I have been using electric razors since 1962. Most have been Norelcos. I purchased the Arcitec 5 months ago and stopped using it 2 months ago. The first week I was reasonably satisfied with the new razor and the closeness of the shave. Then I skipped a day of shaving and had a very difficult time getting the longer hairs to cut. I found that after two days I had to use a disposable razor to shave. The Arcitec won't shave long thin neck hair either, so I have to use the straight razor there as well. After the second week I found I had to scrub my face with the razor to get a good shave. After the forth week on that blade I could not get a good shave. I was cleaning the razors hair daily and washing the razor weekly. The instructions said to wash it regularly. I purchased a new blade and washed the razor every day. The trimmer would not cut nose or ear hair and it left the side burns so long that the regular razor cutting head could not trim them smooth. Now my side burns also required the use of  a different razor. After one month with the second blade, it also would not give a close shave. I purchased a third blade and for 3 weeks I got a decent shave but still with the above issues requiring the use of a straight razor. By the end of the third week on the third blade I was having trouble again getting a close shave. These blades were costing me more that one dollar a day to shave and giving a poor shave at the three week mark. I have since gone back to using disposable twin blade razors now.

 After reading some of the positive reviews; I don't understand why their experiences can be so radically different than mine. If I got a lemon ok, but I put three different heads on that Norelco and all had the same results. I don't have an unusually tough beard and have not ever had any problems like this with any of my other Norelcos. That's almost 40 years. One thing I can say is: over the years the time between blade replacements has gotten shorter. Its gone from 2 years down to 7 or 8 months for me. The older Norelco cut fine and the blades lasted more than a year.  I am very  disappointed in Norelco for charging so much for a piece of junk. I am offering to sell my 3 months old used Norelco Arcitec to any of those who have written those positive reviews cheap for $75. If you really like them so much how can you pass up a deal like that? I have only used Norelco for 40 years and have never tried Braun. Perhaps they have gone the same way as well. I don't know. I am retired now and won't pay one dollar a day to shave. Over the years there has been a steady decline in cycle time of the blade replacement and an increase in price. I have gone back to straight razors for awhile until I can find a better way.
 With such a diverse range of opinions on this item: how does one make a decision? 60 Day free trial sounds like the way to go. If I had done that I would not be writing this. [[ASIN:B000PKNPES Philips Norelco arcitec 1050 Men's Shaver]][[ASIN:B003V360NY Philips Norelco 1150x/40 SensoTouch 2d Electric Shaver, Metallic Blue]][[ASIN:B000VXJYCQ Philips Norelco Arcitec 1050 Rechargeable Cordless Razor + Accessory Kit]][[ASIN:B004AWDPEC Norelco/Philips Arcitec Rechargeable Men's Shaver with Jet Clean System]]


Firstly, I RARELY review products... because I'm lazy, what can I say.  HOWEVER, this product could not go without one.

Come along for the ride.

Recently, I lost a lot of hair due to anxiety and grief.  It was like adding insult to injury when finally I noticed how profound it really was.  I used to have very full, healthy hair and though I have highlights, I take very good care of it - heat protectants, salon shampoo/conditioner... you get the gist.  I had been using "It's a 10 Silk Express" thinking it had heat protectant properties like the regular "It's a 10" but nay nay!!  For 2-3 months I had been using a curling iron with no protectant!  However, since I don’t curl my hair often I’ve never seen this kind of breakage so what was going on?!  I knew the leave in wasn’t doing me any favors so I looked to my curling iron. I raise the clamp on it and noticed that it had burned completely through it's tourmaline coating underneath - in other words, the temperature control was jacked and getting way too hot. (FU Hosan curling iron that I bought on Amazon).  I never noticed because how often do you look underneath the clamp?  My nearly all one length hair down to the the middle of my back now had several pieces 3-4" long and some areas even less. To top it off, my hair was now incredibly dry and damaged.  To say I was devastated would be a MASSIVE understatement.

In an attempt at damage control I set about trying to find something that would tame the frizz, make my hair soft, and would be healthy for my scalp.  I will tell you I tried SEVERAL products and spent so much $$ in doing so only to have my fine hair feel weighed down or still a matted, dry mess.  Joico Defy Damage Mask, Redken, Olaplex... none of them helped.  Then I stumbled upon this product.  Truth be told, I wasn't looking for it.  I read a review online about a peppermint shampoo that was really good and would leave my hair feeling soft.  (They say peppermint can help with trying to grow hair as it invigorates the scalp and increases blood flow to the follicles.)  I was skeptical but was willing to give it a shot.  THEN, I see this as a "products you might also need" and I was like, oh heck, why not.

My shampoo and mask arrive and first thing, I'm in the shower trying them out.  Shampoo?  Awesome.  Mask?  UNFREAKINBELIEVABLE!  I was finally able to comb through my hair without a million snags.  OK... what?!  I let my air dry and let me tell you what, my hair is soooo soft!!  I no longer look like Medusa with all the various hair lengths and NO frizz!  This stuff is magic!  And when you compare it to all the other spendy crap I bought, this stuff easily blows them out of the water.... for so much less.  Cherry on top?  It's from a small business from TX!  YeeHaw!

I can't recommend it enough!  Sauce Beauty, you're the bees knees!  Don't go changin'!


You got here 1 of 2 ways - you are either into cyberpunk aesthetics, or you were searching for a specific scent. I was trying to track down vanillas and citrus scents, and came across Proto Alchemy, and they instantly got my attention. I am a dude. I am not a lumberjack, and I am not a suave, dapper, 3 piece suit wearing gentleman either. But every freaking beard oil hammers one of those two stereotypes home. It's really hard to tell if any of these companies are actually genuine, or just some faceless sub-brand marking up some garbage because having a nice beard is cool.

So I can tell you these guys (actually just this guy I think) are legit. Matte finish packaging, commissioned art from legit artists, and even a little bit of world building just for a beard oil. I am a designer - little details are important to me and can often speak to the quality of the actual product. And in this case it does, this  is some damn good beard oil.

The oils work well, providing light shaping and conditioning. The bottles dispense nicely - I like being able to easily tap out a couple drops which is all i need for a 3-4 inch beard. I've had similar droplet dispensers (I don't know what those are called) that were slower or didn't work as well.

I first bought Anti-Hero. I don't drink whiskey and don't smoke, but this smell is really something else. Sweet, vanilla & musk with something else special to it. It reminded me of the hotel elevator in Athens during my honeymoon, that was overwhelmed with some foreign, exotic cologne. That will help none of you, but regardless, I believe it will still be a scent that reminds you of something or somewhere, but you can't quite place it. It drove me crazy for a week before I figured it out, and that scent is something I have been trying to figure out for a good 7 years. It's unique, I love it, and I still can't explain it. I was finding excuses to use it more than I needed to, and quickly ordered the other 2 scents.

Botanist is awesome. It is so far beyond what I can explain - I've read reviews on plenty of colognes and then gave up when I realized even if I knew what those words people used meant, I'd still have no idea how it could smell. I can definitely buy into the botany idea behind this scent, there is an earthiness to it but it also leans sweet. Another scent I really haven't come across before.

Islander I was really hopeful for, but it smelled a little too generic cologney. Maybe it's the rum? My previous favorite beard oil was citrus + vanilla, and I think the vanilla really sells the other two proto-alchemy scents. I don't hate it, it's still wearable unlike some others I have had to get rid of immediately, but I won't reorder it - unlike Botany and Anti-Hero, which I am planning on stocking up on, right now. I'd hate for them to disappear forever.

If I ran any sort of men's store, barber shop, or just a place that sold cool doo-dads, I would absolutely stock these and most likely sell a ton. They smell great, they look super cool and premium, and they are unique. Sadly, I don't. If you do, try that out for me. Best I can do is give them as gifts for now (or just hoard them for myself).


I am finding SO many uses for Shiny Leaf's coconut and sweet almond oil! I do have some experience with coconut oil but this is my first time using sweet almond oil.  Thanks the labels on the bottles, reviews and internet searches, I'm finding SO many ways to use these oils...sometimes together, sometimes individually.

Because I have terribly dry, sensitive skin, my main goal was to see how one or both oils could help protect my skin, especially now that winter has arrived and my skin is REALLY taking a beating.  Both oils work well to hydrate and moisturize, so I mixed a few ounces of each in a mist bottle. After I bathe, I mist  a combo of the oils over my skin to help hydrate and moisturize. The oils absorb quickly and do not leave an oily/greasy look OR feel to my skin.  I'm already seeing a decrease in my dry skin/itchy red patches of skin. I experience NO discomfort whatsoever when misting these oils onto my sensitive skin.  Both oils also work wonders on hair by moisturizing, hydrating, improving hair texture/strength, stimulate hair growth /thicken hair, and nourish the scalp to prevent dry, itchy flakes. In addition to using my combo of oils after bathing, I also give my hair a spray or two with the mister and sure enough, I'm seeing less hair in the drain and on my hairbrush after brushing. My hair is soft, smooth and shiny WITHOUT looking or feeling oily/greasy from the oil combo.

I use the coconut oil (alone) to help remove makeup, under and around my eyes to soften and reduce fine lines, I rub a small amount into my scalp (as does my husband) to help stimulate hair growth, on the kid's faces after their baths to soften (especially in cold weather!), on my nail beds every couple of days and a light amount on any patches of eczema/red skin.  (It relieves the itching/burning and redness from eczema quickly!)

I use the sweet almond oil (alone) on  dark circles under my eyes, a SMALL amount on split ends in my hair, a drop on chapped lips, I'm just starting to tinker with it for aromatherapy purposes.  I recently learned that it can help fade scars so I've begun to rub some sweet almond oil into a scar on my finger to see what happens. If it helps, I'll then move on to a small facial scar I have. I'm also trying something on my own; just started doing this a few days ago.  I get nosebleeds every single day, at least once a day, throughout the winter when the heat is on in the house. This started when I was 2 years old, I'm now 49 so I've experienced this my entire life.  I now rub a small amount of sweet almond oil under my nostrils before bed.  Since starting this, I continue to have nosebleeds. Yesterday, I had only one and it involved just a few drops of blood. I didn't whip through numerous tissues like normal.  ONE tissue took care of it. (that's huge for me!) I have NO clue if its just a coincidence or if the sweet almond oil is helping in any way but I'm going to continue using it.

