Review: ZenWise Hair Growth Vitamins

Since having my twin girls last December my hairdresser and I noticed my hair falling out and becoming “gummy” in texture. It was very alarming to me! My hairdresser told me it was due to the pregnancy hormones in my body going back to pre-baby levels and my hair was re-adjusting. She suggested I take biotin to get my hair healthy again. 

I had been taking a grocery store brand of Biotin to be “cheap.” Then I had the opportunity to review the Zenwise Hair Growth Vitamin plus DHT blocker, and for that I am so grateful! Initially I was pleased to learn that this vitamin is vegetarian (I don’t eat meat or consume meat by-products). It is advertised as containing a distinct blend of 27 ingredients, including 5000 mcg of Biotin, which helps promote hair growth and overall hair health. Not only does this product contain biotin, but it has other vitamins in it that contribute to your overall health (like Vitamin A and C). The biotin vitamin I had been taking before did NOT have that; it just had biotin in it. 

I have been using this product for a few weeks now and I can already tell a difference in my hair. The recommended dose is two pills a day so I usually take both at breakfast. I’ve noticed new growth next to my temples and my hair feels thicker. Due to the DHT blocker (which I’ve read is the culprit of 95% of people’s hair loss) I’ve noticed less strands falling out when I shower and brush my hair. My hair just seems to be overall healthier. 

I would definitely recommend this product to anybody who is concerned about hair loss or needs to improve the health of their hair. If you would like to learn more about this product or company, please visit http://www.ZenWiseLabs.com. 

*This post is powered by Brandbacker and sponsored by Zenwise. I received this sample product to test and write an honest review.

Review: InstaNatural Cellulite Cream and Stretch Mark Cream

Recently I had the opportunity to review two InstaNatural cream products-their cellulite cream and stretch mark cream. 

I'd never heard of InstaNatural before. On their website www.instanatural.com I read that they started their company with "the hopes to provide safe, effective, and affordable skin care products. They also focus on using premium organic and natural ingredients in their formulations without the use of harmful alcohols, parabens, or sulfates. At present, they are the leading online distributor of a collection of nature-inspired beauty and cosmetic products".

I was very eager to try the products out since they use organic and natural ingredients. It is so important to be cognizant of what you are putting on your body! It's a little embarrassing to have to admit to using cellulite and stretch mark creams, but I've had twin girls a year ago and my body is still readjusting back to normal. 

The first item for my review is their cellulite cream. This is the first time I've ever used a cellulite cream! I have to admit I was skeptical about using it-it seems like people pay big bucks to get rid of it at spas. My problem areas are my upper leg and thigh regions. I've been using it for a few weeks now so I feel like I've had the opportunity to see how effective it is. I use it twice a day; once in the morning and then again before I go to bed. I like the consistency of the product-it's creamy and not greasy at all. It comes out easily from the bottle and since it contains organic cocoa butter, shea butter, avocado oil and organic jojoba oil, it has a nice pleasant smell to it.

After using this product for a few weeks I do notice that the "problem areas" are more firm and the skin has less dimpling. This can be attributed to the retinol, caffeine and vitamin C in it. My skin is sensitive and I am happy to report that there was absolutely no reaction when I used it. I will continue to use this product to tighten and firm my problem areas. I am curious to see what my skin will look like after a longer period of time. If you would like more information about this product, check it out on Amazon. 

Now on to my second product for review-the stretch mark cream! As I mentioned earlier, last December I had twin girls. Now I don't even want to begin to tell you what damage that does to the skin around your stomach! I've got some pretty obvious stretch marks that have gradually started to fade but haven't disappeared yet. I've used stretch mark creams before but unfortunately haven't had good results with them. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this product!  

I've used this product for a few weeks along with the cellulite cream and I do notice my stretch marks fading. I would take before and after pictures, but due to the rather unflattering area of the stretch marks, you will have to take my word for it! I use it twice a day; once in the morning and again at night. The key ingredients in this product are vitamin c, cocoa butter, rosehip oil, mango butter, grape seed oil, and evening primrose oil. Just like the cellulite cream, it has a nice pleasant smell to it. The consistency of this product is creamy and makes my skin feel so soft after using it. There is no sticky residue or grease left on my skin like other stretch mark creams have left. It soaks into the skin pretty quickly. I've been pretty happy with this product and will continue to use it! If you would like more information about this product, check it out on Amazon.

My final impressions with the InstaNatural creams is overall happy. I think for the quality and quantity of the products you are getting, they are worth it. If you would like to learn more about these products or any products that InstaNatural has, please check out their website www.instanatural.com. Become a club member today and take 15% off your first purchase!

