Evian Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray: Review

I love wearing a medium coverage BB cream as my foundation and then setting with a mineral veil powder.  I do not like cakey foundation that settles into my large pores or any fine lines.  I have been a longtime user of water for setting and perfecting my foundation, usually using a wet Beauty Blender sponge.  I had heard about the Holy Grail of makeup fixatives, Evian Natural Mineral Water spray, but did not know if I wanted to buy a aerosol version of bottled water that cost about 7 times the amount of a bottle of drinking water.  I just did not "get it."  But perhaps it was due to the fact I never realized what Evian water was capable of, its history, and I had personally never tasted it either. 

Evian Natural Mineral Water comes from the natural pure rain and snow high atop the French Alps. It is finely filtered by the glacial rock and sand near Evian-Les-Bains, France. Doesn't that sound lovely and delicate? It really does.  French water. The water contained in the spray is tested 300 times per day--that is some impressive quality control! This water has superior mineral content, more than any other water.

What I also did not know was how long this has been produced, nor did I know about how it was originally recommended by doctors for use on burn patients on scarring and abrasions.  After its popularity in France as a remarkable facial spray, it came to the United States in 1978.

I was sent a bottle of it to try, and let me tell you, it is nothing short of a spa like, beautiful experience.  I cannot imagine how wonderful it will feel this summer.  For now, I have been using it after applying my Vitamin C, Royal Jelly, and Hyaluronic Acid  serums.  Then I apply my bb cream and mineral veil, and blush.  It can be used throughout the day as a refresher for your makeup. This delicate natural mineral water facial spray is nourishing to skin and hydrates.  It is is suited to all skin types, even the most sensitive. 

I like how this is portable and leak-proof.  I took this with me when we went on a trip and the canister was a perfect makeup accessory in my bag. Evian is fully sealed from harmful bacteria and contaminants, and is "powered by pure nitrogen into millions of tiny micro-droplets".  This is Ozone safe and environmentally friendly.

It feels like a light morning mist on a spring day and is dermatologically tested and hypo-allergenic.  I think it is a fantastic product and is lasting me a long time.  I use it 1-2 times per day to prepare my skin and to brighten my colors while giving a dewy, and healthy appearance.

Here are some tips on how to use this spray, from Evian:

To create intense color: Spray your brush with evian® Facial Spray before applying colorful or metallic eyeshadow to create intense, bold colors that don’t look chalky.

Contouring and Blending:

Before blending bronzer with foundation, wet a Beauty Blender (yes please!) or other blending tool (I also use a foundation brush) with evian Spray to create an airbrushed, flawless look. You can also use evian Facial Spray to blend foundation along the jawline and neck to eliminate telltale foundation lines. 

Set your Makeup:

After applying foundation (bb cream for me) and/or powder (mineral veil), lightly mist skin with evian® Facial Spray in a circular motion to set foundation and/or powder for a more natural look.

Revive Color throughout the day:

Using evian Facial Spray any time during the day can instantly revive color to help makeup look fresh and vibrant even hours after makeup was applied. For best results, lightly mist skin in a circular motion. Can be kept in the office, gym bag, or purse to freshen up makeup after work, before a party, or any time you need a quick touch up.  I usually do not do this third application as the first 2 applications work well for me. 



Connect with Evian on Facebook and Twitter.

http://www.evianspray.com/
www.facebook.com/evianspray

*Powered by BrandBacker.  Review Sample.  

Blupure Ecofriendly 13 Stage Countertop Water Filter Review

 



A few days after Valentines day this year, our city got hit with a major winter advisory and it snowed almost 3 feet in a matter of days.  Our nearly 100 year old home had the pipes in the entire home freeze and so we had to make an emergency trip to my husband's work (we works at a hotel a few miles down the road) and they let us stay there.  We really only planned to stay the weekend, but it only got worse, the pipes burst and flooded the crawls space and with the nealry 3 feet of snow, there was not anyone able to get under the house easily for 2 weeks.  We were basically living at the hotel (2 adults, a 4 year old, and a teething 10 month old).  My husband went to work (downstairs at the hotel) and I stayed with the little ones.