These oils are phenomenal! Both bottles are 16oz.  I love the fact that they have normal caps on them but pumps for each bottle are included as well.  The liquid of each is thinner oil than I expected, which I prefer.  Both absorb quickly. Neither has a scent.  I've found SO many uses for these oils, I can't wait to discover more. ( I'm SO happy with these oils, I recently purchased Shiny Leaf's biotin hair conditioner and cannot wait to try it! ) I find the price to be incredibly reasonable, especially since you're getting TWO bottles of oils! HIGHLY recommended!

*FYI...the mist bottle on the end in my photo is NOT included! I used one of my  own mist bottles to combine both oils.  You will get both bottles AND pumps that you see in my photo, NOT the mist sprayer!


Crest Whitestrips are one of the most popular among the store brand tooth whitening products. They were introduced to the public in 2001 and they have been satisfying customers ever since. They work by concentrating special whitening ingredients like peroxide directly against the teeth where they can penetrate the surface for a full thirty minutes. Repeated usage for fourteen days should result in significantly whiter teeth.

Crest Whitestrips claim that these strips can be worn and used any time and that, once in place, you can go on with your normal daily routine for 30 minutes while the strips have the opportunity to work. It is true that you can do what you want, but there are certain activities that are not easy to do with one of these strips in place. I'm one of those people who has a tendency to want to move my tongue around when a have some type of dental object against my teeth and more than once, I have accidentally pushed the strips out of place. The gel helps to hold them in place but they can still be moved with little effort. Also, if you start talking with a Whitestrip in place there is a chance that some of your words will come out a little funny- like someone who has had a little too much to drink. I have found that, for best results, I try to do nothing at all when wearing Crest Whitestrips. The best thing to do is read a book. The time goes by quickly and it makes it easy to forget the strips are in place.

Waiting for fourteen days is frustrating and it is possible that you may need a second treatment after the first, depending on how well you stick to your 30 minute per day schedule and how well the Whitestrips stayed in place. But the results should make you happy. At first I avoided Crest Whitestips because of the price and because of the product itself. Spreading liquid gel on the teeth seemed much simpler than having to wear an object against one's teeth. I didn't like the idea of hassling with strips so I avoided buying Crest Whitestrips and tried the liquid variety in its various forms first. I finally gave in and purchased Crest Whitestrips because I got tired of waiting for satisfactory results. And I did get good results with these strips. I followed the advice on the package and used the upper strips twice per day first, then the lower strips twice per day for the next seven days. This is a good idea because you can compare the shade of the top teeth with the bottom, right after the upper treatment is completed. I could see a significant difference as all those years of soda pop, coffee, tea, and other staining drinks were suddenly washed away.

Crest Whitestrips use the same chemicals that dentist's use to clean and whiten teeth, so they are safe if used as directed. They are designed to keep teeth white for six months after each fourteen day period of usage. They also come with a money back guarantee. In order to get the guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can get a full refund of the purchase price provided you have followed the correct procedure for a refund.

Crest Whitestrips work well, but like other over the counter whitening products, they only work on natural tooth enamel. They will not whiten dentures, caps, crowns, or other artificial dental material. If you have teeth with artificial surfaces that are badly stained, you will need to seek the help of a dentist or other professional to get rid of the problem.

Crest Whitestrips are a little more expensive than the liquid whitening formulas but Crest Whitestrips are also more effective. I am satisfied with Crest Whitestrips and I recommend buying a box for effective treatment of discolored teeth. They are not as thorough as the treatment provided by a dentist but all things considered, these strips are a good buy. They eliminate stains and return your teeth to a more youthful appearance in only two weeks if used as directed.


FULL ingredient list:
Organic Aloe Leaf Juice, Avocado Fruit Oil, Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Emulsifying Wax, Glycerin, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Stearic Acid, Vitamin E, Sunflower Seed Oil, Organic Neem Seed Oil, Organic Rosemary Leaf Extract, Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Rose Flower Water, Rosehip Seed Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Vitamin A Ester, Vitamin C Ester, Provitamin B5, Allantoin, Organic White Willow Bark Extract (Salix Alba), Organic Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, CBD

KEY Ingredients:
  * CBD: Formulated with 750mg of CBD; Acts as a powerful antioxidant that reduces free radical damage
  Rosehip Seed Oil: Moisturizes and brightens skin; Improves texture
  Carrot Seed Oil: Heals and balances skin; Address fine lines and wrinkles
  Provitamin B5: Stabilizes skin’s barrier and helps skin retain moisture

*"Research is mounting on how CBD helps our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) increase oil production in the pores and in turn drastically reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles"
(if this is accurate, then having naturally oilier skin is indeed one way to fend off lines and wrinkles. Oilier skin tends to age better. I have dry skin, but I have been moisturizing and protecting with SPF since my teens).

MY skin: Mid 40s, very clear, very fair, minimal/no lines, supple, leans dry, has Rosacea (non-acne, just flushing and redness from visible veins). My skin loves hydration, oils, thicker heavier products.

This product:
--stay fresh, pump style tube container (think of a toothpaste container with a pump)
-- thin, light, but rich lotion.
--smooth, glides on
--absorbs quickly, no lingering sheen or greasiness.
--plays well with other products (ie; toners, serums, SPF, make up)
--gentle, non irritating.
--skin nourishing ingredients
--no added fragrance; barely there naturally occurring scent.

When I use it: daytime after serum (if I use one) but before SPF.

Quite a range of experiences and preferences, but that make sense since we all have different skin and skin care needs. So for me, I find that it is almost TOO light for my needs. Here is what I do like: I like that I can easily pair it with other products as it doesn't seem to pill or roll.  I would never use this at night as it is just too light for me, but it has been fine for use in my morning skin care routine- after a serum and before a moisturizing SPF. I don't feel like it works as my only moisturizer, but I DO think it is worth a try. The ingredients are fabulous.  While it doesn't feel like it is drying, it doesn't give me that dewy oomph that my preferred products can provide. Maybe I need to use it for a longer duration (sometimes that happens.. something I use for awhile doesnt seem to be doing anything but I keep using it to use it up, and at some point I notice a noted improvement).

Despite it containing a lot of different nourishing oils, I would prefer it to feel and look a little oilier. Maybe over time? I am thinking this might be good for dehydrated oily skin, or normal to lightly dry skin. I am just guessing.

I would use it to hold in other hydrating products like a thin mask. Or MAYBE on days when I just want something on and I don't want to fuss.

Unexpectedly great for hands. Immediate softness. The backs of my hands feel super wonderful after applying this. The pump container makes it easy to dole out on the go. Would be great for keeping in a purse.

Since it is thin but rich as well as the ease of application makes it REALLY nice as a neck and chest cream. If this formula is supposed to increase skin oil over time, then having that added advantage applied to the neck (naturally not oil area) could be a game changer for those concerned with skin on the neck.

I think it is lovely, overall. 4 stars


Oops! I didn't realize when I ordered this that it says, "medium" in the product description, which is what I assume is the level of tint as this is a tad dark for my very fair skin. I don't see an option for any other tint level, so this might be it. Medium-- which appears rather dark and warm directly out from bottle, BUT after it is applied it seems to just blend in- albeit just a hint of color-- not opaque like a foundation. I am surprised it blended in as much as it does as my skin is quite fair & pink, with cool undertones. Still, I likely won't use this by itself. It blends in, but it gives me a slight tanned look, "a sun kissed glow".  Tells me that with sweat or uneven application I could have trouble with resulting look. My plan is to mix it in with one of my sunscreens that have a greater white cast..

This is a physical (ie mineral) sunscreen, using zinc oxide. Physical Sunscreens work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UV rays away from the skin (whereas chemical sunscreens absorb rays, converts them to heat, then releases). They are often referred to as physical blockers. The benefit of using zinc oxide is its strength in protecting your skin against the sun. It is one of the most effective sun protectors available, blocking out both short and long UVA rays and all UVB rays. Either type is great, and it depends on what works best with  your skin.

This product is rated as having a BROAD SPECTRUM sun protection factor of 31 (you want anything over 25). There are some other delicious, skin loving  ingredients contained in this product such as shea butter, jojoba, oilve oil, and vitamin e. It comes out thin, and applies smoothly. It provides a light sheen which you may or may not like. Not greasy. It absorbs well. I really like the multi action sunscreens. While I wear sunscreen all year round, and I have elaborate skin care routines.. I tend to keep it super simple in the summer. I tend to forgo my morning skin care ritual for just sunscreen (I figure I will be reapplying often, sweating it off, etc.. so why waste other skin care goodies when I can find a decent SPF product that will also moisturized my skin). So with this having ingredients that are good for my skin and help keep it moisturized, I feel better about keeping it so simple.

Again, I would like it better if the tint was a better match. That is on me that I didn't notice the "medium" in the description. And it also says that it gives skin a "sun kissed glow". If that is at all appealing to you, then give this a try. If your skin is anything darker or warmer than cool, fair skin.. then give this a try. There is NO WHITE cast, at all. If your skin is real oily, then this may be too much for you.. not sure. It feels goo on my normal to dry skin; seems to absorb. It doesn't feel heavy, and it doesn't feel like... sunscreen. It is light.

My skin: mid 40s, leans dry, semi sensitive, non-acne Rosacea (redness, visible veins), I avoid sun-- I always use SPF all year, and often wear a hat or visor. My favorite skin care is sunscreen. If I use nothing else, it is sunscreen that I keep in my routine. I go through a lot, and try a lot.. if I don't like it for my face & neck, then it gets used on rest of body. This is a new brand for me to try, and so far I like it (even though I have to tone it down by adding it to  one of my more white cast sunscreens.. OR go for the sun kissed glow).

I hope this helped . I will be back to update if I learn anything new, or think of anything else.


I am a makeup artist.  I am always finding ways to make cosmetics work for all sorts of uses to get the best look and bang for the buck.  This Luminating Bronzer has some surprises up its sleeve.