*This post is powered by BrandBacker and sponsored by InstaNatural. I received these products to test and write a review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

November Ipsy

I'm on my 3rd month of Ipsy now! I was excited when I heard that this month's theme was "Girl Meets Glitter"-I LOVE glitter/sparkle. Funny; it doesn't really go with my personality. When people ask me what my favorite color is I always say SPARKLE! I love that the bag is sparkly and made by Forever 21, but the plastic is a little cheap and has a few weird wrinkles in it. I've had a few people tell me how cute the bag is. 

Here are the items that I received and what I thought about them: 

*be Delectable from Cake Beauty ultra nourishing hand cream in coconut & cream-It's crazy-this hand cream smells EXACTLY like coconut cream pie! Delicious! I've only worn it at night because I don't want the smell to interfere with my perfume. My husband has been using it as well and he's crazy about the smell. It's very nourishing and isn't greasy at all. What a great cream, and definitely something I wouldn't normally buy for myself! 

*J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion- I was hesitant to try this lip paint out because it's darker than what I normally wear. It's a little messy to apply but as soon as I put it on i fell in love with the color. Such a pretty red/pink tone and perfect for the winter time. It's got great staying power but I should have exfoliated my lips before putting it on. I also think the application could be more user friendly. 

*Starlooks gem eye pencil in Ultra Orchid-I'm such a sucker for eyeliners and currently working on building my collection. The color looks so pretty and even has sparkles in it! I thought it would go great with my green hazel eyes. Unfortunately it's just not working out for me. I applied it to my top lid but it doesn't go on very dark. It also smeared or flaked all around my eyes and made me look like a raccoon. I also tried it on my bottom lid but it had the same effect. I'll maybe use it as a shadow and if that doesn't work I'll be tossing this item :(. 

*Temptu S/B Highlighter-I was so confused when I saw this item in my bag; I wasn't quite sure what it was! I had to look up the product and how to use it. I've never really used a highlighter before and did one of their recommendations, which was to mix it in with your foundation. To be honest I haven't really seen much of a difference when I've used this product. The formula is a little watery and to their benefit I could be using it incorrectly. Im going to try using it without mixing it into my foundation and just apply it directly on my face to see if it makes a noticeable difference. 

*clariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Instant Glow Powder Exfoliant-Another product that I was confused about what it was! It ended up being my FAVORITE item in the bag. It's made of salt and you either use it by itself or mixed in with your normal nighttime cleanser. The first time I used it I thought for sure it would irritate my sensitive skin. That was not the case! It buffed away all the gunk on my face and left my skin feeling incredibly soft. The more I use it the more I love it! Like I said; definitely my favorite item in the bag. 

Overall I was happy with this month's bag and thought they and a really great mix of makeup and skin care products. If you get Ipsy, what did you think of your bag? Ddi you get the same items as me, or different? If you would like to check out Ipsy, make sure to use my referral link!

The Return of Swap-bot

A lifetime ago (which means before a husband and three kids) a co-worker told me about www.swap-bot.com. If you've never heard of it, here's a description from their website:

What is Swap-bot?

Do you like sending and receiving snail mail? Do you like writing letters, making crafts, or putting together fun packages? You should try swapping! Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals. Swap-bot takes the hassle out of participating in group swaps by organizing all of the participant information and doing all of the partner assignments. On Swap-bot, you can host swaps, join swaps, and chat with other swappers from all over the world. Give it a try!

I did Swap Bot for a while and really enjoyed it. I love getting actual mail in the mailbox; nobody takes the time to write letters anymore. I had to stop because life got in the way. Recently though Swap Bot has been on my mind and I decided to give it another go-around! If you know me you know I'm not a "crafty" person so I'll stick with the postcard or written swaps for now. I can't wait to share with you what my swap partners send me! 

Birchbox Home Sweet Homespun Limited Edition Box

Happy Thanksgiving week! I'm enjoying this much needed time off. Today I've been lounging around the house with my girls-it's very much "Home Sweet Home" here today! And what better way to kick off the holidays than with a review of the Birchbox Home Sweet Homespun box?

I ordered two of these boxes; one for me and one for my sister's birthday. I ordered them separately, used a 20% coupon on each order, and added a mystery sample pack to each shipment. That meant each box was $32. This box got to me super quick. I ordered it on a Monday and it was here on Wednesday. Doesn't the box look gorgeous!?

Here's what it looks like when you open it up:

And here's what you get inside and what I thought about each item: 

*Askinosie Chocolate Single Origin Sipping Chocolate-There is enough for two small servings. I added whole milk to the chocolate. It is a little bitter; might need some sugar. Very rich and definitely better than the powdered stuff at the grocery store! 

*Meri Meri The Little Garden Treat Kit-These are cute handcrafted labels and gift bags. Sadly, I'm not much of a treat or craft maker, so I passed these on to my mother in law. She loved them! 

