Orville Redenbacher Chedder Carmel Popcorn from Influenster!

I reviewed this product to test out and it did leave a good impression with my family. We received a full size bag of the cheddar caramel popcorn. It seems like an unlikely combo but one which has become popular recently. I myself had never tried it but I did enjoy the sweet and salty mix. I've never been a fan of caramel popcorn but I was pleasantly surprised with the light taste it had.

My only complaint about this product is the amount given. For such a large bag, there wasn't much product. It's deceiving on the pet of the company. I probably wouldn't buy it in store because of this fact. The photo below is what the first look upon opening the bag was like.

I received this product free of charge for testing purposes and all opinions are my own!

Biore Baking Powder Cleansing Scrub & Pore Cleanser

Biore Baking Powder Cleansing Scrub & Pore Cleanser

Disclaimer: I received these products free of charge from Influenster/Biore for testing purposes.

My background: I have combination skin and do not suffer from excessive acne.  My skin in frequently clear and I do not suffer from skin sensitivities. I have been fortunate to be able to use many kinds of skin products without negative implications.  One common thing which drives me crazy in terms of skin products is offensive smelling products.

When I received the cleansing scrubs I have to admit I was slightly intimidated to try it due to the powdery consistency. It just didn't make sense that I was going to put this on my face! When I review products I always give it a sniff test. DO NOT do this for this product lol it was a very BIG mistake and the powder nearly killed my nose and I was NOT expecting that I would literally breath in the product : ( It is also extremely fragrant!!!

Well once you get your face wet then apply the product it all came together and I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. The exfoliating quality is quite gentle but the product does what it claims. My only compliant regarding the product was the scent. I am extremely sensitive to offensive smells and this one unfortunately fell into that category. This is a shame because I really enjoyed the quality and experience of the actual product. I’m just not a fan of floral scents and that’s what this smells like.

I would buy this again if I go to the store and find other scents.

This Pore Cleanser was great and id definitely get it again.  It has a scent that isn’t my favorite but I can totally deal with it due to the other great qualities of the product.  I loved how thick the formula was and you can feel small and evenly distributed exfoliating beads.  I was left with that fresh AH-HAA feeling you get from great cleansers.  I was happy with the size and packaging of the product including the easy to use pump. I already have fairly soft skins so I cannot comment on whether or not the product did this.

For the duration of the testing, I used the product every day, twice a day.  I would be interested to see if there were complimenting creams and toners from this line.

L’Oréal Paris Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Routine

L’Oréal Paris Hydra-Total 5 Ultra-Even Routine

I was super excited to try this line of products from L’Oréal through Influenster!  I received the products complementary for testing purposes!  For the purpose of this review please note that I used the entire line which included: scrub, toner, moisturizer and SPF20 Cream.

Background on me: I am almost in my 30s, have combination skin but would consider it “normal” as I don’t have many skin related concerns.  I don’t usually have sensitivities when trying skin care products but tend to stick to a few loved products.  The only thing I detest is having any cream on my face which have a strong or offensive smell.  I typically use a 3 step regimen consisting of cleaners, toner, moisturizer and none of my current products are by L’Oréal.

I have a love hate relationship with this line for a number of reasons.  Let’s start with the scrub:

The scrub was quite typical with a similar texture and consistency of other products that are comparable.  I love the beads when it comes to a good face wash.  The product left my skin feeling clean and fresh.  I did not notice any yucky left over residue etc.  That being said, the product is more than adequate, does what it claims and appears to be a product I would consider reliable.  For me this scrub almost hit a homerun.  Where it feel slightly short was with the scent.  It has a citrus scent which I didn’t care for however it wasn’t a complete deal breaker.  I would give this product a 9.5/10 with a .5 loss for the scent.  Anyone who enjoys the citrusy scents would surely enjoy this product completely.  I found that the scent even lasts through the moisturizer which for me wasn’t all that great.  Had the scent been different I would have loved that quality.  I would still recommend this product to a friend.  I would also buy this product again however I would likely choose one of the other scents from the line.