I had decided to bring some items I was reviewing as I was not sure how long we would be there.  I figured it was a great time to try out our countertop water filter sent to us from BluPure .  I am always a bit put off with hotel sink water as many hotel rooms do not have sinks in the room (except for the bathroom) and yet they have a coffeemaker in the room for you to fill up (eww, yes it is the same water, but really it just grosses me out).  Thankfully this hotel has a mini kitchen space in each room with a mini fridge, microwave, small counter and kitchen sink.  It is a small sink, but I am so glad I did not have to make coffee from the bathroom sink (luckily they do not store their coffee makers in the bathroom either---seriously why do hotels do that??).

I took the BluPure countertop filter system out of the box and had it set up in less than 5 minutes it was really easy, much MUCH easier than my shower filter was when I installed it over a year ago in my bathroom.  I connected the tube and adapter/connector to the faucet and ran the water very cold.  I pulled out the lever and waited a moment to make sure the water ran clear.  I am glad I waited as the water first was cloudy.  After about a minute or 2 I tried the water and it tasted fresh!

The BluePure countertop water filter purifies in 13 stages to ensure that harmful chemicals and any impurities are removed.  Harmful elements such as chlorine, lead, mercury, fluoride, chloramine, bacteria, sulfide, and radiation.  I am happy to now use this in our home as not only is our home very old and has older pipes, but our area soil is known for high levels of Radon (we actually purchased a Radon removal system for our home when we purchased the home years ago).  Radon is naturally occurring radioactive gas and can be found in soil, rock, and water.  The machine we have somehow sucks it out of the crawlspace and makes it so we do not breathe it in.  We never drink out of our sink water without filtering it as it just normally never tasted good, but it could potentially be not the safest to drink over time.  We had been using those Brita Filters which work well, however, my husband and I do not buy new filters for our pitcher as often as we should. 

The BluPure works well and water is fresh and clear.  The filter in this system lasts for up to a year with normal use from a family of 4.  It eliminates all odor and taste and makes your water more pleasant to drink.  I like how it comes pre-installed with a filter cartridge, and easily hooks up to our kitchen sink within minutes.  My husband (anti-clutter guy) was at first against it as he does not like excess things on the sink and counters, but after using it a few times to fill our coffeemaker quickly, and fill the ice cube trays, he is warming up to it.  I like it a lot and despite taking uo some space, it is fairly slim.  The neck of the spout does move for convenience.  We both love how it is made in USA.  This filter made our nearly 3 week stay at the hotel more pleasant, and works wonderfully here at our home as well.

*I was sent one unit to review, all thoughts are my own.

You can find out more information on the BluPure website. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter for updates, promotions, and tips. BluPure is available to purchase on Amazon.

Yummy Yammy Tuscan Sweet Potato Salsa Review + Giveaway

I love eating superfoods, whole foods, and foods that are protein rich and low in fat. One such food I have always loved is sweet potatoes.  I recently was sent some salsa that is beyond anything I have ever tried. It is superior in nutrition to other salsa I have tried, and has a fantastic kick of flavor. It is Yummy Yammy Fat Free Roasted Sweet Potato salsa.   This comes in 3 types,  Mexican (mild, medium, and hot) , Tuscan, & Moroccan, and can be used as a dip for chips and crackers, a filling in a burrito, a burger topping, or even a recipe starter.  The possibilities are endless!

* I was sent 3 jars of Yummy Yammy for this review.

This is a vegan superfood and fat free! Tuscan Sweet Potato Salsa has a flame-roasted sweet potato base and contains no added sugar and no fat. The salsa varieties are a wonderful option for flavoring food dishes and for fat free dip at your next party or get together.  There are between 200-250 calories in the entire 12-ounce jar,depending on which variety you choose.  (Moroccan only has 200)  These are unique as they are they only sweet potato salsas you will find.  They are gluten free, and do not contain GMO ingredients.

