Scrub-a-Dub-Dub, Scrub For Men In A Tub #ValentiaExfoliatingScrubforMen

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

I'm pretty excited to be sharing another Valentia product review with you today!  But, but, you may be thinking, I've read your Valentia reviews before... something's different!  There's something darker, mysterious, maybe even ...forbidden... about this product.  Yes, I say.  It's for MEN. *gasp*

In The (Via)Buff #ViaBuff

Press Samples.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Do you ever wish we could just shed our skin, like snakes do?  Ok, ew, no.  But, I do sometimes wish it were easier to get smooth, healthy skin and get rid of all that dull, pore-clogging dead skin.  Have I found the solution in ViaBuff?

Natural Spa Scrubbing and Masking at Home with Valentia #skindetoxifyingclaymask

Press Samples.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Have you got the dull skin blues?  Ready for a little spa experience at home, with an emollient scrub that turns over dead skin cells while nourishing the skin, and a clay mask that smells amazing, clears up excess oil and makes the skin feel so soft?

Wine All About It

Hello, Fireflies!

I love masks, and I love booze, so the Purminerals Wine Exfoliating Mask seems like a match made in heaven to me!  When I saw it for a steal on Hautelook, I knew it had to be mine.

What Problem Skin? #RevivaLabs

Press Samples.  All opinions are my own. 

Hello, Fireflies!

I am woman of many contradictions, and one of the biggest ones is on my face.  I'm no longer a teenager, but still suffer from oily skin and blemishes!  When I look for skincare products to balance my skin, I have to be careful that they are not harsh or drying, because that oily skin is also getting older and more delicate.

Cleansers for the Whole Body with Oblige by Nature #obligebynature

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Though I'm not always as conscientious about what I put on or into my body as I should be, I'm trying to make better choices about my skincare.  Naprodis, makers of Oblige by Nature, make it easy for me with their amazing French Clay masks and cleansers!

Exfoliating Bamboo With #OZNaturals

Press Sample.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

One thing I love about writing this blog is getting to try some things I might not have otherwise found.  I've seen exfoliators that are made with all kinds of things, from sugar and salt to ground nuts, but a newer trend I'm enjoying is the powder 'rice enzyme' exfoliant. 

Safe Organic Skincare Answering the SOS for my Oily Skin

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Hello, Fireflies!

Spring in Florida has brought temperatures in the 80's, the return of 24-7 A/C, and my oily skin trapping dirt and sweat like a lint roller.  This one-two punch of cleanser and scrub from Safe Organic Skincare has been keeping my face in check!

Exfolimate - The Cutting Edge of Exfoliation #exfolimate

Product provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

 Hello, Fireflies!

I like having smooth skin as much as the next gal.  I've tried body scrubs, polishes, and brushes.  But I'd never seen anything like the Exfolimate.

Reviva Labs Pomegranate Exfoliant #RevivaLabs

Hello, Fireflies!

Sundays have become my pampering days.  I wash my hair and put on a deep-conditioning masque, and while that is doing its thing, I do a scrub on my body and a masque on my face, too.

When I'm all done, I take a nap.

All things that are good for the body and soul, if you ask me.  This week, instead of a traditional masque, I decided to add in my Reviva Labs Pomegranate/Lactic Acid Peptide and Botanical Exfoliant.  I've used it a few times already, and it's perfect for a shower-time masque, even if you don't have time for a full pampering experience.

As with all of Reviva's products that I'm aware of, the packaging comes with a nice reminder of when you should finish the product.  It's also not made with any animal products or tested on animals, and it's paraben-free.

I really like it when I can recognize so many of the ingredients in my skin care.  Bentonite and Kaolin clay are great for absorbing oils and toxins, pomegranate and lactic acid help mitigate damage to the skin, and you can cook with thyme, bran, pepper, and oregano.  Maybe season a nice tomato sauce...

You can definitely feel the exfoliating pieces in this scrub, but they're not harsh or jagged.  In fact, you can use this scrub 3-4 times a week if you'd like, but I like to alternate with other masques for different outcomes.  I also like to keep my skin guessing.

I love to do clay masques, but I don't always have the time to wait 15-20 minutes for it to dry.  This exfoliant only takes 3-4 minutes.  It doesn't dry hard on me, but rather the texture gets a little crumbly.  The directions call for rubbing it off with a dry towel or your fingers, and then rinsing off the rest.  I lightly scrubbed it with my fingers, and then rinsed off the rest in the shower.

My Sunday Relaxed-Post-Scrub-Post-Nap-No-Makeup Face.  I love that the skincare I use makes me feel better about my own clean 40+ year old skin.

I can't recommend the stable of products from Reviva Labs enough.  Here's my review of their Seaweed Soap, and also their Hypoallergenic Mascara, and also their Vitamin K cream. I also recently reviewed their Elastin Serum and DMAE Cream.  If you'd like more information or to purchase Reviva Labs products, please check out their Facebook page, or their website.

Do you have a pampering day?  What kinds of products do you use?

BBCFL Roundup - Favorite Thing

Hello, Fireflies!

The Beauty Bloggers of Central Florida decided to do a link up of our favorite product this month!  But, how do you narrow down all the pretties to just one? Impossible.  So, I decided to focus on my favorite scent.

Can you smell it? If you've ever had anything from the Satsuma line of The Body Shop, it's unmistakable.  I always have at least one product from this line in my shower, and when I need a pick-me-up, it's my go-to.

It's a sweet tangerine-type smell, but with a floral orange blossom note.  It both refreshes and relaxes me.

I love getting a massage with the Beautifying Oil (also good as a facial or body moisturizing oil).  The Satsuma Body Polish has gentle exfoliating beads (I believe they are jojoba beads) that aren't too rough, but gently polish the skin, leaving it soft and smooth.  And whenever I want to feel clean inside or outside of the shower, I reach for the soap, shower gel, or hand sanitizer.  The shower gel also goes in some of my liquid soap pumps that I keep in the kitchen and bathrooms.

I love that I can take this scent anywhere I want, for a burst of sweetness wherever I go.

Do you hoard products in a particular scent? Or do you like a particular product in many scents?

An InLinkz Link-up

Fusion of Color

Hello, Fireflies!

As I get more into makeup, I'm loving a lot of Indie brands for the great quality and unique colors and products they can offer.  I jumped at the chance to try a few items from Chicago-based Indie, Fusion of Color, owned by Kathy Duncan.

Lots of products, pictures, and a full-makeup look ahead.  Read on to see if I liked this brand!