WHAT IS THIS LIKE?
COMPACT
This comes in a heavy cardboard compact with a strong cardboard hinge on it.  There is no mirror.  The pan inside has printed letters and design on it.  In this case, the color is number 2, the darker of the two in this collection.

WHAT COLOR IS THIS?
This bronzer is a unique color.  Instead of being the usual brown or orange color so many bronzers are, this one is a rose toned base which at first seems unusual.  If used on cooler toned skin, you will still see a luminzer effect but the undertone is more of a rose tan.

WHAT COLOR SKIN DID I USE THIS ON?
Right now, I tried this on two colors of skin.  One was translated into MAC foundation color as NC27- a tanned color which leans toward the cooler side, and NW25 which is a cooler lighter caucasian leaning color.

EFFECTS?
Things like this have a need for you to choose the right brush.  The wrong brush can make it look horrible.  The right brush can make it look like a million bucks.  When used with a STIPPLING brush (look that up to find out what that means), this bronzer provides the perfect luminescence and glow along with color.

You can see the cheekbones highlighted and see the spot of color, but it is subtle, and not overbearing.

If you use the dense fluffy brush like you might use to apply blush, the results border on ridiculous.  It is like you have smears of bright shimmer on and it is hard to blend in well.

WHAT OTHER USES?
Interestingly, I have both color 1 and 2 of this line of Sungasm bronzers.  When using this particular color 2 on the creases of the eyes, it provides a GORGEOUS natural look similar to the old J Lo type look or other natural based looks which in reality take a lot of makeup but they just don't look like it.

This put together with color 1 in this series, the two together make a great duo on the eyes.  It really is amazing.  It brings out the color of the eyes perfectly.  In fact, I use the lighter one on the upper cheekbones for highlight/bronzer and the darker number 2 under it and blend well.  The effect is subtle but beautiful.

HOW TO APPLY TO EYES
I have used good shadow brushes and my finger as well.  The idea is for medium to subtle color, use a tear drop shaped shadow brush.  For more intensity use a flat eye shadow brush on top of eye primer and blend once you have applied the other colors.  For a quick application, I have successfully used my fingers.

DOES IT BURN ON THE EYES?
I have a terrible time with products on my eyes.  They usually burn and give me trouble.  This bronzer did not do that.  If you are concerned, be sure to get a good eye primer that you are comfortable with and use that first on your eyes.

WHAT ABOUT DARKER SKIN TONES?
If you use this on darker skin tones, there is a good chance it could show up a bit on the ghostly side.  It has to be applied very lightly and blended well a little at a time to test the best depth if you want to try it.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Not only as a gorgeous rose based bronzer highlighter, but also as a contour or all over eye shadow, this color bronzer is a great price with good performance.  It is not the usual color for bronzers but it works on medium to lighter skin tones.

MY RATING
FIVE STARS.  This is a great multi purpose product for summer.  It doubles as bronzer and luminzer but also as a great eye shadow.


[[ASIN:B00VXEQ0WO Retinol 2.5% Cream From Majestic Pure for Face and Eye Area Will Nourish Your Skin, Potent Anti Aging Formula Reduces the Appearances of Wrinkles, Stretch Marks & Redness, 50ml]]

I purchased Majestic Pure Retinol Cream because I am always looking for something that will help give my skin a more youthful appearance. After all, no one wants to look older or tired. I try all kinds of skin care products and really work hard at keeping my skin in good shape, so I decided I'd give this a try.I was speaking to a friend of mine recently whose skin always looks gorgeous. I asked her what she did to look so good? She is considerably older than me, but has no wrinkling and very pretty skin. She told me that she visits a dermatologist regularly and that she uses a retinol cream and that she pays 60.00 for just a small tube, plus the cost of the doctor visit. Now I am not sure of the strength of the retinoI cream she is using is, and I noticed this is 2.5% so I think that's a pretty effective dosage.The product came in a 1.7 fluid ounce moisturizer. I noticed that the retinol moisturizer also had Vitamin E & B5, Green Tea, Jojoba Oil, Propolis and shea butter. So I thought about Vitamin A or retinol and what it does for the skin. Vitamin A stimulates and thickens the dermis where collagen, blood vessels and elastin are thereby reducing wrinkles and increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Vitamin A actually expands the deposit of collagen in the skin; therefore slowing down the normal aging breakdown of your collagen and elastin. I've also read when studying skin care (and I really researched it) that Vitamin A increases blood flow and reduces the symptoms of rosacea, helps heal wounds more quickly, repairs cells in the skin and optimizes UV protection, exfoliates to make the skin more smooth, supple and even and even decreases melanin granules reducing brown spots and pigmentation. Vitamin A decreases sebum (oil) thereby treating acne very well and even helps with the eradication of precancerous lesions of the skin and improves hydration. Skins miracle healer!My mother has always used vitamin E. She is in her 70's and still has beautiful skin and is very selective about what she puts on her skin. I've read that Vitamin E has been used in skincare for so long that it sometimes gets passed over for newer, more exotic-sounding ingredients that are sometimes advertised or added to products. But Vitamin E is a highly beneficial ingredient, a strong defense against free radicals and the damage the environment does to the skin. When it’s combined with other antioxidants, It is an exceptional line of defense for your skin.The product is very good quality with no redness, burning itching or negative side effects. It doesn't leave your face shiny or greasy and seems to absorb within just a couple of minutes. I notice an immediate firming of the skin but no discomfort or a feeling of being too tight. There is no build up or product residue. This product has a  nice smell, light and soothing, and is quite easy to use. It's good that the items come in a pump, because exposure to air effects good quality ingredients. A little goes a long way, and the product seems to be lasting a good long time. I use many of Majestic Pure products, and I have had excellent luck with them all and no issues. This moisturizer already is reducing fine line and wrinkles in my skin. It really helps to keep down oiliness and shine off my face. I use this moisturizer on clean skin and I let it soak in, and use under the the throat and jaw line for added firmness. While I am applying my eye makeup, I let the cream soak in. This anti aging skin cream keeps your skin supple and moisturized. So far no complaints or problems and all the products I've tried and it works well for me. I am not affiliated with any supplier or manufacturer of goods.


We are all searching for the fountain of youth! Okay I don't want to look old and wrinkled!  The description very much interested me so I decided I was ready to try it here!!  I've never tried anything from the dead sea and when I read that the product was made within a few miles of the Dead Sea, with no mineral degradation during transport.  I was anxious to give it a try. I try all sorts of things to keep that youthful glow of the skin but I also am selective about what I apply to my skin. Everything was natural here though, and It is not tested on animals, contains NO Alcohol, Sulfate or Parabens and is non- toxic.

The product came in a 1.1 fluid ounce moisturizing serum. This product contains Glycerin and essential Dead Sea Minerals, known for their exceptional hydroscopic attributes and as a source of beautifying minerals. I read that in the description and thought what in the world is hydroscopic...so I looked it up.  "Hygroscopy (etymology and pronunciation) is the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. This is achieved through either absorption or adsorption with the absorbing or adsorbing substance becoming physically changed somewhat." They perform synergistically (which means together with) Squalane, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil and Wheat Protein to help increase the skin's moister levels and diminish water loss for a more vital and glowing overall look. After reading that in the description and researching what some of the terms meant, I decided to put the product to the test.  I have aging sking that is somewhat problematic with large pores and a few minor areas of sagging skin.  I read clearly in the description that Genesea Perfecting Serum helps to disapate the signs of skin aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagginess and that you would see effects of the serum in five minutes.

I've been using the serum for a good while now sometimes under makeup and every night before going to bed at night on clean dry skin. The serum is of excellent quality with no redness, burning itching or negative side effects. It doesn't react against or burn the skin. I don't have a problem with it leaving my face greasy or shiny and it quickly absorbs into the skin within just a couple of minutes. I notice an immediate firming and suppleness of the skin but no discomfort or a feeling of being too taut. There is no build up or product residue left on the skin at all. This product has a nice smell, light and kind of floral smelling,  but no bad smell at all.  It is quite easy to use with an pump dispenser for the serum. I always prefer a pump dispenser as it keeps the integrity of the product by keeping air and contaminants out.  A little of the serum goes a long way, and the product is lasting a good long time.

This product really hydrates my skin and make it look nice and firm almost immediately. This serum  really works and is reducing wrinkles and fine lines I have starting in my skin. The skin on my face looks so much more supple.  It also seems to keep down oiliness and shine off my face. My skin also looks clearer with less break outs and skin problems. I use the serum on clean skin of the face and I let it soak in. I also add the serum all over my face, and under the the throat and jaw line for added firmness and last I add a good moisturizing cream. While I am applying my eye makeup, I let the serums and cream soak in. The face serum contains ingredient that keep your skin smooth and moisturized.

It seems to me that the manufacturers of the product have researched and thought out the effects of this product and have provided a great combination of products to promote beautiful skin. So far no complaints or problems and all the products I've tried appear to be working very well for me.


For many years I've always straightened my hair because I cannot seem to get the hang of using curling irons to make pretty spiral curls. Wearing the same hairstyle all the time with long hair can get a bit boring so I decided to search on Amazon for styling tools that are easy to use. I initially ordered the [[ASIN:B003FBI9LS Bed Head Deep Waver]] and really loved the results so much that I also purchased this Rock 'n' Roller styling iron, which I affectionately call my "bubble curler."

The Bed Head Rock 'n' Roller Ceramic Styling Iron comes with the iron itself along with a black protective glove to protect your hand from the heat of this iron since there is no clamp. The iron measures almost 15 inches in length, with the heating barrel measuring about 5 3/4 inches. The balls measure about one inch in diameter. The cord measures almost six feet so there is plenty of length to move around with it. The iron has a black ball at the top so you can hold it while using it, a safety stand that works well, an on/off switch, a temperature dial that allows you to choose among the low, medium, and high settings as well as the temperatures in between all of them, and a swivel cord so you can easily move the iron around as you use it. I found that it heats up quickly and cools off rapidly as well in case you need to pack it up in your suitcase soon after using it. The glove fits well but I didn't end up using it since it feels a bit awkward to use while trying to grip strands of hair so I took a chance and kept my hand bare, with no problems as long as I styled my hair in front of a mirror so I could watch closely what I was doing.