We were sent Moroccan ,which is Sweet Potato, Curry, Lentil & Kale (our favorite and what we like to use as a recipe starter and mix in for our Indian dishes of Chickpeas, Chicken and Basmati rice.). We were also sent Mexican *Hot* ,with Flame-Roasted Sweet Potato, Black Bean, Corn & Chipotle, this was delicious as well , but probably is one we use least as it is spicier than we both like to use.  The Mexican comes in Mexican *Mild* and Mexican *Medium* as well, but we have not tried those yet. I think we would have been better suited for the mild or medium versions.  The third variety we tried was Tuscan , which is Flame-Roasted Sweet Potato, Roasted Red Pepper, White Bean & Basil.  

We like to use the Tuscan on Ritz crackers or Triscuits and it also tastes great with torilla chips.  The one we use most is the Moroccon as we like to spread it on warm Naan bread and enjoy with Indian food (Chicken Korma dishes, Channa Masala, Chickpeas, Curry Chicken and Basmati rice).  I am always one to put hummis in my sandwiches, so this is a great way to make my sandwich pop with flavor.  I find that carved turkey breast on warm naan bread with swiss cheese, pairs well with the Sweet Potato, Curry, Lentil & Kale of the Moroccan salsa. 

The owner of this company (Lisa) is a wife, mom, and sweet potato enthusiast who loves the product and believes in it fully.  She is a "Yambassador" and she invites anyone who wants to be, to be a fellow Yambassador by signing up (first name and email) at their website.  These special VIP'S receive the best deals, updates on recipes and tips, and a free shipping code for one Amazon order.  Sounds pretty cool doesn't it?

Here are a few favorite recipes Yummy Yammy has selected to share with us on their website. Here

Why not sign up as a Yambassador while your at it? It is a fancy title and will impress all your friends. :)

Connect with Yummy Yammy on Facebook and Twitter.

Would  You like a chance to win a 3 pack of Yummy Yammy Salsa?? One reader will win a set!

Yummy Yammy Sweet Potato Salsa Giveaway

Nutrigold Whole Food Multivitamin for Men Review

My husband has been using a men's multivitamin from Nutri Gold.  This is a whole-food (nutrients from real and raw food, highest quality) based multivitamin supplement with added minerals.  This does not contain anything synthetic and all the healthy nutrient rich ingredients are in high concentrations, made from certified organic fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs. 

The dark amber glass bottle is beautiful and very sturdy.  It means a lot when a company values the packaging and containers that their product arrives in and is store in. My other supplements come in a plastic white pill bottle, but these were a wonderful and welcomed surprise.  It makes them even nicer to  use and I will be reusing the bottle for something when it is finished.  Putting such high quality ingredients in a dark amber, and thick glass bottle maintains the purity, and potency of the super nutrient, whole food based ingredients in each bottle.

This is a complex vitamin supplement without any metallic aftertaste. These are manufactured without the use of GMOs, fillers, binders, artificial ingredients, preservatives,or any other chemical or sketchy products.  These are fully tested, and verified by an independent, third-party lab.  These are manufactured in the USA under strict cGMP standards. 

Here is what is in the bottle: 
 

*Cognitive Function - Folate, B6, B12, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Organic Annatto Extract, Organic Lemon Extract 

 

*Cellular Energy Production - Vitamins B1, B2, Niacin, B5, B6, Biotin, B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Zinc, Organic Amla Extract, Organic Annatto Extract, Organic Guava Leaf Extract, Organic Holy Basil Extract 

 

*Cardiovascular Health - Niacin, Folate, Vitamin E, Vitamin K2, Magnesium, Organic Lemon Extract, Organic Holy Basil Extract 

 

*Glucose Balance - Biotin, B12, Chromium GTF, Magnesium, Vanadium, Zinc, Organic Sesbania Extract 

 

