Garnier ULTRA-LIFT TRANSFORMER

I'd posted last month about receiving some goodies from Target.This particular moisturizer I was prepared to use and review but I didn't expect it to WOW me. And yet, it did!

I have combination to oily skin, and a lot of anti-aging stuff is a little too moisturizing for me. This stuff is FABULOUS. The first time I tried it, I was doing a trans-Pacific (Is that even a thing? I've only ever heard of trans-Atlantic before..) flight and wanted some SPF during a layover/run through an airport. The sample they'd sent was teeny tiny and perfect for flying. So I tried it. It smelled nice, which is always a plus. It didn't feel greasy. And it was kind of a BB or CC cream in that it went from white to.. whatever color blended into my skin. It was oddly satisfying.

Since I returned to work I've been wearing this almost daily, when I can find it in the pile on my bathroom sink. I really like it. It gives.. not coverage, but just a hint of some color to even out my complexion. It's really nice. When I use the lazy girl way and "wash" my face with a wipe, there's a yellowish tint left behind from the moisturizer. I am half Asian so yellowish isn't weird to me.

The retail value is about $17 which is on the pricey side for drugstore moisturizers, but I'd spring for it in lieu of my normal splurges which can be upwards of $50. 10/10 would buy full-size!

Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes

Hey charming! I got a little goody from Sephora today. :)

Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes are a great find. For my job, I'm required to keep kind of boring fingernails. Definitely short, which is my preference to begin with. But they have to "complement" my skin tone, which is interpreted in way too many ways. The easy way is to just have them look natural and avoid all questions. I used to enjoy frequent trips to the nail salon to get a fresh coat of OPI GelColor in Bubble Bath, my all-time fave. But since I've been overseas it's become a little tricker and I'm having to learn to do my own nails. Luckily it's hard to tell how bad I suck using such natural shades. 

Still, it's fun to put on a coat of color for the weekend. It's usually hell on my nails and especially my cuticles to just use the regular acetone, so once I heard good things about this Josie Maran product, I was quick to put in an order.

The box says:

These portable 3-in-1 nail wipes remove nail polish, repair dry cuticles, and promote healthy nails--naturally. Acetone-free and grapefruit scented, Bear Naked Nail Wipes are infused with organic Argan Oil to moisturize cuticles and support nail growth.

Acetone-free? Sounds like hippie stuff that isn't going to remove nail polish. But it got my CND Vinylux Weekly Nail Polish off without a problem. The light scent is pleasant, and neither overpowering nor long-lasting. The wipes are tiny and thin which are troubling initially. But I got my fingernails and toenails taken care of with only one. They had an oily residue-no doubt the Argan oil mentioned on the box. I actually quite like them. Especially with winter on the horizon and my crazy handwashing habits, a little extra TLC where I can get it is welcome. I'm definitely excited to see if they do in fact give love to my nails in addition to removing polish. If so, I'm likely to take better care of my nails and keep a nice home manicure going instead of letting it go and go and go until I look like a homeless hooker below the wrists.

REVIEW: Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette

I recently purchased the travel-size Smashbox Full Exposure palette. I was VERY excited to receive this. It had a decent price tag of $22 which I felt was fair for being a seemingly perfect portable neutrals palette. I expected to be able to build day and night looks however the mood strikes.

The first thing I notice when I open it is that it is TINY. I could carry it in a pocket if I wanted. (I wouldn't, but I COULD.) It's very slim which excites me because in a few days I'm taking a loooong international flight and packing as light as possible is always my focus.

At first glance, it seems pretty nice. From left to right you see warm to cool colors, sparkly shades on top and matte on the bottom.

I thought the matte shades were decent. Nothing special, they didn't have that buttery texture I expected from Smashbox. The shimmer shades, though... I do not like them. With the exception of the third from the left (light tan with gold/silver pearl), they are AWFUL. I can't even call them eyeshadows, they're like crappy glitter with ridiculous fallout. I tried them wet and dry, didn't matter. They suck. I'm not returning it because I really did need a portable little neutrals palette but if I could go back in time, I wouldn't buy it again.

