Exfoliater Review

Wow... It's been so long since I haven't blogged. The snow outside has me on a blogging mood. So here I am. Lately, I have been addicted to exfoliators - both face and body.

Spotlight on: The Body Shop Nutmeg and Vanilla Body Scrub
I got this as a gift from my friend Ennie. So the price I found on the website (www.thebodyshop-usa.com) is $20 for 200 ml/8.4 fl oz. You can also purchase it in a 50 ml/1.69 fl oz jar (only part of a Christmas Limited Edition Gift Set). The packaging is cute and simple. It comes on a jar with a warm toned theme. The jar itself is clear which allows you to see how much product you have in there. The scrub itself is a cream color, a mixture of milky body wash with dark brown sugar (or honey, I think it's honey) & nutmeg (which is walnut shells turned into powder, or in this case rougher than powder) granules. It is meant for body use so I wouldn't recommend as a face scrub; it is a bit rougher than necessary.

The title is truthful to the smell - pure nutmeg and vanilla scent that will permeate the room. When I use this in the shower, I don't need any bath gels or anything that I usually use for a nice ambience and smell. This does the trick. As the website says, it will make you nostalgic, a feeling I love. You might have to stop yourself from trying to eat this thing, sooo delicious hehe. However, the scent won't stay in your skin for long after you cleanse it. If you are a fan of the frangrance like I am, your best bet is buying a lotion part of the line.

The granules are very chunky. Sometimes they will stay on the rim of the jar and stop you from fully closing it so make sure to clean the sides. I usually begin scrubbing by taking product from the rim and then moving on to the cap. I rarely need to dig in the jar itself. This also saves me from allowing water get into the jar. If you are afraid that might happen to you, try pouring a little of the scrub into the cap and then putting the jar away from water contact, since you won't need it.

On to how effective the product is...
I really like using this on my knees and ankles. Use circular motions around any area of your body for better rresults. If your skin is so dry to the point of seeing cracks in it, stay away from a scrub because it could make it bleed. Try some conditioning on it (whether it's home remedies or store solutions) and then use this scrub. It works miracles during those lazy days I forget putting lotion on my legs (yea, that's baaad!). I will use this three times a week max, sometimes it works better every third day or so. The honey makes your skin soft and nutritions it after the scrub takes out the dirt out of your skin (remember, scrubbing depletes your skin's moisture so the honey is a major plus is ANY face or body scrub!).

Those are my thoughts. Maybe some day, I will blog about all of the items I have from this collection. Until my next post, stay warm and enjoy my blog :)

~TheBeautyBebe

Cuticle Cream Review

Hey there,
Are you someone who loves taking care of your nails and hands? Yep? Then keep reading...

Spotlight on: Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme














In its packaging
Already hit pan (you can see my finger mark)

This is one of my HG products, in the nail care category. I got this from a drugstore for a couple of bucks; check your local CVS, they carry Burt's Bees for sure. It comes in the form of a small, round, tint jar. It also comes in a larger size, which I imagine you could use at home, in your nightstand for example. I really like the packaging because it fits anywhere and it stays moist, due to the way it "locks" itself after you close it. There must be some geometry involved in the making of its circular shape. The way you use this is by sticking your finger in the jar, quickly swiping some creme on top of all your nails; then, after all nails have been coated, just massage it for about 5 mins. If you do this after taking a shower or bath, it is much easier for the product to permeate to your weak cuticle areas, since they are still open and moist. You should follow this regime all the time, for the benefit of nail care. What I like about it:

• Burt's Bees is 100% natural and does not test on animals.
• The price is reasonable for the great quality product you get. Not that cheap, but still affordable.
• As the name hints, it contains a lemon scent and coloring. True lemon smell without it being overpowering!!!
• The ingredients include almond oil, beeswax, lemon oil, cocoa butter, rosemary leaf oil, sunflower oil, etc. These are all amazing for your skin and do not irritate it in the absolute.
• My own discovery has suggested to me that this also helps with nail growth and strengthening. I have not been using any other new product besides this one, and my nails have been growing tremendously. My nails have not been cracking or splitting.
• Not only does this lemon butter cuticle cream smell good but it also makes your nails whiter, because that is a property of lemon juice. So, if your nails have gotten a bit yellow due to intense nail polishes, this product offers that great extra help.
• Just like the feel of butter, it is super soft and easy to use.
• Double long lasting power - One refers to the longevity of the product itself in the jar. I have been using this twice a day, for over a month and I just dented it yesterday. It will take a long time until you hit pan on it. The other meaning refers to the creme in your nails. Just like skin creams/lotions, your cuticle area and nail absorbs it after massaging for a few minutes. If you do this at night, you will notice a huge difference in your nails' softeness the next morning. Please, do make sure to wash your hands and clean the area under your nail with some kind of nail brush. If there is any dirt, it will stop the creme from getting directly to your nail, which is counterproductive. So clean hands and nails = easier access to nail bed and cuticles.
• It does not make your hands and nails feel oil-y after use. It can also be combined with hand cream/lotion, so you can treat your skin and your cuticles at the same time.
• Great friend to recovering nail bitting addicts, like me ;)

I would not hesitate to recommend this cuticle cream. Have you tried it before? Thumbs up or down for you? If YOU have any suggestions in this field, tell me; I'd love to hear it.

