Review: SOYJOY in Cranberry

         This is my review of SOYJOY in Cranberry. Yes, I know this isn't a beauty product, but I received this courtesy of Influenster! (So it automatically means a necessary review). This retails for $0.99 which is the average price for most bars out there. You can buy this directly from their website or at Target. According to their website, SOYJOY is available in 7 flavors: dark chocolate cherry, cranberry, banana, berry, blueberry, mango coconut, and strawberry. (There is definitely a heavy emphasis on berries). 

          According to the SOYJOY website, this is how the product is described:

"Nothing but natural ingredients are crammed into our Cranberry SOYJOY. Real cranberries and whole soy are simply baked together with other all-natural ingredients to deliver big flavor in a healthy package. Keep your joy going the nutritious and delicious way, anytime, anywhere."

         The website also makes 3 claims about this product:

1. All natural
2. Gluten Free
3. Real Cranberries 

          Do I think this is all natural? Well, judging from their 8 ingredients, it seems so. 

          Do I think it's GF? Yes

          Do I think it is made from real cranberries? Yes, they may be dried, but they were dried from fresh cranberries!

          Since this is a food item, there are some nutritional facts to consider. The entire SOYJOY bar is considered one serving size, and based on one serving size it contains:

• 140 Calories
• Total fat 5g- which is 8% of your daily value (DV)
• Saturated fat 10g - 10% DV
• Cholesterol 20mg - 7% DV
• Sodium 40mg - 2% DV
• Potassium 180mg - 5% DV
• Total Carbohydrate 18g - 6% DV
• Dietary Fiber 2g - 8% DV
• Sugar 12g (American Heart Association suggests only 25- 37.5 grams a day)
• Protein 4g - 8% DV
• Vitamin A 2% DV
• Calcium 2% DV
• Iron 4% DV

*DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your diet, these values may be higher or lower.

          Based on the nutritional facts, SOYJOY is fairly low in nutrients. I would not suggest substituting SOYJOY for any meal. I also would not suggest just eating SOYJOY to get your vitamins and minerals. The amount of SOYJOY you would need to eat to get all your vitamins and minerals would lead to an unhealthy amount of saturated fat and total fat. As for the product itself, the texture and consistency is not as you would expect. SOYJOY is not as soft as your would expect, and is quite hard. I would recommend eating SOYJOY with some sort of liquid like tea or milk*. That being said, SOYJOY is also very dry.  So I really do think the intention of SOYJOY is to have it with some liquid. Overall, I think it taste of the product is not bad. It's not too sweet, but not bland. The best way I can explain SOYJOY is that it is a simple fruit bar (to the point where it can be addicting). However, since everyone taste is different, I would suggest trying it for yourself. It's only $0.99, so price point is not bad at all!

My overall rating: 85/100

Some helpful links:
SOYJOY Website
SOYJOY Twitter
SOYJOY Facebook

If you have tried SOYJOY, what are your thoughts? Love it or hate it? #SOYJOY #VoxJoy

Until next time...
-Cindy

*Correction: The packaging does not recommend eating SOYJOY with liquids, I think I just made that up to justify the dryness.

Unboxing PINCHme #3

          Title says it all! If you are wondering, you can actually order these boxes every 2 weeks or so. As always, 3 items of my choice. Hope you enjoy! I'm not sure when I will be doing review, as I am trying to finish up Influenster's items! (I will say it now, but PINCHme is way less work!)

Suave Smoothing Lotion

U by Kotex

Wild Ophelia Beef Jerky Milk Chocolate Bar

          If you get PINCHme, tell me what items you "order", would love to hear!

Until next time...

-Cindy

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Masque (Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas)

          Hi everyone! I know I have been on a roll. Last weekend afforded me some time, so I am getting business done! Today will be my review on the Motagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Masque. I actually didn't get this in my Influenster VoxBox, but I was so intrigued by this product I ran out and bought it at Ulta. It retails for $2.49. Please keep in mind, I have combination to oily skin, and the way my skin reacts to this product may not be the same as other people with different skin types.
          According to the packaging, this is what it has to say about the product:

"Breathe life back into skin with intensely invigorating and revitalising Dead Sea Minerals. We’ve harvested the oceans nutrient rich Seaweed and Kelp right from the source – A satisfying boost for thirsty skin and then some!"

          According the the website, these are the directions to the use of the mask:

"Remove make up and cleanse skin. Remove and unfold mask. Lean back, relax and put the mask on face, patting it down for maximum contact. Leave to work for 10-15 minutes to cool & calm your skin. Remove. Gently massage in any excess liquid. Splash face with cold water, pat dry."