*Illume Mini Tin Soy Candle-I can never have enough candles. The label on it is so pretty with the red and gold accents. I've got it burning right now-the sugar and spice fragrance is so nice and makes my bedroom smell great. 

*Momofuku Milk Bar Cornflake-Chocolate chip-Marshmallow Cookie Mix-This is the only item  in my box I haven't been able to try out yet because it needs a special type of mixer that I don't have. My husband has been begging me to make them because they sound so delicious! The directions do sound a little complicated to make which is why I haven't done them yet. I'll have an update on them soon! 

*Soak Handmaid Luxury Hand Creme-This lotion has a light fig smell to it. I can wear it alone or with my perfume and it's not overpowering. It has a shea-butter formula which makes my hands so soft. Great addition to the box.

*Cowshed Lippy Cow Natural Lip Balm-I love the smell of this lip balm. It has orange and rose essential oils and leaves my lips feeling soft. It has a sheer color so I save this balm for the evenings and weekends (I prefer my lip products to be tinted).

*Makerskit Hanging Photo Clips Complete Project Kit-This was the only item that seems a little "cheap" to me. It's some twine, a few pushpins and a few clothespins. I had a student hang it up in my classroom and even she asked me where I got it from due to the quality. I wouldn't put this up in my house. The clothespins are a little too small so  you have to attach at least 2 per photo. I didn't like the card stock it came with-it's way too tiny and I didn't like the design.

*Richer Poorer socks-Normally I'm not a sock person but these socks are way too cute to not enjoy. I've been wearing them around the house and love the way they feel-not too thick that your feet sweat, but not too thin that your feet get cold. I sound like Goldilocks haha. I love the design on them! 

So that's the Home Sweet Homespun box! For $32 (with a coupon) you get 8 different cozy and cheerful items. I would definitely recommend stocking up on a few of these for Christmas gifts! If you received this box, what did you think about it?

Now the question is...do I splurge for a Vanity Affair box??? Or wait until after the holidays?

The Sound of Silence

All I can hear right now is silence, and it's a strange yet beautiful thing. 

Justin is out of town on a guy's trip and my three babies are with his parents so it's me all by myself this weekend. I feel guilty for admitting that I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while. You see, I pretty much get no alone time. I'm a wife, a mother, and a teacher-I'm surrounded by people all day every day. It's fulfilling but can get overwhelming and demanding. 

So what have I been doing with my free time? Yesterday I went out to dinner with my dad and then went to see Interstellar with him, my sister, and her boyfriend. Talk about a mind trip of a movie. I'll have to watch it a few more times to gauge if I truly like the movie or not. I loved Inception and had high expectations for Interstellar. I'm not a Matthew McConaughey fan so it was a little tough watching him for 3 hours but the visuals made up for it. I know; it's a little shameful for me to be a Texas thespian and not support McConaughey, a fellow Texas actor. 

Today I went and got my hair done at the salon and then went shopping at Target, Nordstrom Rack, and Khol's. Justin is going to wish he had never gone out of town when he sees the receipts for my shopping trips. I never have the opportunity to shop and I took full advantage of my free time. Heeeellllloooo new winter wardrobe! 

This evening I went and saw the play "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe." One of my students is in the play for a community theatre and his mom invited me. We went out to dinner before hand. She is so thoughtful to invite me. 

Now it's 11:30 on a Saturday evening and I'm sitting alone in my room listening to a Phantogram/Foster the People YouTube mix. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself! Saturday nights when you are married with kids look so much different then they used to. I wouldn't change it for the world, but it has been a nice change of pace this weekend. I'm re-charging in preparation for the holidays. Speaking of the holidays, I am hosting Thanksgiving this year for the first time ever. If anybody has any advice to give, be it hosting, cooking, or emotional advice, please feel free to share it with me! 

"Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain 

Still remains

Within the sound of silence" 

4 Birchbox Mystery Sample Packs

In the past 2 weeks I've received 4 Birchbox mystery sample packs. Any time you spend $35+ in the Birchbox shop they will send you two random samples that are supposed to total $10 in value for free. I thought it would be fun to share what I've recently received, and to see if you actually do get $10 worth of product each time. I'm a theatre teacher and not a math major; hopefully I got all my math correct! 

Mystery Pack #1

My first order was for a Birchbox Scent Sampler and Amika Nourishing Mask. The total was $36; I used a 20% coupon, $20 worth of reward points, and had it shipped free since I’m an Ace. Here’s what I received: 

*Dear Clark “Resurrecting Rince” conditioner-I’m from the Dallas, TX area and was thrilled to see that this company is from Dallas. All the products in it are organic and handmade in Texas. It contains aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, and rose of Jericho. My initial reaction was that it smelled FANTASTIC! Every time I used it my husband made note of how great it smells. It’s hard for me to pinpoint the strongest scent in it; maybe a combination of the aloe and the rose? 

