However, I will say that it’s better than Reese knockoffs, since a lot of companies like to make peanut butter cups, usually with waxy chocolate...

Personally, I thought they were okay, but they weren’t quite my thing. My husband finished the rest of the box in only a couple nights, though. When asked if he’d want me to buy him another box, he told me to go ahead.

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Opinion

My husband and I have two very different opinions on these. On the one hand, he loves them and doesn’t really care too much about the ingredients. On the other hand, I’m becoming more ingredient-conscious each day, and I just don’t feel comfortable eating these, along with the fact that the taste just isn’t my thing. I’m not too big on peanut butter and, if I’m going to eat junk food, I’d rather go for Reese.

If you want to try a box, I’ve seen them at Target. They had a lot of the candies in the back on clearance. I think they started out around $3-something and were marked down to something like $2.76 or something. Not bad. I mean, you’re going to pay more than that just for 6 single candy bars.

P.S. If there’s any other reviewers out there that want to join Influenster, hit my contact page up and I’ll send you an invite! ♥

 

 

FTC Statement: I received this product for free for testing purposes from Influenster on behalf of Skinny Cow. No affiliate links have been used in this particular post, although they are present in my sidebars. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.

Review: Red Leaf Tea Caramel Matchacinno

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

If you love caramel and matcha, you’ll definitely want to check out the Caramel Matchacinno from Red Tea Leaf. I received a bag of it for free from Tomoson, and I absolutely love it! It’s 100% natural; no preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, or MSG. Plus, it’s super easy to make.

This isn’t my first matcha from Red Tea Leaf; I’ve also reviewed the Eggnog Matcha. Although that one didn’t go over too well with my family or myself, we’ve really enjoyed the Caramel Matchacinno. I’m really glad that I got to try this one, too, because the difference between the two matcha flavors has been like day and night. This is definitely a flavor that I would order again, and has convinced me to see what else I’d like to order from Red Tea Leaf. Had I only tried the eggnog one, I’m not sure I would have.

For those who haven’t checked out my previous review, Red Tea Leaf is a company that specializes in unique and exotic teas from around the world. Being basically a tea addict, they’re my kind of company. In addition to their online store, they also have an Etsy store. If you don’t find what you’re looking for in one, there’s a good chance they carry it in the other. If you’re curious about the eggnog one, I’ve only seen that on their site. The Caramel Matchacinno is also only listed on their site; I wasn’t able to find it in their Etsy store. They have much more than just matcha. There’s also white, black, herbal, red, oolong, and even wine-infused tea. I have to admit, I'm pretty curious about the wine-infused tea.

Depending on which size you choose, the options for customization change. Below are what options you’re able to choose from for the small bag as of 1/18/2014.

And buying the large bag gives you a lot more options, along with a free scoop. You won’t see the options below, unless you actually select the large bag. Then they show up.

I received a sample bag. 2% milk was used for each matchacinno. You can make this either hot or cold. I prefer hot, especially during these cold Winter days, but cold is still good. The instructions are very easy to follow. You can see, basically, what was included on the instruction form that came with my bag.

And below is the sample bag that I received, along with an information sheet. The bag isn’t resealable. So, I just folded it over, taped it, and stored it in a Ziploc bag to keep it fresh until the next use.

The smell is a sweet, buttery caramel that filled my kitchen and made it smell wonderful. Like I said, the instructions are very easy, and the result is lovely. If you’re not careful, though, it can settle to the bottom of your glass. So, keep a small spoon handy, if you plan to take your time drinking it. Don’t worry; it makes a very smooth drink, it’s just that it can settle a bit.

I really don’t have any complaints about this matcha. The caramel flavor is definitely there, and is nice and sweet. It’s exactly what I would expect if I were to mix up some matcha in a batch of caramel. Actually… that might not be a bad idea… Hmm… experiment time? If it works out, I’ll post the recipe for everyone.

If I had to pick on anything, “natural flavor” is a bit vague. I know the info says everything is 100% natural and free of any junk like GMOs and whatnot, but I’m just kind of wondering what “natural flavor” includes. Anyway, minor nitpicking aside, I really love this stuff, and could definitely use another bag in the large size.

Want some for yourself? You can click the banner below to go to Red Leaf Tea’s website. They give away a different flavor each month to sample, and you can actually request a sample of whatever matcha you’d like to try it. The sample for this month is French Vanilla.

 

 

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.