Fall Lip Colors and Products and Product Reviews

This is going to be one of those sort of 'beauty' posts. I will never go as far as saying that I am a 'beauty guru' or expert but I do like to talk about the products that I purchase, use and products that work for me. This post is about a few of the products I have purchased for fall and my two cents on them.

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve (Bath and Body Works)

Based on what the tin recommends that this Rose Salve can be used on, I have been using for sort of a balm. It can be used on lips, elbows, knees, cuticles and chapped skin. It's got a very sweet scent to it and appears clear on the lips. Because it is rose extract, it works to soothe and condition skin.

C.O. Bigelow Lemon Pomegranate Lip Gloss (Bath and Body Works)

This is the second product I have by C.O. Bigelow and I am really pleased with it. It has a very distinctive scent of sweet lemon and tastes somewhat like lemonade. It is also clear in color which means that you can wear it alone or over a lip color. I also love that these products are not tested on animals. Upon visiting their website, I have learned so much about their products, history and process that I am now in love. I may have to come back for Christmas presents.

C.O. Bigelow

Dazzlelicious High Sparkle Lip Gloss in Golden Caramel (Bath and Body Works)

I'd go on a limb and say that this is one of my most daring purchases ever. It's got a beautiful pink/ orange tint to it and I wasn't sure how that would match with my skin tone. Luckily, upon application, you do not get a big mess of it and it's easy to put on. At first I thought I would hate it because of it's scent because it does smell like caramel, but it smells a little burnt or something, but the scent actually grew on me because it reminds me so much of autumn. It has a light taste to it as well. It is one of those glosses that feels heavy and sticky, however, but that's my least favorite thing about it.

B&BW Dazzlelicious

Plum Dazzle Shine Attract Shimmers Lipstick and Gloss (AVON)

 These lipstick/ gloss combos are one of the most beautiful and beautifully packaged AVON purchases I have ever made. I first got this darker one hoping it would do something for my skin tone and it does. It's not overly colorful and has just enough silver sparkle to it. It's lightweight and non-clumpy. They are also manufactured in four other colors. I also purchased the Sparkling Orchid.

Sparkling Orchid Shine Attract Shimmers Lipstick and Gloss (AVON)

This was the second lipstick gloss that I got from AVON and as you can see it is a brighter pink color and has golden sparkle to it. I almost feel like it is too pink for my complexion but I think it's a good night time product.

AVON Shine Attract Shimmer

And that's all I have for you in this post. I hope you liked this review and will give the websites listed a click so that maybe you can find some fall and maybe winter products for yourself.

Bath and Body Works & Spirit Store Haul

So I am a total liar and shouldn't promise things ahead of time. I ended up having some other stuff to do today  (along with going to the mall, obviously.) but tomorrow for sure I'll post something worthwhile. In the meantime, here is all the stuff I had to get today!

Here is a look at everything I snagged at Bath and Body Works. I originally went in to grab some fall fragrances, but as you can see, I got a bit carried away.

It was between this mason jar candle and one called Pumpkin Cupcake. These smell amazing. I may go back and get the cupcake one anyway!

Here are a few other things along with that candle I got. I also got another Wallflower plug. I got the owl because I thought he was perfect for Autumn and Winter and I love owls. The Wallflower fragrances I got were Farmstead Apple, Lavender Vanilla, Flannel and (surprise!) Pumpkin Cupcake.

The bins on the way to the checkout are my downfall. Completely and utterly... I can never pass up the PocketBacs. They're usually 5 for $5 so I got Hoot Berry, Pumpkin Caramel Latte, Farmstead Apple, Warm Vanilla Sugar, and Creamy Pumpkin.

Then there was the half off bin where I found this gem. I'd call it a summer fragrance but I may use it beyond summer time as it smells so sweet and yummy.

I did something I NEVER do on the way to the registers. I bought lip products. I got a Lemon Pomegranate flavored gloss, a C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve tin, and a Dazzlelicious High Sparkle Lip Gloss in Golden Caramel. It's more orange-colored and I think it will be fun to wear for fall. I also grabbed these cute kitty emery  boards (like I need any more...).