Positives: mattes are okay, soooo portable, not too expensive

Negatives: not high quality powders, shimmer shades are crappy glitter and not pigmented, case flimsy

0/10 would buy again.

I will use it begrudgingly. I'm not likely to use most of the shimmer shades. What a waste! Also, if you were wondering, they're not the same size pans as in the full-size. They're smaller, which is okay with me, I wanted something tiny. But for the price tag and the quality, I expected SOMETHING better than what I got.

BOOOOO Smashbox! You can do better!

NINJA EDIT: Okay, I'm returning this. This is a travesty. I expect much higher quality from Smashbox. I will be returning it and possibly going for an Urban Decay or Too Faced neutrals palette to replace it. I say again, BOO SMASHBOX.

REVIEW: Shredz Fat Burner

So it's challenging to give an in-depth review on a product when I only received a packet with 2 pills, but I'm willing to share my experience nonetheless.

SHREDZ® Fat Burner is a gluten-free thermogenic with naturally found ingredients that helps deliver clean energy, intense mental focus, and get you ripped and lean.
Ingredients like Vitamin B5, Green Tea Extract and Cayenne Pepper Extract help raise the body’s internal temperature to burn fat at a constant rate and provide benefits like:

• Melt Fat

• Get Lean

• Clean Energy

• No Jitters

• Increased focus

EACH BOTTLE OF SHREDZ® FAT BURNER CONTAINS SIXTY (60) CAPSULES OF OUR PROPRIETARY FAT BURNING FORMULA DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO CREATE RESULTS.

I had intended to take it as a pre-workout at around 4:30 AM before I hit the gym and went to work. But I had a difficultly rallying myself enough to get out of bed on time and by the time I got out the door I had to work. So instead, I took it on my way out (thinking I was still going to have time to go to the gym), and then again about 6 hours later before I *did* get my workout in. I had the pill on an empty stomach both times and I liked it. I was alert and not at all hungry. As a pre-workout, I definitely felt hotter in my face when I was working out. I don't think I felt a push to do more or harder, but for just sitting around like I was before the gym, it felt alright. With a $60 price tag (for a month's worth if you take two per day) I doubt I'd purchase it. I do feel like it was an effective appetite suppressant but I've got enough willpower for that on my own.

Take that as you will. For me? I will not be purchasing the full-size of this product. But I would take more samples if they came my way, just for the teeny little boost.

Buy Shredz Fat Burner HERE.

REVIEW: Simple Being Slimming Smoothie

I'm always looking for ways to increase my protein intake. I am just terrible at getting it from my diet. Ideally I would nom on steaks and chicken and bacon every meal, but I just don't have the time to organize that. My job takes me to weird locations in the world where I don't always have access to the food I want. I'm lucky to see eggs a few times per week. The easiest thing to provide people? Carbs. So don't worry, I get plenty of calories from carbohydrates. Too damn many if you ask me. Or my waistline.

I recently got a sample of the Simple Being Slimming Smoothie in Vanilla Bean (it also comes in Chocolate Truffle) which came in a convenient little "portion pack." So this product sells for either $50 in a tub (28 servings) or $40 for a box of 12 portion packs. Obviously you get a better deal in the tub, but honestly I'm not completely opposed to the packs as it would be a very convenient way to carry it around if I wanted to pre-fill my shaker with water and just add it in when I'm ready.

I had intended to actually make a smoothie with this but due to the craziness of work I ended up taking it as breakfast after lifting this morning. It was pretty tasty as far as protein goes. It wasn't chalky, it mixed easily with cold water. It was gross-looking, kind of a milky weird ick. I would like to try it blended with frozen fruit or instant coffee and ice! I'm surprised at its nutrition, actually. 110 calories per serving, 26 g protein, 1 g carb, 0 g fat. Huh. Now I'm not looking for a low-fat protein in the least, but the low carb is nice. Plus the lack of fat makes it a lower calorie option so that's a win.

My go-to protein boasts 6 g less protein, 4.5 g more carbs, and 1.75 g more fat. And a heftier price tag. 10/10 would buy the tub and give it a shot. :)

RECOMMENDED!

Simple Being Slimming Smoothie Tub HERE