I found this styling iron a bit difficult to use at first but it gets easier with practice. I just winged it and have included some pictures of my end result. There is a chart in the instructions as to what heat setting is most likely appropriate for your hair type but they recommend you start with the lowest setting and increase the heat as needed. I have wavy to medium hair so I started off using the low setting but ended up using the medium setting. I have long hair and it was fairly simple to wrap my hair around the barrel. When I got toward the end of the strands of hair, I carefully wrap them around the barrel, holding my fingers as close as I can to the styling iron without actually touching it. Then I roll the styling iron towards my head as close as I can so my hair gets curled as much as possible. I hold my hair in that position for about 40 seconds and then release it and curl my whole head. It probably took about a half hour to style all of my hair and then I finished by spraying it with hairspray. I didn't add any product to my hair before I started although you probably could if your hair works better that way.

Overall, I am happy with this styling iron and really like the end result. Hopefully it will get easier to use with time. I found it a bit difficult to use because, without having a clamp on the iron, I had to hold both arms up in the air and my muscles got tired pretty quickly. I'm in fairly good shape but perhaps this will get easier with time. I actually prefer the [[ASIN:B003FBI9LS Bed Head Deep Waver]] because I feel it's easier to use and I love the beach waves I get from it so I will most likely use that one more but this one is still good to have. If you want spiral curls, I'd purchase the Rock 'n' Roller Styling Iron but if you prefer beach waves, I'd purchase the Deep Waver. The price is just what I wanted to spend and I like the fact that I can have more hairstyles than just straightened hair! I recommend purchasing this styling iron if you want to add some variety to your hairstyle and aren't comfortable using a regular curling iron to get spiral curls.


Some quick thoughts on this model specifically:
* Removes smaller hairs (0.5mm) than older models, so you can be more aggressive as stray hairs start to grow back
* The "massagers" on the epilation head really do help
* You can use it dry or completely-wet, but not damp (e.g., right after the shower won't work)... and I must say that using it under running water dramatically reduces any discomfort, although it's a bit harder to notice stray hairs
* You can't use it while plugged in (that would be a serious safety hazard in the shower!) but it means that whenever the battery eventually stops holding a charge, you'll have to toss the unit)
* I wish this included a trimming head like other models, for the cases when you have longer hairs you want to attack (they have to be 7 mm or shorter before this will really pull them out)
* This doesn't include an attachment for facial hair like some do (which is OK)... just make sure that your epilator is clean if you're going to use it on your face, because otherwise it will make you break out
* The small spotlight on the unit makes it much easier to see hairs you may have missed
* The exfoliating brush is a nice touch, because epilating frequently leads to ingrown hairs. It says to use it a day or two before epilating, and it's super-gentle... almost feels like it's not doing anything, but I found it's more effective and more comfortable (if more slow) than just using a loofah. The "wait 2 days" advice is good because otherwise your skin gets sensitive

And some thoughts on epilation in general:
* This seems obvious, but I have to say it: it only hurts when a hair is being removed. This means that the first time you epilate, it's very uncomfortable. But since only a small percentage of the hair grows back before you epilate again (assuming you do it at least once every 3 months!), the subsequent touch-ups really aren't bad at all, especially on your legs. (Underarms are less comfortable, and bikini area even less so. Face is also quite sensitive, though that probably varies by person, depending on how much tweezing you normally do.)
* The first time you epilate, your legs will be unbelievably smooth. But hair grows back at different rates, so after a month or so of epilating (maybe one time each week), you'll have tiny hairs here and there, that are starting to grow back but are still too small to get. It's less of an issue with this epilator than others, and the hairs aren't really visible. So if you think someone's going to be touching your legs, then shave :-D but otherwise life is much easier if you just epilate once a week or so. Then if you don't bother doing anything for a month or so, you'll have a few stray hairs here and there, but nothing like someone who shaves regularly and then skips a month (or even a week... or even 3 days). Visible stubble is entirely a thing of the past.
* Remember that the exfoliation is important to prevent ingrown hairs (just little bumps on your legs--mine don't turn red). But if you wax, or if you age ;) you'll have to do that anyway. And this unit's exfoliator is more gentle than a loofah
* And how could I forget the #1 reason to epilate: no more underarm bumps. You know, the ones that you ALWAYS have, despite a million products on the market that say they'll banish them but don't? Sometimes when you epilate, your skin will be red for 30-90 seconds afterward, but then it fades. So NO MORE BUMPS. That alone is reason enough to own an epilator, IMO :)  This also helps with bikini-area bumps, but I find in those cases that the redness can take several hours to fade, so it's fantastic to use the day before swimming but would not be a good choice immediately before pool time


My teenage daughter loves the Makeup Blender Sponge Set - 4 Pack Latex Free Q-Soft Makeup Beauty Foundation Blending Sponge Flawless Smooth Brush for Liquid Foundation BB Creams Powders Concealer (4 Pack) and let me say that is saying a lot because she is very picky. What does she love about the blenders? The shape, variety, versatility, and texture.

About the product
• UPDATED INNOVATIVE DESIGN - The FRESHME's Gorgeous Beauty Sponge combines high-tech materials with updated design to help you create a pixel-perfect look. With 4 elegant color, these Q-soft beauty sponges were uniquely created to fit in the palm of your hand for seamless blending. Every sponge is non-disposable, high-definition cosmetic blending applicator, making it a great choice from amateurs to pros. It's easy to optimize your beauty routine by using this multifunctional makeup sponge.
• Q-SOFT BOUNCY LATEX-FREE - Made from non-latex sponge to reduce allergies, this makeup sponge is 100% Vegan and Cruelty free. This blending sponge is bouncy, Q-soft and smooth, giving your skin a flawless and natural looking make up. It can also avoid the waste of cosmetics because the makeup product sits on top of the sponge rather than being absorbed. Minimal absorption with maximum coverage and made to last! Say goodbye to the cakey or streaky finish with FRESHME'S Q-soft beauty sponge.
• VERSATILE USAGE - This miracle beauty sponge works well with all makeup formulations, including liquids, powders, minerals, and even BB and CC creams. It provides streak-free coverage with faster application than with brushes or fingers. Once wet, it doubles in size and the wetness can help you get a dewy, sheer finish. It also works great to tap on cream highlighter atop the cheekbones, brow bones, and bridge of the nose. It is the best blending sponge applicator tool you'll ever need.
• IN-1 MULTI-PURPOSE SPONGE - Each part of these 4 unique-shaped sponge has a very specific purpose. Those sponge have rounded sides to blend large areas of the face with a repeated dabbing or stippling motion. Meanwhile, the precision tip covers blemishes and imperfections, and the flat edge which defines contours around the eyes and nose is like a detailer for the small areas, leaving you with a complexion that's smooth, enhanced and gorgeous! The slice of the sponge makes it a multi-use tool！
• PACKAGE INCLUDE - This set of Q-soft blending sponge has 4 sponges with different colors and shapes. Each sponge is purposely sliced to meet different application needs. You can get a wine red sponge with a slice on the tip side and a slice on the bottom, an orange sponge with a tilted slice on the bottom, a brown sponge with a tilted slice on the bottom and a red sponge with a slice on the side of the pointed tip. Every sponge has a shape that fits comfortably in your hand.

Product description
Size:4 Pack
FRESHME - Making Beauty Easier！

You could be using the best foundation inthe world,
but without the right tools to put it on,
it could still end up looking too cakey, too streaky, or just plain mesh.

If you're someone who spends extra time polishing your complexion,
FRESHME's beauty sponge is a great all-in-one tool that helps you do just that.

It's pretty much unanimous among beauty influencers that a good sponge is the absolute number one must-have makeup tool.

------ FRESHME Makeup Blender Applicator------

Made from Non-latex sponge
Provides a smooth, flawless makeupapplication.
Easy to clean with mild soap and water.
Ideal for all powder, cream and liquid makeup products.
100% Vegan and Cruelty-free material used.
Package includes 4 beauty sponge withunique shape and color
Color: wine red, orange, brown and red

How To Use in Wet:
Dip in water and squeeze
Squeeze out the excess liquid
Dip into your favorite makeup
Bounce it across your face and blend with apatting motion

How To Clean:
Hand wash in gentle soap and warm water
Rinse and let air dry

FRESHME FLAWLESS HIGHLIGHT & CONTOUR BEAUTY SPONGE
HELPS LOOK YOUR BEST EVERY DAY!


These are 20" extensions, and I usually order 14" or 16". 20" is on the long side and I will be trimming the length for my taste and toning the hair as well. When I order next I'll be ordering the shorter hair.  The weight of the hair for 20 pieces, is 50grams, so for each longer strand you have a finer tape in weft. With the shorter lengths you get a little more fullness in other words but typically the good brands still make sure they are clear about the weight of the hair you get in grams. My hair is so fine that one bundle of 20 nearly is enough, but I buy 2 sets and end up using 4 rows of about 6 extensions each then complete the look with a topper because my crown is so thin the extensions and scalp shows. I'll be toning these extensions but this is how they look as they came, with no color correction. B 8-18-60. Which is usually the color I order, but this is better. This color matches my hair better than the brand I have been using.