           Also according to the packaging, these are some claims it makes about the product:

• Extraordinary Cleansing Experience!  
• Real mud, dead sea, and sea kelp 
• Invigorating skin will be hungry for more

          Do I think it's an extraordinary cleansing experience? In a way
          Do I think think it has real mud, dead sea, and sea kelp? According to the ingredients list, yes. Although I am not sure what dead sea is. (Although I have a hunch it may be dead sea salt).
          Do I think your invigorating skin will be hungry for more? Mine was! Enough said...

Some interesting facts about this product:

1. There are no parabens.
2. Montagne Jeunesse does NOT test on animals
3. There is perfume in the product.
4. According to their list of ingredients, it does contain mud and kelp.
5. There are probably more interesting facts you could find out about this product if you just head over to their website, facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

          As for my thoughts on this product, I do think it works very well when you follow the directions as put forth by the packaging. When you first take the mask out, it is in quite a tangle. It's extremely messy in the fact that face mask will drip from the sheet and trying to unravel the sheet doesn't help matters. I would suggest opening the sheet mask and applying it from over your sink. Once you put the sheet mask on your face, it actually has a tendency to stay put and not slide down. However, I still will recommend you laying down while you do this face mask due to the dripping product aspect. After about 15-20mins, I noticed the sheet mask wasn't as moist as before and was drying in some part. After removing the sheet mask, there were definitely remnants of face mask on my face, dried. So per instructions, I tried to massage it then wash it off. After drying my face, I did notice it was smooth yet somewhat dry. As I have somewhat oily skin, the dryness resolved itself in about 10-15 minutes. So as a testament to the cleansing power of the sheet mask, it did cleanse the oils off my face well. 
          I didn't really notice the actual effect on the sheet mask until the day after when I was applying my foundation. I usually have some clogged pores around my cheeks, and not matter how much primer I put on, they always appear as bumps on my face when I apply my foundation. However, after I used this face mak, it was not the case. I noticed a considerable decrease in these clogged pore bumps on my cheeks. If that is not proof that this product works, I don't know what is! The only problem I have with this product is the fact it comes i the form of a sheet mask. The face mask itself is runny, and having to untangle the sheet mask first makes it real messy. Also, having it in the form of a sheet mask prevents the product from evenly covering your face. When I took off the sheet, there were blotches of bare/untouched skin by the face mask. The sheet mask is universal and since everyone has a different face shape, it will fit differently on everyone. In my opinion, it would have been better if they just had the face mask in a bottle and let the consumer determine how much product to put on their face. Yes, you would have to get your hands dirty, but they are already getting dirty untangling a sheet mask that doesn't evenly cover the face.

My overall rating: 85/100 (This rating would have easily been at 95 if it weren't for the packaging and easiness of use)

If you have tried this mask, what are your thoughts on the product?

Until next time...
-Cindy

Unboxing PINCHme #2

          Hi everyone! This will be my second PINCHme box. For those of you who don't know, PINCHme is a website in which you can request products to review and the best part is, you pick! Sometimes the products are full size and sometimes they are sample size. You can request up to 3 products at a time (sometimes less depending on product availability). Another perk is you can request other items even if you have not reviewed your previous box. Reviews are relatively easy to do as they are small 10 or so questions you answer on the PINCHme website. They will probably take you less than 1 minute to answer. These are the products I requested for my second box. Enjoy!

Suave Skin Solutions Advanced Therapy

Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting Cream Moisturizer

Lady Gaga Fame Eau de Parfum

          If you get PINCHme, let me know your thoughts and the products you request!

Until next time...

-Cindy

Review: Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish in Reef-Raf #210

         Hi everyone! This is my review on the Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Color in the color Reef-Raf (#210). It's a very hot pink with some coral tones to it. I received this product for review courtesy of Influenster. This product retails for $4.99 and can be purchased at CVS/Pharmacy or any drugstore I believe.
          This is what the Sally Hansen website says about this product:

"Get ready for the shiniest nails ever! Water to workout, day in and day out, nothing will dull these nails. The gloss is protected with the Ultimate Shield Complex, exclusive to Sally Hansen, designed to help polish withstand the wear and tear of everyday living for non-stop shine. Outshine 'em all with our 29 shades!"

          Do I believe I get the shiniest nails? Sadly, no. Sinful Shine by Sinful Colors takes that trophy. However, they are shinier than most other nail polishes!
          Do I think the nail polish withstand the wear and tear of everyday? Yes, for sure!