I enjoyed the toner.  It didn't come off as harsh BUT it did leave me with that “AHHH” feeling you get from a freshly toned face!!  I don’t have anything negative to say about the product in general because it does everything it claims.  I do however feel like there wasn’t anything particularly special which would separate it from other toners but it is a really great value.  I would definitely go back to this product if I were shopping for toner. I would also recommend the product to a friend as well as the other products from the line.  This review was fairly easy for me since I have no negative skin concerns so I am unable to speak on its performance on other skin types.  Like the matching scrub, it has a citrus scent but it is nowhere near as strong as the smell of the scrub so this for me was great.

Of the products I had received to review, the mosturizer was by far my favorite.  I’m always searching for a good face moisturizer that doesn’t make me angry with an offensive scent.  This one passes that test.  This alone would convince me to buy it again.  Unlike the matching toner and scrub, this product does NOT have the same citrusy scent.   Its super thick so I enjoy using this cream as my “night cream”.  I like to lather it on without a care in the world that my face is white with a thick layer of this gem!  I haven’t used it long enough to see even-ing effects but I could care less about that when I enjoy it so much. I will 100% buy this product again and would HIGHLY recommend it to a friend! 

I was a little stumped when I received the SPF Cream along with the rest of the line because there was already a moisturizer which was MINT.  The only real difference I can see is that this one has SPF and is slightly thinner than the other cream.  I use this one more for daytime since it’s not quite as thick as the other cream.  I really like the pump bottle it comes in so that was a bonus.  I enjoyed the scent of the product which is good considering I HATED the smell of the scrub and toner.  I would buy it again for the pump style alone however I enjoyed the quality of the other cream better.  Still a decent product!

Overall I enjoyed the quality, price and availability of the products.  I HATED the scent of some of them but this problem is easy to overcome considering there are 2 other lines to the Hyrda Total 5 family.  I would really like to check out the other lines to compare.

#5Works + #BeyondHydration

Review: Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara

I am very sad to report that this has been my least successful bzzagent campaign. It’s sad because I had high hopes for this one and was super excited for it.

Here is my background info: I have the world’s straightest, think lashes ever. They don’t curl well, mascara has very little effect. The only true product that has ever made my lashes look differently is perversion by urban decay. I just don’t have nice lashes and have to resort to falsies.

I chose to go with Covergirls LashBlast Volume to test out free of charge curtsey of Covergirl and Bzzagent. I chose it because as I said I have super small and thin lashes so this formula sounded the most volumizing. The product came with the bottle of mascara with a sealed lid and the brush was not yet inserted. I opened the package and placed the brush in the product and tightened the seal. I wanted to let the product rest so the new brush would be evenly coated prior to first use. I did the smell test and the mascara had a slightly chemical scent but it wasn’t overpowering. I probably wouldn’t have been able to smell it unless I purposely tried.

When I went to use it for the first time I noticed that there were already clumps and lumps and I hadn’t even used it yet. This was sad, it’s always a no-no when mascara does this. When I pulled the wand out this is what I saw:


The application process was typical; there wasn’t anything notable about this part of the testing. The results were not good and after 1 coat of 10 strokes or so, there was barely a difference in my lashes. Below you will see of one eye with the mascara and one without.

This did not improve after 5 coats and at least 50 strokes. Extra coats just made my lashes look hard and clumpy. It was a sad, sad day for mascara. Half an hour or so after the application the lashes were annoying and hard. I could see them in my peripheral vision and this wasn’t a good thing.

 Here are my 5 coat results and STILL no volume or lengthening:


All in all this was a bad experience. The rest of the product will go to waste as I wouldn’t even pass it on since it was such a bad formula. For the purposes of the campaign I did still bzz about it but I left out my horrible experience. There were 5-6 coupons with the package which I LOVED and I gave all away. In Covergirls defence I have yet to find mascara which works well. It’s not just this company it’s ALL companies and if you have the type of lashes I do then this product is not for you.

In Summary:
Pros – coupons galore, full size, pretty packaging Cons – terrible formula, clumpy, didn’t do what it claimed, feels heavy with multiple coats

Overall rating 1/5 Quality 0/5 Effectiveness 0/5 Packaging 5/5 Size 5/5


*special announcement - this post had a wonderful array of photos from this review and they were here to be posted but for some reason the site isn't letting me.  Will have the photos up as soon as possible*

Secret Clear Gel in Coco Butter Kiss

I received the Secret Clear Gel in Coco Butter Kiss to try free of charge from BzzAgent and Secret. This was actually the second clear gel campaign I have received so this product was already known to me. 