I do a single weft application using a single sided tape to finish the back side of the weft and seal the tape. You must seal the backside of the tape or the weft will fall out, or make a mess of your hair. Many people need 4 or more sets to do a full head of hair. Some people with thicker and stronger hair will use two full wefts back to back and will not need the single sided tape. There are you tube videos about DIY application of tape in extensions. There are many steps and I'm skipping most of it. It's not that hard and you'll enjoy the convenience and savings by doing this yourself. Your biggest challenge is finding good hair and good tapes. This time used Glam single sided tapes and that worked great. expensive but good and you get 36 in the package. I use walker double sided tapes, they come in packages of 120 and have worked for me but they are stiff. This brand has tapes, and I'll be checking out their tapes soon.  I will have to update to let you know how they last and how easy or difficult they are to remove. Typically my tape in hair lasts about 6 weeks and then due to growth there is a need to take them out and put them back in again, moving them up closer to the scalp. 6 to 8 weeks is typically when you go to the salon to get cut and root touch ups too. This isn't really about hold or the extensions coming out, although some may come out. This is about limiting damage to the hair and just keeping the connection point closer to the scalp. They feel good, the hair quality seems great. There is far less red in this hair than typical of the dark blonds or ash blond roots.  This color combination is good. The description says silky straight but I prefer some body wave, and as you can see when you wet this hair there is a little natural wave that comes out. That's perfect. I've offered plenty of photos. The kit that the hair came with is nice too. Some double sided tapes to refresh your weft after you clean them in 6 weeks or so.  To remove the wefts I typically just stick my finger nail between the two layers of tape and put a drop or two with a dropper of alcohol 91 percent will work but 99 is better. This usually works to safely loosen the glue bond and remove the hair. I tried the oil based removers and it just complicates things. The best removers are mostly alcohol. I'll update this review in 6 to 8 weeks. For now, I'd recommend these extension for the hair and weft quality and accuracy of color and weight.  Good value. 5 starts. I hope they keep this up.


Just bought my 2nd pack of 3 tubes so I won’t run out anytime soon… this is a MIRACLE product for severely chapped lips, and it’s safe for sensitive skin!

I have rosacea, and my skin is extremely sensitive. I’ve had to stop wearing cosmetics, and my skin routine has felt like a part time job. I also have several allergies, and the antihistamines I have to take make my skin/lips even more dry. I’ve apparently become overly sensitized to ingredients in 95%+ of commercial lip balm products, “natural” ingredients/products. No matter how much water I drink, very healthy diet, hyaluronic acid supplements & topical hyaluronic acid + occlusives, running a humidifier, staying indoors, etc., nothing has helped the severe, painful peeling of my lips for the past 3-4 years. It’s been embarrassing and has made talking, eating and drinking an uncomfortable and painful.

Everything I tried seemed to make this even worse, so I eventually gave up on lip balm. I tried “nothing,” (just to see if I actually needed lip balm- that was a mistake!). I resorted to trying single ingredient options, just to help identify what the problem ingredient might be: testing by applying only straight argan, olive, safflower or squalane oils (messy, shiny, and doesn’t last without an occlusive layer added on top), straight manuka honey (messy, sticky, expensive and only made me want to lick my lips all day lol). Made my own manuka honey, argan oil and beeswax product (worked pretty well but oh so messy, time consuming to make).

Finally gave up on that and was only able to use Vanicream ointment (dermatologist recommended and similar to Vaseline but without the petrochemical odor- I can’t use products like Vaseline or Aquaphor FWIW). But even that wasn’t working well because i needed to be SO careful not to apply too much, or the ointment would eventually  migrate onto my face (usually while sleeping), which would cause rosacea flares (heavy occlusives seal in moisture but can also trap in just enough heat to cause a rosacea flare).

But that messy solution that only stopped **some** of the peeling temporarily, and never resolved the issue entirely. Even applying every hour on the hour didn’t make much of a difference. My lips were still chapped feeling/peeling every day, just slightly less chapped.

But THIS STUFF IS WHAT ALL LIP BALMS ARE MEANT TO BE! I am not exaggerating when I say that within an hour or so after applying this for the first time, I noticed my lips didn’t feel rough any longer… for the first time in YEARS!!! Weird, right?!! I didn’t believe it could be possible at first, but it’s truly  like I’ve never had chapped, peeling lips. Miracle in a tube!

This must be what Goldilocks looks for when her lips are chapped: It doesn’t burn. It doesn’t sting. It doesn’t taste weird. It’s not too shiny or greasy feeling. It just makes my lips feel smooth and soft. You can faintly taste the elderberry/manuka honey when applying but it doesn’t linger. It’s not overpowering or flavorful enough to make you inadvertently lick your lips, which I always seem to do with “yummy” lip balm products.

It just works. My grad school student son also loves it for the same reasons. It just makes your lips feel and look like lips are supposed to feel and look like. It’s long lasting, and when it does eventually lwear off, you won’t get that “rebound dryness” you might get from products like Eos, Chap-Stick and Burt’s Bees. It’s just SO perfect!!!


This is the fourth electric toothbrush I've owned in 7-8 years, and is by far my favorite.

I did love my Interplak brushes, which came recommended by my dentist as having the best cleaning action, but they were not durable (hence "brushes" and not "brush"). They say the key to getting an Interplak to last is to not use toothpaste, just dip the brush head into some Listerine. Sorry, but for me that wasn't a satisfying brushing experience.

After two Interplaks died, I moved on to Sonicare. That brush is more durable. My husband is still using it. But when I went to the dentist and told the hygienist who cleaned my teeth that I used a Sonicare, she said that must be the reason my gums were bleeding. In fact, she said pretty much every patient she sees that has bleeding gums is using a Sonicare. I don't think she means that no one can clean their teeth successfully with that brand of brush, but apparently it fails a lot of people.

I did find the Sonicare to be a very tough toothbrush to use because of what I'll call "the splatter factor." I couldn't brush some areas of my mouth very thoroughly without spraying toothpaste everywhere. I can't count the number of times I had to change my shirt after brushing in the morning. Because it was difficult to maneuver, I probably didn't brush my gums the way I should have.

So, my dentist recommended a Braun / Oral B brush. Initially, they recommended a brush that cost more than $100. It had all kinds of bells and whistles, including a digital display that you could affix to your mirror which would tell you how well you were brushing. I decided to first try the Braun technology with this super-affordable model, partly because of my experience changing brushes over the years, and partly because the Oral B web site claimed the exact same plaque removing power (I think 97 percent) for every single brush they offer, regardless of price.

This model has absolutely NO bells or whistles. It doesn't even have the standard LED light on the handle to show you when it's recharging. It just has one button that turns it on and off. That's all I need.

A couple of key differences between the Sonicare and the Oral B brushes:

1) With this Oral B brush, I can use REAL toothpaste.

2) The entire brush head rotates, not the individual brushes. For me, this is more comfortable. It also takes the splatter factor down to about zero.

3) Both brushes have a 2-minute timer, but whereas the Sonicare shuts off after two minutes, this Oral B brush gives a pulsing signal at two minutes and then keeps going. For me personally, this is preferred, because I rarely finish brushing in the two minutes allotted. When I'm done, I hit the power button.

4) The standard brush head is smaller than some. That is by design -- you brush one tooth at a time rather than sweeping the brush across your teeth -- but some might prefer something with more coverage.

It's been several months. My gums are healthier and the battery is going strong. I just bought an additional Vitality brush for my preschool-age son, who's finding it very manageable.

My one real complaint is the same one I have had about every electric toothbrush I've owned, which is that you have to remove the brush head  and rinse off the brush mechanism after each use. If you don't, you get a raunchy build-up in that area. I guess there must be something that requires the brushes to be engineered this way, since it's the way all the manufacturers make them. Just be aware of this as you care for your brush.

BOTTOM LINE: You aren't going to beat the value of this brush. It's outstanding technology at a terrific price (and the Amazon price is $3-5 less than what you'll find at retailers).


This is my review of the Ifill K-Cup user fill system.  All in all, the system delivers a steady clean means of filling K-Cup bodies with coffee.  Below I will compare my experience with 4 different scenarios for drinking coffee from a K-Cup system

1. A standard dark roast K-cup cartridge.  This was a non-Keurig brand that contained 10.76 grams of coffee.  The coffee was of reasonable flavor, very convenient to use, and with no mess to make, the capsule is too complicated to recycle. Most expensive system to use $0.50 to more than $1.00 per serving.
2. Re-usable Echo Cup Screen.  -  User filled screen capsule.  Somewhat messy to fill, brews reasonable tasting coffee, but will leave a little sediment of ground in your cup.  Holds 10.20 grams of coffee. The system is a pain to clean out.  Least expensive system as the screen cup may be reused many times over.
3. Re-usable Echo Cup Screen with added paper filter – User filled screen capsule with disposable paper filter that fits inside of the plastic screen capsule.  Takes a while to get the hang of fitting the filter into the capsule.  The system holds a little less coffee at 10.06 grams of coffee. The drinkable coffee produced has very little sediment in your cup.  This system is a little bit easier to clean up, but not much.  The filter cup removes fairly easily, but there is still a fair amount of rinsing of the plastic capsule to get rid of the coffee grounds that are on the top of the capsule lid.  Slightly more expensive due to having to purchase filters.
4. The IFill Cup -  The is a user fillable cup single use system.  The cup has a preinstalled filter that does well producing sediment free coffee.  The attached lid is made of foil that is supported by a plastic ring that is hinged to the IFill cup body.  Each lid has a very effective gummy seal that works well during the brewing process to keep coffee ground contained within the IFill Cup. After filling with grounds, the caps stay sealed to the cup body and seem to be shelf stable for more than a week.  So just fill a bunch in one session and you off to caffeine heaven for another week.  There is some potential mess when originally filling new cups, but the ability to simple toss the used cup without any mess is a great plus.  A lightly filled cup held 10.86 grams of coffee.  At this fill there seem to be very few leaks when the brew process is working.  A very densely packed and somewhat overfilled cup held 14.72 grams.  In this situation there was some leaking from the cup lid at the water insertion point, but this cup was fill to the point of abuse.  I believe this system is more expensive than using an Echo Cup but is much less hassle to use.  The system is less expensive than using factory filled K-cups.  So if you want to know what is in your KCup every morning, and don’t mind setting down and filling new capsules with coffee every once in a while – this is your system!

Can you reuse an IFIll cup?  I guess you could, but I am not sure that hassle of cleaning out, drying, and hoping that the single use gum seal would work well would be worth the bother.

Can you recycle the product?  The company says yes, in reality I would guess that being most other KCup devices are not recyclable when the cup finally gets to the recycle guy for sorting, they are going to “Think KCup” and sort it directly into the trash.

All in all, the IFill seems to be a great user fill KCup system.  Nice flavor from your own beans, easy setup, use and disposal of the product.  – I will be reordering more soon!


SUMMARY:
I found these blades to be a much lower cost, good-excellent quality alternative to stock Gillette blades.

