Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner {Onyx} [swatch & review]

According to Sephora:

This waterproof, long-wearing eye pencil provides bold color that won't smudge or budge for up to eight hours. The creamy, easy-to-apply formula contains Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil to moisturize and protect. The cap houses a unique built-in sharpener—so you'll always have the most precise application.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens

Smashbox Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx

I think that I've found it.  This is the BEST eyeliner that I have ever tried.  It is incredibly long lasting, stays put and smudges in just the right way.  I have been wearing eyeliner for years and even when I am partially happy, I am always turned off about something when it comes to an eyeliner.  A lot of the time, it is too smudgy and doesn't stay where I want it to or it isn't as dark as I want it to be.  However, I keep reaching for this Smashbox eyeliner because it has yet to dissapoint me.

Pros - long lasting, rich color payoff, creamy and smudgable but stays put after setting, easy to apply (I don't have to tug on my skin), stays on waterline nicely, a pencil will last you a long time.

Cons - expensive (approx. $19), might be hard to find if you don't have a Sephora or an Ulta near you (order online!), only five shades to choose from.

Disclaimer: I received this eyeliner as a gift.

Crystal Castles - Year of Silence

I am so obsessed with this song right now, I think it's fantastic!  When I hear it, I want to dance and create.

Thanks for Christopher Kroll for telling me about this song.  <3

What is your favorite song right now?

iVi Scents Soap and Soft Drop Bath Candies {Review}

I ordered from iVi Scents after I read about them on Kandee Johnson's blog.  I figured they sounded like a great product to try out.  So, I ordered myself three soaps (Birthday Cake, Ozone and Milk & Honey) and a bath bomb (Pillow Fight).  My order arrived very quickly and was packaged well. 

iVi Scents products contain NO sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, triclosan, GMOs or phthalates AND they are a Cruelty Free company!  I think that when a company is able to offer products that are free of harsh chemicals, cruelty free and have something that truly competes with what a person is able to find in a mainstream store - that is a great thing and a company that I would personally love to support.

Pros - soap comes wrapped in adorable zebra print tissue paper, moisturizing, lathers well, soap seems to last a long time (like it won't need to be replenished for awhile), smells accurate, wonderful and delicious (all the soaps do, the scent emanates from the packages and smells lovely)!  The Birthday Cake soap is such a treat!  Honestly, I think a huge appeal of the soap is that the experience of using it, it makes you feel so good!

Cons - only available online, more expensive than a commercial brand soap (but if the soap lasts longer, you are not replacing it as often).

I would love to see even more scents available.  I am impressed with the speed that my order arrived, how wonderful the soaps smell and how I feel once I get out the shower after using them.  I think that iVi Scents is a wonderful company to support and I think the products, at lease the ones that I have tried, live up to what they say that they do.

As for the Soft Drop Bath Candies, I ordered Pillow Fight.  For a bath bomb, I think it was just OK.  It turned the water a murky, cloudy color and it wasn't as scented as I like bath bombs to be.  I think the formula needs to be improved upon.  It smelt good in the package but it didn't translate to the bath water.

These products, especially the soap, would be great to treat yourself with or to buy for giving to someone else.  I think that they would be great for people with sensitive skin and for people that are trying to limit the number of chemicals that they expose themselves to.

COUPON CODE:  Because I appreciate all of my readers, I wanted to share with you that my order came with a coupon code that is good for $5 off a $25+ order.  Try/use coupon code: iHeartYou

Eucerin Everyday Protection Face Lotion, SPF 30 [Review]

I feel like I am a constant search for the best daily facial lotion with sunscreen in it.  I have tried a lot of different kinds.  Many of them only come with an SPF 15 level so when I saw that Eucerin had SPF 30, I immediately knew that it was my new one to try out.  Eucerin Extra Protective Moisture Lotion claims to be many things: good for sensitive skin, offers sun protection, fragrance free, etc.  Here is my opinion:

Pros - affordable, lasts a long time (both the amount of product that you purchase and the moisturizing it provides throughout the day), container dispenses a good amount, effectively moisturizes without clogging pores, provides an SPF level you don't find in a lot of face lotions (that are intended for everyday use), fragrance free, felt lightweight and my skin is never irritated by it.

Cons - if you apply it too thickly, it will leave a bit of a white residue, you can feel an almost gritty-like texture if you apply too much and don't rub it in well enough or don't let it soak in.