~ TheBeautyBebe

Makeup Removers Review

Hey there,

Don't you just hate it when you have all this gorgeous makeup on and at the end of your day, you have to go through the pain of taking it ALL off? Yep, that is how I feel. Secure bases for eyeshadow application, heavy eyeliner, multiple coats of mascara, foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighter, and why don't we throw some red lips in there as well... So much work, no wonder some people don't even take it off. But, that's bad! So you must work harder, right? Well, the answer is no. All you need to do is find the perfect makeup remover for your skin. I am one of those people who will try any new makeup removers on the market - gels, liquids, wet towels, etc. Some also cost more than anyone is willing to fork out of their pockets. Based on my experience, I have a few words of wisdom.

My favorite makeup remover is from Lancome, the famous Bi-Facial Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover, which comes in a liquid form in a very cute packaging. You get familiar with a blue bottle with a rose in it, so gorgeous. I love it because it removes everything. When you wash your face after removing your makeup, no marks of makeup are visible. You pay $26 for 4.2 oz of product - pretty expensive! I got mine at a Macy's Lancome counter. It can be hard to find, sometimes. And it does have an oil-y feel to it, so, I will not repurchase it.

Almay Oil-Free Makeup Remover Liquid - The company claims that it is America's #1 makeup remover brand. I love Almay's products because they are so eco-friendly and natural (for people with allergies) but this one disappointed me. It takes off a good part of my makeup but I have to soak many cotton balls to get the desired result. I feel I waste so much product by using this bottle. The liquid itself feels harsh on the skin half the time, as if it resists being put it contact with it. I found that it feels very water-y. I think it is worth a try because it only costs a few dollars at any drugstore, but when there are alternatives, skip this. I have not tried the towelettes though. Maybe I'll decide to do that soon.

Neutrogena Oil-Free eye makeup remover - Again, a liquid form. You can find it at any drugstore. I got mine at CVS; 5.5 oz. of product for $7.99, I believe. This stuff works! It takes off a good majority of my makeup (lukewarm water can do the rest of the work) and does not irritate my skin. It is so easy to use and glides onto your skin. I really would love to try the gel form of it, which comes with a great pump. Perhaps on my next trip to Target.

Towelettes - Neutrogena, Target brand, Garnier Frutis, etc. I personally do not prefer using them because they make the job so much harder. I love the feeling of a soft towel next to my skin, but when I have to scrub to get rid of mascara, I know I am in trouble. These generally do not dry out on me, and I always get less than a 50 count. I do the trick of turning them halway so that they all remain soaked in makeup remover. They tend to smell a lot better than liquids, which is a bonus in my opinion. If you are an experimenter like me, give them a try.

My mother is not much of a makeup wearer, but the one trick she showed me when I began wearing makeup is to use natural ingredients to remove everything. I tried many oils (coconut and almond, basically because I love the two). Last stop was - olive oil, the miracle! It works perfect and I know it is working with my skin, instead of against it. After using it, my skin will feel soft to the touch and clean. I always run to olive oil for removing makeup (especially in the last few months since I have not bought any makeup remover). I waited to run out of them all and have filled the bottles with olive oil, after cleaning them of course. If you have Extra Virgin Olive Oil available, use it. If not, I find that good quality olive oil does the trick just as fine. And the best part is, chances are you have it in your pantry! So when you run out of any makeup remover you use, grab that bottle and help yourself =)

So these have been my experiences, my lovelies. Granted, I have tried many more that I feel were not worth mentioning or it might have been a long time ago. I also have tons to try in the near future. If you have any suggestions for me or questions about any of the above, go ahead and ask them, that is what I am here for.

~ TheBeautyBebe

PS. Thanks to my first follower/subscriber for the suggestion for today's post. Thank you!

Skincare Product Review

Spotlight on: St. Ives Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer

This is my HolyGrail skincare product, that's how much I love it. It comes in a 10 oz/283 g jar that goes a long way. When you open it the first time, you see that it is filled up to the rim, so you get all that you pay for. I got mine a while ago at Walmart. I don't remember the exact price but it was somewhere around $5-$7. As you see, pretty inexpensive for the amount of moisturizer there is in it. I have used this for about two years now; I'm in my second jar. You can use your fingers to dig into this. I personally prefer using a foundation brush, since it can go deep down the jar when I am at that point. I don't like cream getting into my nails. But in the beginning of it, you can use your fingers for sure. The major bonus of this product, other than its good quality moisturizer, is that is has collagen in it which fills any fine lines. Now, granted, this product won't do any miracles like disappearing wrinkles. However, you skin will feel smooth as soon as you put it on. I use it in the morning (cover my whole face, do my eye makeup, and then my skin is ready for foundation etc without the need of a face primer) and at night (right before going to sleep). It won't leave your skin feeling or looking greasy and as it claims, it is for all skin types. It has natural ingredients and I have not found that it irritates my skin in any way. Nor has it dried/flaked it out. My skin is definitely smoother after using it. I do trust this moisturizer to keep my skin healthy looking. If you have extra dry skin, go ahead and use a generous size of it. For myself, I have found that a dime size works great. GO GET IT NOW! If you do not like it after my recommendation, just return it, haha and of course, tell me your opinion on this product.

~ TheBeautyBebe