MAINTENANCE?  Note, however, I always perform proper cleaning maintenance after each shave.  To wit: I brush off the blades using the tooth brush bristles to get in between the blades, then blow on it a few times to clear off most of any remaining water droplets.  This greatly retards oxidation and corrosion of the blade edges.  For anyone groaning right now, that "whole big process" takes all of 10 seconds!  That's fast by any measure.

LIFE:
Using the above standard methodology of use, I got just as long a use per blade as stock Gillette's ... roughly 2 months per blade ..  before there is a any hint of snagging, rather than cutting, my hairs.

FEEL:
I found the slightly larger size of the blade head felt a bit odd but only on the very 1st shave.  It soon felt good, even reassuring, as it provided a broader surface to go over my skin.

CUTS?
One reviewer said they cut him easily.  I, too, have been cut, but it was by the stock Gillette blades. Frankly, it's going to happen with any blade ... eventually.  Some units of any make blades will be slightly off on rare occasion or have inconsistent edges than can cut or scratch.  Then, there's the matter of user technique.

After 4-5 decades on this earth, a shaver should get a sense of their skin hairs, how they slant, how sensitive the skin is underneath, and, most importantly, how tough their skin has become.  These things are even more critical for women who are forced to shave areas infinitely more sensitive than those of men. Mature adults usually have tougher skin from loss of collagen, sun degradation, and for simply having shaved many 1,000's of times.  Younger shavers tend to have sensitive skin and are less attuned to the proper angles at which to pull the shaver to deal with their skin profile.

I took the above side trip to highlight that for some, the minutest difference in blades could cause some shavers to cut themselves - not necessarily due to blade defects or construction style but, perhaps, simply because they have not spent as much time adapting their technique to a new blade as they did to their previous one.  That is, days or weeks versus many years!  Remember how many times new shavers cut themselves when 1st shaving?  The same experiential curve applies to those changing blade models - not matter their age or shaving experience level.

VALUE:
So far, for me, these low cost blades are a tremendous value. Plus I bought a 5 pack for $0.97 on a 1-time CVS sale. Then bought another at the regular (way cheaper than OEM) price of $16 for 10.  So, I'm good for another 1.25 years at 2 months per blade.

COST PER SHAVE:
Excluding the clearance price I got on a 5-pack, the $16 price for 10 = $1.60 each.  With a mean time to replacement of 2 months (for me), that equates to $1.60 / 60 days = $0.0267 cents per shave or roughly $0.81 / month or $9.74 / year.

BLADE AGING PROFILE:
The "newness" feeling and sharpness wore off at about the same rate as do my Gillette blades.
To wit: 1-5 shaves = feels like new using 2-3 strokes/pass
  5-20 = 3-4 strokes/pass
20-40 = 4-5 strokes/pass
40-60 = 5-6 strokes/pass
Only then do I toss and replace unless, of course, I come upon a blade that seems to have aged quicker for whatever reason.

CONCLUSION:
They look, feel, and age not much differently than Gillette blades and cost 50-75% less.  Look for CVS in-store at your local branch then check Amazon to ensure you find the lowest cost.


If you've been reading any of the reviews here lately you will know the 8000 series foil/cutterblock combo has been replaced with a new combo now called the series 5 Combi 51S.  You will receive this replacement even if the picture on the product page shows "8000 series" as it has been discontinued for over a year.  Braun merged the replacement for the 8000 series (Activator) with the 360 Complete.  This new foil/cutterblock is garbage!  The cutterblock has wide blades, as opposed to the thinner blades of the original 8000 series, which pull your stubble and take MANY passes over your face to shave.  They are prone to premature failure and I have gone through 3(THREE) of these in 6 months!  (I bought one and two were free through Braun after complaining).  All the free replacements in the world weren't making the shaving experience any better.  I longed for the days when my Activator 8595 cut smooth, close, and comfortably.  After all, this shaver had been my favorite for 6 years so far!  I was very close to dumping the whole shaver and moving on when I happened across a reviewer on Amazon who suggested using the 7000 series replacement foil/cutterblock in his review.  It worked PERFECTLY!  The 7000 series replacement looks just like the much coveted original on my 8595 Activator - down to the thinner cutting blades!  It didn't pull my stubble, it cut smooth as butter, and was comfortable: JUST LIKE NEW!  I'd like to thank the original reviewer (James L. Walls "sixtoe") for the very good advice.

***Update: August 10th, 2011***
I hope people are happy with the replacement I recommended.  I sure am!  I just wanted to update the product link for the better replacement: [[ASIN:B001VH6F9G Braun Series 3 Combi 30B Foil and Cutter Replacement Pack (Formerly 4700,7000)]]

***Update: January 13, 2013***
Unfortunately, the Braun 30B Foil and Cutter Replacement Pack is now the same terrible cutter block design as the series 5 (8000 replacement).  I ordered another 30B to replace the one I bought 2.5 years ago and was highly disappointed when the package came.  I will have to do some research to see if any of Braun's other replacements are the good, narrow blade versions.  I have read some reports that the narrow cutting block is available, but without the foil.  If I cannot find a narrow blade replacement I am going to throw in the towel after 8 years of service from this shaver.  Shame on Braun for putting out those ill performing wide blade cutting blocks.  Terrible...

***Update: January 18, 2013***

It appears the highly elusive narrow blade cutter block can be found on the 31S replacement pack.  The unfortunate news is the included foil is not compatible.  Therefore, a replacement foil for the 8000 series/Activator/7000 series/360 Complete would be needed in conjunction with the quality cutter block effectively doubling your cost because it is difficult to find the foil sold by itself.  This would be a combined expense of roughly $55-$60 in order to bring your shaver back to the "like new" shave we all want.  Remember - the "direct" replacement combo for this shaver series will leave you highly disappointed due to the WIDE cutter block which pulls hair and easily nicks skin.  Another facet to influence your decision in spending $60 to refresh your Braun is many of these shavers - due to their age - are in need of new motors and potentially batteries.  The motors gradually slow down with time and I noticed a HUGE difference when I replaced mine 2 years ago.  Now, these motors are almost impossible to find at this point and for me, personally, it is getting to the point of diminished returns.  I hope this post helps you in both informing you of the available narrow cutter block, but also in weighing your decision in either keeping your Braun chugging along or researching a new alternative.


These are perfect for doing your own Gel nails at home. They were really, really easy to apply and seem strong. So far so good. I am on day 3 with these Guards under my OPI Gelcolor and excited about them. YAY! no more damaged nails!  I didn’t have to use OPI bondAid with them. I only used the nail Guard on my bare nails but I did make sure there was no residue or dust on my nails before applying the Guard, I just applied 1 basecoat, 2 gelcolor and  1 top coat on top of the nail Guards.

They feel really strong, protected and stable. I’ve been doing dishes and everything....No peeling... No lifting.. No chipping. My nails still look as good as new! You can’t tell at all that the Nail Guards are under my gelcolor. I can finally grow my nails out without all the torture in taking gel or tips off and no more sanding down. Yep, supposedly you can use these under acrylic or gel TIPs too! maybe even tips that you glue on? that’s amazing! but I am trying Gelcolor first. We’ll see, I will update in two weeks but so far so good. There are youtube videos demonstrating how easy it is to take them off without any damage... These are amazing. Revolutionary indeed! I will update in weeks.

UPDATE: I LOVE THESE GUARDS.... that being said the truth is these lasted for exactly 2 weeks. I think I could of gotten longer if I capped my tips better with gel  because the edge of my nail tips were the first area to start showing wear and ever so sightly the guards at the tip started to peel (2 weeks). It was soo easy to take the Guards and GelColor off, in a matter of a few minutes.  My natural nail is perfect after taking them off... no damage, no dryness, no staining, no brittleness. My tips were white and not stained and my nail beds were a normal pink and best of all they have grown out healthy and are my own nails,  YAY!!!  I will never need fake tips again. I am sooo excite how well these worked.  Honestly they never looked so good after taking off any nail color that includes plain nail polish which would stain my nails and dry out from nail polish remover. The bond of these shields sticks very well and strong. Also anyone having trouble with gel sticking to there natural nails because of their own natural nail chemistry.... this maybe be a great solution for you.

UPDATE: Amazing! I have figured out the PERFECT combination to make them last longer then 2 weeks, actually they last  until I am ready to remove. Here’s what I do... I prep my nails using opi nas99 and opi bondaid then I apply the Nail guards, then I apply 2 thin coats of HARD gel I used iBD hard gel (nail builder) right over the Nail Guards, cap the end of the nails well, then I apply 2 coats of color gel (GelColor) and then 1 or 2 coats of OPI Top coat the OPI Top Coat  is stronger then the gelcolor so I usually put 2 coats of top top but 1 is fine, it just depends on what you like, I  like my nails supper glossy, a little thicker, this combination makes them super strong. Caping the NailGuard on the end with iBD Hard gel is the secret to gelcolor lasting longer. This combination last for weeks on end without any peeling or chipping. My nails are now super strong and protected, are healthier,  my manicure stays for weeks on end and best of all it easily comes off when I am ready to take it off with no damage. The only thing is I have to use my regular UV light for the Hard gel (180 sec ea coat of hard gel) to cure and I use my LED OPI Light (30 sec ea coat) for my Gelcolor to cure but it’s 100% worth it!