Overall, I really liked this face lotion.  I am a believer in wearing a lotion with SPF on your face everyday (regardless of if you are going to the office, school or elsewhere).  I would definitely buy this lotion again (and I probably will at some point) and I think it is incredibly priced and efficient at what it claims to do.  Once you learn how much to apply and what works for your skin, I do not think you would have any problems that I listed unders the cons section.  I found I encountered these cons the most, when I was in a hurry and haphazardly getting ready or when it was really hot and I already felt like I was melting from the heat outside.

I love that so many product lines are coming out with a variety of products that include sunscreen and protection from the sun.  What are your favorite face lotions with SPF?  How about other makeup or skincare products?

'Yes to Carrots' Shampoo & Conditioner [Review]

Yes to Carrots website

I picked this shampoo and conditioner up at Target last week and I have been using it all week long.  I am in love with it!  It just might be my new favorite shampoo and conditioner ever!

Yes to Carrots describes this set:

The shampoo cleanses, nourishes and moisturizes your hair and scalp with Dead Sea Minerals, revitalizing and protecting it and leaving you with luminous, luscious locks. The Pampering Hair Mud Conditioner nourishes, conditions, softens, smoothes and tames even the wildest of tresses.

The scent of both the shampoo and conditioner is amazing!  It is a light, airy and fresh scent.  Kind of like carrots but not, at the same time.  I feel like these products have left my hair (which is notoriously weird) feeling healthier and cleaner than other shampoo/conditioner's that I have been using recently.  I also feel like my scalp feels more refreshed than usual.  I feel good when I use this shampoo and conditioner.  I know that I am supporting a good cause (by choosing to use something cruelty-free) and I like that I am surrounding myself with less chemicals.

Pros - cruelty free, paraben free, natural, organic products.  Cleanses well and rinses clean without leaving behind a residue.  Left my hair smooth, soft and moisturized.

Cons - could be difficult to find for some people. 

Click here and you will be brought to the 'Yes to Carrots' website, where you can save 10% of the retail price.

Have you tried anything from this product line?  What did you think?  Any other suggestions for me to try from this line?

Himalayan Salt Rock Lamps

I got a set of these salt rock lamps for my birthday this year.  I would say that, price-wise, your best bet would be to order these salt rock lamps online.  I have found that specialty healing shops, etc. seem to overprice them and charge a lot.   Clicking the picture above will bring you to a set of two salt rock lamps that are available on Amazon.

If you know me, you know that I really like Himalayan salt rock home decor, whether it be lamps, candle holders, solid plates of it, etc.  The warm, rich color that the rock turns when illuminated is beautiful and there are supposed to be a multitude of health benefits associated with these lamps (though as far as I know, this has not been proven).  Besides offering a gentle glow to soothe and calm, these lamps are said to emit negative ions, which help with reducing dust, bacteria, pet odor, insomnia, idor, allergies, sinus issues, depression, migraines, anxiety, fatigue, colds, ADHD, and asthma [source]. 

These lamps are one of my most favorite things I have ever received.  I love the soft glow, the fact that they are a conversation piece in my home and office (I have one at home and one at work on my desk), the fact that no two are the same and just the way I feel when I look at them.  I definitely think I will have these lamps for many years to come.

Here is what my lamp looks like in my bedroom (at dusk). 

I keep it next to my fish, Magma, because I know he enjoys the soft glow.

'Redken Color Extend Shampoo & Conditioner' Review

I got this shampoo when I dyed my hair dark brown (with some blue and a few highlights), a few months ago.  I needed something that would help my color to remain vibrant (for a reasonable period of time - it always fades over time) and I also wanted to maintain as much moisture as I could.  The salon I went to used Redken products so I opted to try some of the Color Extend shampoo and conditioner.

Overall, I have to say that I like this Color Extend line from Redken.  It smelled light and delightful, cleansed and moisturized my hair and I feel that it made it more manageable while styling it.  The shampoo successfully removed any product buildup from my hair and the conditioner replaced any lost moisture and smoothed the cuticle, making it easier to comb through after bathing.  I also feel that there was some slight protection from sub damage and fading that can be caused from being outside.

The great thing about these salon products is that you can get value sets a lot of the time.  This makes the cost more affordable and you can try it without spending full price, most of the time.  Be sure to check places like Ulta, beauty websites or click here to go to Amazon to find specials on this value set from the Redken line.