I also stopped by the Spirit Store just to see what they had and I ended up buying more stuff there. I do plan on returning as I have a friend whose husband works there and they want to get me a discount on stuff I will be getting for my Halloween party. I only got a makeup kit, some faux nails which have little stitches painted on them and are glow in the dark, some white hair spray and a lace web table cloth.

That's all for the haul!

Indie-Go-Go Smoothie

Feeling blue or just in the mood to drink it? Here is an easy smoothie for you!

1 cup of orange juice

1 small hand full of spinach

2 small hand fulls of blueberries

8 blackberries

BLEND!

Your final result is a pretty hue of purple,which is fun to look at and fun for kids to eat!

B-B-B-Bonus tip: Fruit going bad after you've just set it out? Some fruits and veggies produce a gas called ethylene as they ripen, but this can cause other fruits to ripen faster as well. Keep your ethylene-producing fruit in a separate fruit bowl in another location. Popular examples of ethylene-producers are; bananas, melons, peaches, tomatos and avacados (among others! This is a good site to see a full list on both varieties!) Popular examples of ethylene-sensitives are; apples, watermelon, potatoes, and carrots.

Product Review: Dial A Smile's Whitening Lightening Kit

BEFORE

The title of this blog should really be 'I made funny faces all night to do a product review for you.' The product I am reviewing this time is Dial A Smile's Whitening Lightening Kit and it's kind of an ongoing solution for teeth whitening, so I'll be sharing the results of it as I continue the process. My dental history is alright. I have decently straight teeth and always have. I did have braces in my late teens / early 20s to correct an alignment issue that would eventually cause an underbite in the future. I also have a cap on my front right tooth (left in pictures, as you can see) and a few chips here and there.

I have been wanting to whiten my teeth since I got my braces off two years ago and finally had a way to obtain this kit. This kit is not cheap and originally runs for $400. Thanks to Kandee Johnson (major beauty guru on YouTube) offered a tutorial on how to do this and coupon code 'SPECIALKIT' to others looking to invest in it. With the code my price became $70 and it was a deal.

It arrived today and I was thrilled! I have been brushing, flossing and picking all week to prepare (probably overdid it a few times, but I am determined!). I opened it and it contains the following:

One circular card to show your starting point and your ending point once the treatment is complete, 3 mint finger scrubbers (not sure what to call these- you slip them on your fingers and polish your teeth before application), 3 vials of vitamin e to protect your gums, the syringe of gel, and a blue light.

Believe it or not my teeth are an 11, even though they show as being much whiter in these photographs. You can kind of tell what my level really is once I get to the gel application picture.

The first real step is to floss (as Kandee recommends). This is a good first step to take as you do not want to whiten the food particles between your teeth. I also dry brushed mine (just wet my tooth brush a little bit and brushed over them. NO toothpaste.) for good measure. 

The next step is to get out one of the finger wipes and wipe the remainder sludge from your teeth. You want to essentially clean them up a bit and dry the surface.

Immediately following this step, break open the q-tip vial of vitamin e and generously coat your gums! I cannot stress this enough right now. I missed the smallest spot around one of my teeth and when I was done and cleaned up my tooth was burning. It's still a little raw now a few hours later.

Once your teeth are all clean, your lips are sticking to them and your saliva doesn't quite know where to go, you transfer some of the gel into the cup from the syringe. Now, this said that this is good for 3 applications but it appears that I'm going to have far more gel when the time comes. I'm not sure if maybe I didn't apply enough of if I should have caked the goop on, but with the burning around that one tooth, I'm skeptical that there is any way that I did it wrong.

Here's how you apply the gel (it's like painting your nails [and all the little crevices too!])

Here's where you can see some true color to my teeth and the application of the gel on my teeth.

Last is the ever powerful blue light. Once the gel is applied you bite on/around this baby for 20 minutes. Since I was already on YouTube reviewing Kandee's video to make sure I wouldn't mess up and to listen to her tips, I just watched a few more of her video's and some Tyler Oakley.

(so attractive!)

AFTER

Finally I turned off the light device, spit out what I could and brushed and rinsed out my mouth. I don't really know if it made a massive impact but I am going to use my circle chart and compare again in the morning. I shall keep you updated on the whitening process as well!