Anti Aging Moisturizer with Peptides-Advanced Luxury Concentrated Argireline Cream for Face, Eyes, and Neck by Paloma Skin Therapy...
 HIGHLY CONCENTRATED FORMULA - Argireline is the hero ingredient at the optimal concentration recommended by the manufacturer. Other active ingredients are derived from coconut oil and glycerin, excellent emollients and skin-repairing ingredients due to the medium chain fatty acids that skin can utilize to repair its surface and resist moisture loss; they also have an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces the risk of irritation.
- DOCUMENTED CLINICAL STUDIES - Studies based on the use of a 5% concentration of Argireline in volunteers showed that wrinkles around the eyes decreased up to 17% after 15 days of treatment and up to 27% after 30 days of treatment. Controlled studies have also demonstrated that wrinkle depth can also be reduced in the forehead. Our formula has 8%, the high end recommended for optimal results.
- NO HARMFUL INGREDIENTS - No parabens, bpa, phthlates, mineral oil, alcohol, sodium benzoate, propylene or any other toxic ingredients. All contents are compared to the EWG's Skin Deep Database for safety and compliance.
- MADE IN THE USA in our GMP (good manufacturing practices) and FDA certified facility; 100% fragrance free, 100% cruelty free, 100% manufacturer's money back guarantee.
 - Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the appearance of under-eye bags, increase skin firmness and smoothness, repair and refresh skin surface, ideal for all skin types.
Paloma Perfect Peptide contains a highly concentrated 8% (by volume, not an 8% solution) of this ingredient, one of the highest available on the market, and recommended by the ingredient creator. Beware of deceptive and incomplete labeling. Ingredients should ALWAYS be listed from highest to lowest concentration, not by just the active ingredients!
The best of intelligent science and natural, responsibly sourced ingredients, our formulas are produced in small carefully controlled batches to preserve freshness, and bottled only in airless pumps to prevent the ingredient destabilization and contamination that occurs when products are opened and exposed to air or contact with fingers.
Indications
Designed to aid in the prevention and elimination of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
Ingredients
Deionized Water, Glycerin, Coconut Oil Extract (suberb emollients as Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Argireline 8% (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), Polyacrylamide (moisture binding agent), C 13-14 (emollient and thickener), Isoparaffin (thickener) Laureth-7 (emulsifier), Phenoxyethanol (cosmetic preservative) Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid (cosmetic preservatives).
Directions
Tap the bottle gently on the heel of your hand to settle contents after shipping and to dislodge any air bubbles from the airless pump. After cleansing and toning, apply one or two pumps as needed, each about the size of a pearl, to face, neck and decollete. A 30 ml bottle will last 45-60 days.
As I age I pay special attention to those fine lines around my eyes and keeping any forehead lines at bay by using the best of the best anti aging formulas available. I have also learned how critical it is to moisturize and care for the neck and decollete area. These areas are so often overlooked but they are two areas that can really reveal your age or make you look older than you really are. I also notice an increased firmness and smoothness in my skin. I am very impressed at how quickly this moisturizer has worked compared to other more expensive ones that I have tried. It has a pump action applicator making for easy dispensing. I am very pleased with this nice quality moisturizer and I highly recommend it to anyone.
I recevid the product for review at a discount this is my honest review on the product  I am a 43 year young and this is a product that I will be using from now on.


If we're completely honest, we've been conditioned by manufacturers these days to accept rubbish without complaint.  Quite true, you can dial into their computer and navigate circles around their voicemail system for a few hours until your anger dissipates.  Or is transferred to computer answering systems.  Whichever comes first.

Happily, however, such is not the case with the Philips Norelco T980 Turbo Vacuum Trimmer.

Not only does this eager little trimmer solve several problems at once but it does so with a composure and aplomb that will sweep away the corporate fog and, suddenly, everything else you own will seem completely and utterly inadequate.

Trimming whiskers used to be such a chore that the ZZ Top look began to show some sense, if not appeal.  The constant recharging, sweeping up afterward, seemingly endless search for single-tasking components that had wandered off and an assembly/disassembly process for cleaning the tool that would make Bill Gates weep.  Philips, however, decided to go in a slightly different direction.

For a start, the battery holds on to a charge with a grip that would make Chuck Liddell cry. It doesn't last mere hours, days or weeks.  Under standard use, mine lasts well over a month.  Even when the battery light does begin to blink, what it really means to say is, "Pardon me but, at some point in the next several days, when it isn't too much of a bother, could you please plug me in for a bit?"  Nothing urgent about it whatsoever.  And once the lead is connected from socket to trimmer, a scant hour will have it fully refreshed and ready for another month on the road.

Then there is the all-in-one design.  Unlike most trimmers, which require that you dig around to find the correct attachment in order to trim your left eyebrow now that you're done with the right, nearly everything is built directly into this sleek little unit.  The only exception is a neat little detail trimmer that stands eternally at the ready in its own clear and obvious pocket inside the travel pouch.  That's it.  Nothing else to search out when you're dashing to work.  It's all right there.

Not everyone who sells a "vacuum trimmer" truly means it.  Most generate just a bit of wind, sufficient to scatter your whiskers over the widest possible surface.  I firmly believe my last vacuum trimmer was designed by a consortium of housekeepers seeking job security.  The T980, however, actually captures every single whisker, every single time.  And then there's a Turbo button that doubles the already adequate force of the vacuum's suction so that you can give yourself that wind-blown look if you so choose.

But, by far, my favorite thing about this trimmer is the way it feels.  It sits in your hand as if it were custom designed specifically for you.  It's lightweight and nimble around the bends, falls effortlessly into its case when deeds are done and assembles as if there is an invisible force guiding your hand at every step of the way.  I am genuinely amazed at the simplicity of removing and replacing the grille guard.  For a time, I thought it must be drawn together by magnets.  But it isn't.  It's just a set of exceptionally well designed tabs and slots that quickly correct a hurried approach and seat the grille home with a satisfying, subtle click.

Most products on the market today are slapdash clumps of flimsy plastics and mechanics that are carefully designed to fail at the worst possible time.  And, for some reason, we have accepted this corporate abuse in the hopes that prices would compensate us somehow.  But they don't really, do they?  When you've re-purchased the same device five times because it keeps breaking, whose interests are truly being served?

So, then, the T980 is a warning shot fired over the bow of companies everywhere who treat their clients like stupid, slobbering monkeys, devoid of choice or rights.  With it, Philips is saying, "See, everyone?  You needn't accept rubbish in exchange for your hard-earned money.  We've done it properly and at a price point that is competitive."  And why wouldn't we honor that?

I wish my hair grew faster.


I was immediately enchanted with this hairpiece from the second I tried it on. I've tried wearing it a few days in a row now, and I'm not tired of it yet. First, I'll start by saying that I ordered it as an add-on item in "dark blue to peacock green." With Prime, it only took two days to get to my house; very fast and convenient shipping, and the hairpiece was encased in a clear plastic bag; I threw that away, as I keep my extensions in a silk hair case. This hairpiece is actually pretty high quality for synthetic, eccentric hair, so I would suggest something like that to keep it safe and untangled when you're not wearing it.

In my opinion, the product images do not really do this hairpiece justice. I can't say anything for other colors yet, but the dark blue to peacock green is pretty true to the product images, with sapphire blue roots and aqua-blue tips (although I will say the hairpiece I received is not half-and-half blue and green like the picture; mine is like an ombre gradient, approximately 2/3 blue and 1/3 aqua tips).

Many of the reviews here also have mixed comments on the thickness of the hairpiece; maybe the people who say it is "thin" are comparing it to their own natural hair? I will say that this piece is very thick for a single-weft hair extension. A weft is like a curtain of hair with a seam holding it all together at the top. I wear extensions almost every day after a butchered haircut took 12 inches of my hair. Authentic human hair extensions come in wefts of varying widths, usually one clip wide or four clips wide, and the hair is very thin because the wefts are meant to be layered on in sections, like natural hair. This blue hair extension is 5 clips wide--wide enough to fasten on your head from ear to ear. Because of my experiences with authentic human hair extensions, I was expecting this blue piece to be thin and underwhelming, but I was wrong and am very happy about that.

I also have an asymmetrical haircut that is close-cropped on one side, so this extension is actually too wide for me to wear across my nape (as the model does in the product image), but I am still able to use it. I curve it to clip from my left nape to above my right ear and it suits my needs and still looks real, despite its unusual color.

Since there is so much hair on a single weft, as other reviewers have stated, this hair extension is a bit heavy. That may take some getting used to, as improper clipping could cause some discomfort and irritation from pulling on the roots. However, once you get practice putting it in, you will learn the best way to clip it without any tugging or pulling of the hair.

It is synthetic material, and while I noticed that mine was shiny, it was not like "Barbie hair," as some reviewers said. I did not need to rub any baby powder in; I just wore it to work for a few hours a day and the shine eventually dulled to look a little less like synthetic material. I will try to add some photos to this page of what the extension looks like in my (straight black) hair. I also noticed that it became easily tangled after a few days of wear. This is not really a problem; I am afraid to brush it too often though, as it sheds (which is normal, but I want it to last).

Lastly, despite being synthetic material, I have tried straightening it on the high setting on my Conair flatiron with success. You can also use a razor or scissors to make any modifications to the style or length, if necessary.

Overall, I think you will be very satisfied with this product if you buy it. I liked it so much that I placed an order for dark pink/light pink and yellow/lime green. These were not add-on items, however, so I will be waiting until mid-August to September to receive these other hair extensions. Hopefully they will be as nice as the blue/peacock green, because I was not disappointed!


When Bella & Bear contacted Everything Beauty and Beyond to review their eyelash curler, I was totally in!  I was actually so in, that I even bought one of these lovely gadgets for my sister and mailed it to her so that she could try it out as well!  You see I had the same eyelash curler for years.  However about 6 months ago it broke and so did my beautiful curled eyelashes with it. I went out and bought a Revlon one, however it really didn't do anything for me and I found myself having to use it a few times before my eyelashes would even curl.  I looked into other ones, but I refuse to pay more than $20 a curler and some of the good ones were going for $50 and up!!  Yeah no!!

When this arrived to my house, it the first thing I noticed was the lovely packaging.  The box was just beautiful and awesome.  It actually reminded me of the 1950's look.  Inside I found a curler that seemed very sturdy and durable.  I decided to read the description online about the product and it said:

What Makes The Eye And Mighty The Curler You Need?
✓ No pinch no pain curling
✓ Non slip handle
✓ Ergonomic design, to get every lash
✓ The Eye & Mighty eyelash curler lifts and curls like no other eyelash tool. You will know that you have found "the one"
✓ The spring loaded handle means you get a lot more lift with less pressure, say goodbye to straight lashes and hello to sexy curvy eyelashes!
This Product Is So Easy To Use
✓ With eyes wide open, position the lash curler at the base of your lashes
✓ Gently squeeze and hold for 10 seconds
✓ For added drama add 1 coat of mascara for a pretty daytime look
✓ 2 coats for a dramatic look
Voila, curly, dramatic lashes!
FREE Beauty Ebook
As a thank you to our customers, you get our Bella & Bear Beauty Secrets ebook Details in the box or go to BellaandBear.com
Guarantee
If you don't completely fall in love with Eye & Mighty then Please Contact Us For A Full Refund!