Prior to my first experience with secret clear gel I used Lady Speed Stick religiously as I couldn't find anything that worked better then that, AND I would say it only worked at an 85%.  After trying Secret Clear Gel the first time I was immediately turned.  I had never tried it before because I didn't think id ever like clear gels.  I came to find they actually work way more effectively then the solids. 


This product did not disappoint, and the Coco Butter Kiss is another scent I can add to my current favorites. The product I received this time around provides enough protection to last through my busy work days, its not as fast drying as it claims but I can over look that due to how well it works. 


I do have one criticism now that I have been a secret fanatic: my husband ran out of his deodorant one day so he used mine.  We ended up going out on a day trip and out in the sun I noticed how "white" his under arms were.  This has never happened to me before but I am far lighter in colour then he is (he is Caribbean so Is significantly darker then me).  This doesn't bother me but it may bother those with darker skin tones.


Overall I would HIGHLY recommend this product, especially to those who haven't found a product that works at a 100%.




quality 5/5
effectiveness 5/5
quantity 2/5 (I was sad at how small the sample was and used it up quickly)
price 5/5 (there are always coupons out for these!)
packaging 5/5

Review: Clairol Nice N Easy Root Touch Up

It was kinda funny to receive this campaign as I recently bought this product prior to being invited to the bzzagent program. I was able to get the root touch up kit + a box of dye for only $5 at Walmart plus I had a $2 coupon!! This box however was free of charge courtesy of Clairol and Bzzagent for testing purposes!




Anyway I was invited to this campaign already a fan of the product so my opinion is an easy one. This is a really great alternative for going to the salon as its an easy to use and effective product. For me I use it because I had previously dyed my hair a darker shade of brown (my hair is usually medium brown). What I really LOVE about this product is the fact that I don't have to go through the trouble of dying my entire head just to colour the roots and I don't have to waste a whole box on only roots.




The kit comes with an easy to use "comb" which makes application quick and pretty much mess free (as mess free as dye could possibly be). The downside as with most dyes is that it has a strong dye-like smell but that's to be expected. I would recommend this brand to anyone looking to quickly and effect cover their roots. PLUS there are always Clairol coupons floating around so you almost never have to pay full price!!!




packaging 5/5
effectiveness 5/5
price 5/5 - especially with coupons!
quality 5/5

REVIEW: Secret Clear Gel in "Oh-la-la Lavender"

I received this Secret Outlast Clear Gel free from Secret to review for testing purposes. Let me start out by saying that I am in my 20s and I feel I sweat more then most.

I have used so many deodorant/antiperspirants and I have come to one conclusion - Only one brand has ever worked for me. And with that being said, it doesn't even work at %100. Lady Speed Stick - Powder fresh, I would say it helps with sweat and odour %95 of the time. I only get it in one scent because I hate the other scents. At times it leaves white marks but its the price I have to pay to have a product that works properly.

When I received the clear gel I wasn't to excited about it as it came in the scent expressions scent "ohh-la-la lavender". I HATE lavender so this sat on my counter for a good week before I decided to try it. The first day I noted that the smell of lavender wasn't really there - for me this was excellent. I put it on and I found it a little wet. The product claims to be fast drying but what is really considered "fast"? I felt like I had to hold my arms in the air for a minute or so. I went to sleep and I could smell the clean scent. I enjoyed that. The following day I found that the product actually worked well. I didn't notice any odours, not even a hint of odour and I didn't even apply it again in the morning. I was able to go about my day and was clean and dry. This was fantastic since my old deodorant couldn't do that. Also note that I did not have any white marks on my clothes!!

The packaging of the product is nice, its visually appealing and "pretty". The price was decent - I looked it up on Walmart.ca and it was about $3.79. My only complaint is the amount you get per stick. It seems like they could fit more product in the packaging but just didn't. I don't know whether the actual amount of product received is worth the price.

In summary:

PROS
- visually appealing product
- smells great
- actually works against odour and wetness
- low pirce

CONS
- wet
- lack of product per container

Packaging 5/5
Performace 5/5
Scent 5/5
Cost 5/5
Quantity 4/5

I WILL buy this product and I would definitely recommend it to someone else.