When I used the product it was so incredibly difficult to get out of the sample bottle. It’s a twist top even though it’s a thick product. Not very user friendly! They recommend using a quarter size in your hair-this seemed to be a good size for me. My hair tends to be a little frizzy; not so with this product! I loved discovering this product and hope to get it again. 

The sample size was 1oz. The full size is 8.5 oz for $24 which means my sample was worth $2.82. 

*Harvey Prince Ageless Liquid Loofah -I have previously sampled the Harvey Prince Ageless body lotion. I'm just not a fan of grapefruit, which is one of the fragrances in it, so I wasn't too excited to try this product out. It claims to be exfoliating without using scrubbing beads so I was curious to see if that was really the case. I only got about one and a half uses out of the sample size and I did notice that my skin seemed to be a little softer than normal. The smell wasn't as powerful as the body lotion had been; I just wish I had gotten a little bit larger of a sample. 

The sample size was 15ml. The full size is 12 oz for $22 which means my sample was worth $3.68.

Altogether my mystery sample pack #1 was $6.50. 

Mystery Pack #2

I ordered the Home Sweet Homespun limited edition box on a 20% coupon and added the pack. I received:

*Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm- Is it shameful for me to admit that I haven't tried a BB cream before now? I have fair skin and was nervous to try the sample because it wasn't an exact color match. I shouldn't have been concerned; it blended in nicely with my skin and gave me a bit of a healthy glow. Interestingly enough it has "exotic caviar" in it to help tame complexions. I thought it had good coverage but I just didn't like the smell! 

The sample size was .2 oz. The full size is 1.5 oz for $36 which means my sample was worth $4.80

*Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris perfume -This perfume has a subtle scent to it. It has a nice combination of musk and fruity undertones. It doesn't have much staying power to it; I usually have to reapply after a few hours. It's a good smell for fall and winter. 

The sample size was 2ml. The full size is 30 ml for $65 which means my sample was worth $4.33.

Altogether my mystery sample pack #2 was $9.13. 

Mystery Pack #3

My sister's birthday is coming up so I ordered another Home Sweet Homespun limited edition box on a 20% coupon and added the pack. I received:

*Cynthia Rowley Metallic Eyeliner in silver -I received this item in my September Fashionista box so I will be giving this item to my sister along with the Homespun box. I love the silver color! I use it on my water line to add a little bit of shimmer. Now, it says it's smudge proof and lasts all day. However, on my bottom line, I have to reapply frequently. Good for a night out.

The sample size is .03 oz and the full size is .04oz for $16 which means my sample was worth $12.

*Melvita Eau floral de Rose-Eeeeeek! An expired product!!! And a year old expired product at that. I was puzzled to see that I had received a "rose floral water." Not exactly a beauty product, is it? As I was reading the bottle I saw that it was expired. Gross!

Thankfully Birchbox sent out another mystery pack to replace the mistake of sending out an expired product. They don't list this company anywhere on their website so there's no way of knowing how much they sell/sold the product for. 

This pack was worth $12. 

Mystery Pack #4

*Obliphica Leave In Moisturizing Cream-I have received several Obliphica hair products in other mystery packs. This was the first time to receive a leave in cream. I LOVE leave in hair creams; I use them every single day for my wavy hair. This has a light fruit smell to it from the sea-buckthorn. I wasn't impressed with it but I didn't dislike it either; it didn't wow me. It didn't tame my sometimes frizzy hair but it did leave it feeling soft. I'll stick with my other leave in creams. 

I wasn't able to calculate the exact price on this item because Birchbox doesn't sell the leave in cream. 

*Atelier Cologne Vanille -I've sampled Atelier before in the Mermaid box but this was my first time to receive the vanille product. I like the smell of it! It has a nice warm vanilla scent to it but it's not overbearing. It's perfect for the fall and winter. Like my other Atelier cologne products, I had to apply it throughout the day-it doesn't last the whole work day. 

The sample size was 2ml. The full size is 30 ml for $75 which means my sample was worth $5.

I'm not sure how much this pack totals for. I bet the cream sample wasn't worth $5 or more so I probably totaled less than $10 on this pack. 

So two of my packs were $10; two of them weren't. I've read many mixed reviews about the Birchbox mystery packs. Some people say don't complain about it if you don't get $10 worth, you are still getting a free product. Others say if you are going to advertise for it to be $10 worth of products then you better send $10 worth of products out! I think I agree with the second train of thought. If you aren't going to get $10 worth of product maybe credit some back to the shop so you can spend more money that way. Or maybe offer a nice $10 off coupon for the next time you shop if you spend $35 and don't do the mystery pack. 

Let me know your thoughts about the mystery sample packs! Have you discovered any beauty favorites after receiving an item in the sample pack? And stay tuned for my review of the Homespun box!