*Prostate Health - Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, Organic Amla Extract, Organic Annatto Extract 

 

*Immune Function - Beta-carotene (and other carotenoids), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, Organic Amla Extract, Organic Annatto Extract

 

My husband has been testing these out for the past month and likes this supplement very much.  I like how they are concentrated with so many whole food based and real ingredients.   Having Biotin included in this supplement is nice as we are trying to regrow some of his thinning hair.  He usually has a light to medium snack with his vitamins since he takes so many and he finds it prevents any issues when he takes on a full stomach. Three capsules are taken per day along with his other nutritional supplements and a tall glass of lemonade.  I cannot seem to get him to drink plain water.  These do not have an aftertaste (according to him and when I take my pills I do not detect any after taste) and do not cause him any stomach upset. 

These are available on Amazon in this Men's Multivitamin , as well as a  Women's Multivitamin version (which I have been taking and love).  *I was sent one bottle of this product to review, this is my honest opinion.

You can learn more about the company on their website.  Follow them on Facebook for healthy tips and information on new products. 

Please follow me on Facebook for updates to this blog, reviews, and giveaways. You can also find me on bloglovin , Twitter, and on Instagram.

TravelRebel 3 oz soft silicone bottles: Review

 


We do not travel for extended periods of time, however we often take an overnight trip or a 2-3 day weekend trip.  Often it can get expensive to always purchase the travel sized shampoo and soap bottles and if you are like our family, it gets really expensive if you are sulfate free and need to purchase items that are travel size and natural ingredient, chemical free, silicone free, and sulfate free.  Even if the higher cost is not a problem, it is harder to find sample or travel sized portions of those brands.  To make this work for us, we use travel containers that are reusable.  I used to keep the hotel sample bottles, rinse out the chemical and sulfate based soaps, and refill with our brands.  The problem with this is, many of those bottles are tiny, and the bottles are really not well constructed enough to be reused over and over, and most are difficult to fill. 

I was sent a 3 pack of reusable, soft bodied, BPA free silicone bottles from TravelRebel.  The bottles are 3 oz which is compliant for airplane travel as TSA allows 3.4 oz or less, per container of liquids.  These are perfect for carrying most lotions, shampoos, and body wash, etc.  One thing that is used for one of our bottles is hand soap to travel with.  As we are sulfate free and have sensitive skin, the hotel bath soap and hand soaps they supply are always irritating our skin and generally do not smell great either.  This takes care of the problem.

I love how soft these are, with a wide mouth for easy filling of liquids.  TravelRebel bottles are reusable and dishwasher safe.  We have not yet put them in the dishwasher, but plan to try that when and if needed. We have not had any spilling yet, but I recommend to leave about a 1 inch space level at the top to further prevent any leaking.  Apparently it is suggested to use these for food use such as ketchup and sauces, but I cannot get over fact of them being shampoo bottles so will not use them for food use.

These have a suction cup on each bottle and are meant to be put on the shower wall for short periods of time.  I find that it stayed on the wall for the duration of my shower 10-15 minutes, and then about 5-10 minutes later would land with a thud onto the tub floor when I was in the other room.  This is not really a big deal as I only plan to use these for travel and would normally store bottles on the shower ledge at home.  

Here are some liquids not recommended to be used in these type of bottles:

- Castille soap (Dr. Bronner's)
- Oil formulated, skin conditioners
- sunscreen/tanning lotions
- Almond butter
- Non-silicone based, personal lubricants
- Any liquid that has the tendency to congeal

We only use these for shampoos, lotions, conditioners, and hand soap.  These work well, my only suggestion is to have more bright and perhaps girly colors.  My bottles were clear and baby blue.  I decided to give these to my husband after I tested these.  I would have liked a set of pink and lime green or pink and purple. :)  I also think a set of 4 would have been best so you could have a shampoo / conditioner set, lotion, and body wash (travel hand soap for us).

These are available on Amazon.  I was sent a pack for a review, and this is my honest opinion.