Well with all this info how could you go wrong!  So after reading this I was sold!  I decided to go ahead and use this curler the same night I received it AFTER I had finished washing my face and taking my makeup off because I just couldn't wait to try it out.  I applied to my freshly clean eyelashes and was just amazed on how little pressure you needed to curler your lashes.  The curler seemed to sit high on the hinge on the device and therefore you didn't need to press down so hard in order to get it to work.  I noticed automatically on just how quick it curled my lashes.

I decided to use it again a few days later when I had to go to work.  I first curled my lashes, applied mascara primer and then applied my mascara.  My eyelashes looked amazing!  The curl held all day with very little effort and my lashes just looked longer then usual.

What I loved about this curler is that it sits high which means it lifts your eyelash curl even higher.  It fits perfectly in my fingers and is very comfortable to use.  I love the design, color and shape of the curler and would highly recommend it!

My sister also had a Revlon eyelash curler that she used off and on for the last few years.  However since using this curler that I bought her, she hasn't looked back.  From the first day she used it, she told me that her eyelashes were perfectly curled and held all day long even after applying mascara.  The curler looks sturdy and well designed and fit perfectly in her hand as well.  She was really excited about trying out this product.

For the price and usefulness of this eyelash curler I highly recommend it!!


I was interested in trying this night cream because it claims to be especially formulated for oily to normal skin.

PACKAGING:🌟🌟🌟☆☆

The night cream comes in a squeezable tube. I am not a big fan of this type of packaging because as you continue to use it, it becomes harder to get the product out and it can be wasteful. However, this type of packaging is great for traveling. Also, while I am not super impressed with the packaging, it does a nice job at keeping the product fresh.

FIRST IMPRESSION: 🌟🌟🌟🌟☆

It has a light to medium consistency. It has a yellowish color but it does not stain your skin. It has a light scent and it is creamy. It is easy to distribute and apply. It does not irritate or cause redness. While you apply it it has a almost glossy finish and the skin feels soft but as it dries the skin looks matte and it feels smooth. There is no visible residue.

PERFORMANCE:🌟🌟🌟☆☆

After I used it the first time I thought, "Actually this is nice, I think I will really like it", but after using it a few more times, I have changed my opinion. It has great benefits and it excels in some areas but in others I am not very impress with it.

I am impress with the quality and its natural ingredients. It feels really nice when you put it on and the scent is not overbearing which is great. It has no parabens or dangerous chemicals. It is cruelty-free. It does not irritate my skin and it does not cause breakouts. It dries very fast which is great for those long days when I can wait to long to go to bed. It does not have a sticky or greasy finish.

I have been using two different serums and they do not seen to get alone with this cream. So I change it to another and the same problem occur. After my serum is absorb into my skin, I apply this cream but it does not go on smoothly. It looks like brush strokes and it is very patchy. At first, I thought that I was applying to much but the results were the same with less product. This is not a big deal since it will dry either way. But it bother me for some reason.

I enjoy how soft and supple my skin feels as soon as I apply it but then it losses that quality and becomes very matte and it is not longer super soft. My face feels a bit stiff. I would not mind much since it might be helping my skin stay firm. Buw when I wake up in the morning my skin does not feel very moisturize which I do not like. Every time I use it, I want to add a sleeping pack on top for moisture.

However, I have to mentioned that while my skin does not feel supple and hydrated in the morning, it is not greasy or oily either. I am not saying the it will remove all of your sebum/oil but it just makes your skin look matte. I give it points for that but honestly, I rather give my skin hydration at night and I do not care much about looking oily.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
Price Point: 🌟🌟🌟🌟☆
Quality/Durability: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Need: 🌟🌟🌟☆☆
Recommendation: 🌟🌟🌟🌟☆

****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my  honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted  in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own  based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies  mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product  might be different.I will recommend only the products that I or my family will use. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal  Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and  testimonials in advertising.

If my review was helpful to you, please let  me know your thoughts.


I bought LightStim for Pain to help with arthritis that developed in my knees after an accident. The right knee healed fairly well, no pain, just a little stiffness, and I can easily live with that. The left knee, however, has severe pain in one area. Cortisone injections help, but that help doesn't last long, and it sometimes weakens the muscles until it wears off, and I believe the muscle weakness is worse than the pain. It's certainly more debilitating. I was tired of taking so much Tylenol, even though I always kept my dose way below what is toxic to the liver.

One morning, I woke very early, and even though I'd taken Tylenol the night before, my left knee was really hurting. I cleansed it, then used my LightStim on the affected area, 15 minutes on two areas. To my shock and surprise, the pain was gone. Now, I know the pain will return. One has to treat an injury for some length of time before the healing is permanent. But I do know LightStim is going to speed up the healing, and I'm doing other things to heal my knee as well, such as taking collagen, using BioSil in my morning orange juice to encourage my body to produce more of its own collagen, etc. But when I have to go out, to the hairdresser, to synagogue, to see friends, etc., I know I can do it with greatly reduced pain if I use the LightStim before I go. And, I try to walk at least 60 minutes a day. LightStim treatments help me walk a lot more easily than if I hadn't used it.

I really don't notice my skin getting warm when I use this device, but I do have to say that after a 30-minute treatment, the bulbs are warm, so I do think it's working. I just hold my device against my knee very gently. Don't press. That could hinder progress rather than help it.

I like the fact that LightStim uses a cord and that the bulbs are meant to last 100,000 hours. I also like the fact that we can use this device as often as desired. It does have an automatic 30-minute shut-off, and I don't use it right away again. I wait at least until the bulbs have cooled. No use tempting fate. I also like the fact that we don't need to apply any gel, etc. Just cleanse the area to be treated, plug in the light, and use it. (Make sure you cleanse the area to be treated. If you don't, any oil will simply reflect the light rather than allowing it to be absorbed.)

I do wish the light were a little bigger, though, so I could treat a larger area at one time, but this is a minor complaint. Also, the goggles that come with the device are mostly junk. Mine arrived broken, but I don't use goggles with red light anyway. Red light is an approved treatment for the eyes, although this device is not approved for eye treatments, and I've never worn goggles with my red light panel when I treat my hair. Don't look directly at the light, however. Not without your doctor's okay. That just wouldn't be a good idea. If you really want to wear googles, just invest in a really good pair, and make sure they block out all light. (If you can still see light with your eyes closed or with goggles on, you know the light is hitting your retinas.)

All-in-all, I really love my LightStim, and I'll be using it daily on my injured knee. It's allowed me to reduce the number of Tylenol I take, and, along with the other treatments I'm using, I hope some day soon, my healing will be permanent. (Still think I'd use the LightStim daily, just for good measure.)

Highly recommended.


I really enjoy using the Alteya Organics rose water, so I was very excited to try this rose face organic sunscreen SPF 30. This sunscreen is very unique to me in that it isn’t white, it isn’t simply beige tinted, but looks dusty rose/beige tinted.

So there are definitely some things about this product that I kind of dislike/ am on the fence about, but ultimately, The end result is surprisingly awesome.

What I don’t like-
I usually start with what I like, but I noticed all the things I didn’t like very quickly, so I’ll start with that.

-The pump dispenser. I don’t know what is going on with this thing, but I opened the box and tried pumping a couple times- nothing came out. I thought nothing of it since it usually takes multiple or many pumps initially to get any product into the pump..... but it never came. I started shaking the bottle and then pumping..... nothing. I almost gave up, but then violently started pumping it by hammering the top with my hand-tiny little bits started to splash out. After some more hammering, it seems to start coming out normally with a simple press. The product it pretty thick, so that could have been a factor I suppose? Now it is easier for it to come out, but still stops occasionally. When I press, the product usually comes out at the very end of a full pump.
-Not incredibly easy to spread and rub in properly. It isn’t terrible and I wasn’t too surprised since it is fairly thick and it is sunscreen, but it did require some effort to work it into my skin.
-It feels somewhat grainy/gritty when I’m trying to rub it into my skin. I’m not sure why or if it is just the product I received. I can’t feel any granules on my face after application, but it was definitely there initially which I thought was odd.
-I had a sensation of wanting to wash my hands afterwards. I could definitely feel it lingering on my fingers.

After all that, I felt a little disappointed... but you know what? I really like the end result and the way it makes me look.

What I like-

-Really subtle natural scent- almost like the smell of clay with a hint of rose. I like it. I do see in the ingredients that there is also lavender oil.
-The tinted color... it is like a dusty rose beige. I really like it. I have somewhat tannish olive skin and something about this color is making my skin look good. It is almost like I’m wearing light makeup. Somehow my skin looks brighter and glowy after application.
-Doesn’t feel so heavy as I’m wearing. I’ll admit- the product is thick, feels somewhat grainy with application, and is not the easiest to rub in, but it feels light sitting on my face. Yes, even after washing hands, I can feel it is there when I run my fingers across my face, but it feels soft. There is a little bit of friction like it doesn’t feel completely silky smooth, but I’m not bothered by it.
-Doesn’t leave a white cast. I suppose this isn’t surprising since it isn’t white to begin with.... but I love that. Does it leaves cast? Kind of, but in a good way. Like I said, I feel like it leaves a very slight color that evens out my skin, almost like light makeup.

I really wanted to leave a 3 star rating because the pump is annoying and frustrating, the grittiness is strange, and it isn’t the easiest to rub in, but darn I like how my skin looks afterwards!!! It doesn’t make any sense to me. It almost feels like it would leave my skin feeling and looking greasy/oily, but it doesn’t- my skin looks nice and somewhat dewy.

If the company finds a way to make the pump dispenser work properly and possibly make it feel easier to apply then this would without a doubt be a 5 star product! I also wish the bottle was larger than 50ml, especially considering the hassle of the pump.

Anyway, I hope my review was helpful in some way, and if so. I would love to know!! Thanks!!