A Different Kind of Tea #MatchGreen

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Something Different Saturday is back!  Today, I baked something.  In the microwave.  Still counts.

No Lumpy Tea, Please! #whiskspoon

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

It's Saturday, and I have another Something Strange Saturday item for you that I am totally enjoying.  If you read my review of the Ceremonial Green Tea Matcha, you might remember that Mr. LFW and I used to have Target dates where we'd share a Starbucks Green Tea Latte, and then started to make our own at home.  Well, it's not so easy to get matcha to blend with no lumps.. unless you have a Chasen, or bamboo matcha whisk!

A Green Tea Date #lifefood

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Sundays used to be Target Date Day.  Mr. LitFromWithin and I would go to our local Target, get a drink from Starbucks, and walk around for a couple of hours, checking out all the clearance, and catching up with each other.  Since we always shared a drink, and he doesn't like coffee, we started getting Green Tea Lattes, made with matcha.  Over time, we perfected our recipe.  We knew exactly how many scoops, and pumps of syrup, and how much milk.  And then, we'd lose our barista.  And then, Starbucks got rid of our favorite melon sweetener.  And, then, it was off the menu completely.

So, we had to learn how to make our own.  I think this Midori Springs Organic Ceremonial Matcha is going to take our favorite drink to a whole new level.

A Matcha Made in Heaven - Matcha Green Tea, That Is! #KissMeOrganics

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

This story really starts with Target and Starbucks.  The husband and I used to go on regular Sunday dates to our local Target, and when they put in a Starbucks, it seemed like it would just enhance our date - sharing a nice cup of something sweet, strolling through the aisles...

Except, hubby doesn't drink coffee, so we couldn't share that.  We got a few fruit things, but the calories added up fast.

Then, we found the Green Tea Latte, and the skies opened up, a ray of light shon down, and angels sang.  And now, we can make them at home with Kiss Me Organics Organic Green Tea Matcha!

Sweetsation Therapy’s Bio’Sensiya MultiVitamin Night Time Serum ...and polkadots!

Hello, Fireflies!

It's serum time again!  This serum has a long name - Sweetsation Therapy’s Bio’Sensiya MultiVitamin Night Time Serum - and a long list of ingredients that are great for your skin.   Keep reading for my review and some nail art inspired by it's fiery packaging and uplifting scent!

Please, Sir, May I Have Some More..Morea Naturals? #moreanaturals

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Would you like some more...hyaluronic acid serums?  Personally, I can't get enough serums, and love trying new ones.  My skin drinks them up, and, even if my knees tell me that I'm 800 years old, my face isn't ready to admit that I'm in my 40's!

I'm excited to share with you my experience with Morea Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Age Delay Serum With Vitamin C + Green Tea and my homage nail art!

Body Merry Makes My Face Merry, too! Pro-A Serum, Morning Dew Serum, and Age Defense Eye Cream Review

Product sent for consideration.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

A year ago, I couldn't have told you what serums were for.  Now, I'm obsessed.  Today, I have a serum duo from Body Merry, and an eye cream to tell you about.  You may remember that I've reviewed a cellulite cream from Body Merry, and I liked it so much, I wanted to try more of their products!

First up, the Body Merry Pro-A Serum.  Can we first talk about the packaging?  I love these tinted bottles, and not only are they pretty, but they're functional.  The tinting actually helps protect the sunlight from damaging the serum and making it less effective.  And, it's pretty.  Did I mention that it's pretty? I love amber bottles.

I preferred to use this serum at night because of the retinol, which can make your skin sensitive to UV rays.  

I've talked a lot about Hyaluronic Acid before.  As we age, our bodies just don't produce as much as before, which can lead to skin getting thinner and not regenerating as well.  Adding it back in via serum helps mitigate that loss, plumping up the skin, and improving the texture.  By adding it to this serum, it can also help your skin take maximum advantage of the retinol by buffering it against irritation.

Green Tea is a powerful antioxidant, and if you don't like to drink it, you can still get some benefits by letting your skin absorb it!  Both this and the Hyaluronic Acid are plant-derived.  This natural formula doesn't have any parabens, sulphates, phlalates, fragrances, or alcohol, and it's cruelty-free.

It has a very mild herbal/medicinal scent that I assume comes from the plant botanicals.  It dissipates quickly, and the serum just gets sucked in.  Slurp!

If you thought the Pro-A Serum bottle was pretty, get a load of the Body Merry Hyaluronic Dew Serum's gorgeous blue bottle.  Humina, humina!  Again, the tinted glass is great at protecting the precious serums and oils from breaking down from UV rays.

I think this serum is really aptly named.  It's great for using in the morning, on a clean face, to plump it up and get that dewy, radiant, healthy look.  It still has the hyaluronic acid, as well as antioxidants green tea and vitamin c, but no retinol, so you can wear it easily in the sun.

In addition to being plant-derived, natural, and organic, this serum is also vegan.  Like the Pro-A Serum, This natural formula doesn't have any parabens, sulphates, phlalates, fragrances, or alcohol, and is cruelty-free.

It also has that same faint herbal/medicinal scent.  It absorbs quickly, but has a dewy feel for a moment - a sensation that I rather liked.  Almost as if you could feel the moisture.  Science, or magic, you decide.

The Body Merry Age Defense Eye Cream didn't win me over as much as the serums.  The first problem I had may have been faulty packaging, so it may have been a one-off problem.  I usually like these pumps for lotion, but this one drove me crazy.  For the first week I used this product, I would try to get just a little bit out, and end up with practically enough for half my face.  It finally settled down, but I don't know how much product I ended up using other places other than my eyes.  I think it makes a good lip cream..

Here's the other issue I had with it: the scent.  It has a botanical smell very similar to their Cellulite Gel-Cream, which my husband thinks smells like jellybeans.  I don't find the smell to be offensive... but it's the kind of smell that it felt like it got in my eyes.  So, I found myself not really enjoying the eye cream as much as I would have liked to.  The cream does have a lot of botanicals in it, such as Aloe, Rose Hip Oil, Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Cranberry, Licorice, Sunflower Oil, Borage Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, Witch Hazel, Cocoa Butter, Cucumber, and Green Tea, so perhaps I'm sensitive to one of them. 

I did stick it out for a while, and found that I could get over it, and I do like that it absorbs quickly and does make my skin feel refreshed and moisturized, without being greasy.  Best of all, if I didn't like it, Body Merry has a 90 Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don't like any product, just contact them and get a full refund. You don't even need to return the bottle.

If having an eye cream that is natural, organic, free from parabens, sulfates, phlalates, and is made in the USA and is cruelty-free is important to you, you may like it. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.