          As for my thoughts on this product, I think this is a great nail polish. It's very opaque with just one coat, and dry relatively quickly. Just take a look:

          With this nail polish, it took about 6 days for me to notice chipping. This is no chipping with just one coat, no top coat, and no base coat for 6 days. I will say, that the nail polish does goes on a little blotchy. It's not noticeable unless you are 6 inches away from my nail. I have noticed this with other Sally Hansen nail polishes not part of the Triple Shine line, and it might be something that is just in Sally Hansen's nail polish formulas. As for the shine formula, this nail polish is a lot shinier than most nail polish, however, it doesn't shine like Sinful Shine by Sinful Colors.
       
So to summarize:
Pro:

• Opaque
• Only need one coat
• Days before chipping

Cons: 

• Can be blothy
• Average price of nail polish

          So before I leave, some tips on this product. 

Tip #1

          This may be a Spring/Summer color, but that's what I love about it! The Winter can be so deary and having that pop of color just makes me feel so happy and warm (literally). It's been 25 degree F here in Cali (which is a big swing from 65 degree F), and that reminder of summer warms me up! So plop this baby on, and you will shine like the rays of the sun instead of freeze over! #TripleShine #ShiningMoment

Tip #2

          Take off the cap, before you twist. Let me show you:

If you don't, you will spend 5 minutes trying to open the polish with no luck!

If you bought this, let me know your thoughts!

Until next time...

-Cindy

Review: Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush

          This is my review on the Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush! I received it courtesy of Influenster in my Violet Voxbox! This retails for $12.99. However you can pick this up online at Target for $11.99 or at Walmart for $8.37. The brush (not including handle) is about 3 inches in width, 5 inches in length, and 1.5 inches in height. Compared to other brushes in the market, this is definitely a lot bigger in surface area. However, compared to other paddle brushes, it is average in size. I should also say I have long, straight hair. Please keep in mind that if you have a different hair type, then this may or may not work the same for you!

           Let's get into the details shall we? According to the packaging this is the proper way to use and maintain your Quikstyle bursh:

"Use: To help speed your daily styling routine use the Goody QUIKSTYLE paddle brush for detangling wet hair, quick removal of excess water and styling with or without a hair dryer.

Dry: Your Goody QUIKSTYLE brush will air dry following use when stored in an open ventilated area. A blast of hot air from your hair dryer will speed the drying of the microfiber bristles.

Clean: Gently run a wide tooth comb through the bristles to remove excess hair, then wash the bristles with warm water and shampoo. To refresh the microfiber bristles, turn the brush over (bristles facing down) and tap the back with the palm of your hand to get the bristles to stand in place. The microfiber bristles are protected by antimicrobial properties to inhibit the growth of mold or mildew from forming on the brush."

          These are the product features, as listed on the Goody Website:

          PRODUCT FEATURES:

          •  Absorbent microfiber bristles remove 30% of water for faster styling
          • Antimicrobial microfiber keeps the brush fresh
          • Side Vents for maximum air flow
          • Lightweight design to reduce hand fatigue while drying
          • Ergonomic handle is textured for extra grip

 These are the claims on the paddle as listed on the packaging as well as the Goody website.

• Go from wet to beautifully styled hair faster than ever!  
• Super absorbent microfiber bristles remove 30% of water as you style*. 
• It's like a towel and a brush in one. 

          Do I agree that you can go from wet hair to beautiful styled hair faster than ever? No. I believe a hair dryer does that better.

          Do I agree it removes 30% of water? I am not sure if it is 30%, but it does remove enough to the point where I am not dripping water.

          Do I agree it's like a towel and brush in one? In a way, yes!

          As for my thoughts on this product, I think it does brush and dry your hair at the same time! It brushes knots out and will dry your hair. Ironically, when you are brushing your hair, you don't notice it drying. That's because when you brush/comb your hair after a shower, it will clump together. The clumping makes it hard to tell if the brush is working. However, give your hair a few minutes to fan out after brushing it, and you can tell it is much more dry than if you just air dried it. For me, after some towel drying, my hair still drips, but after using this brush for 5 minutes I had no dripping at all! The best way to use the brush is to have you head tilted. I will tell you why. The microfiber bristles are all standing up when you first use it, but after a few brushes through my hair they get knocked down. Once they get knocked down, the microfibers do nothing for the hairs by my scalp. That's because the actual brush bristles are so tall that the microfibers, that get knocked down, won't reach my hairs by the scalp. 
          I will say that using the brush requires extra time in my routine. I normally just leave my hair in a towel for 20 minutes while I do other things. You can't just leave the brush in your hair for it to work, and in my case, I have to brush for about 5 minutes for it to really dry my hair on some level. One brush through is definitely not enough to dry my hair (or at least noticeably). However, 5 minutes isn't really a long time. I will probably keep using this product, but use my towel for all my lazy days :D.

So to summarize:

Pros:

• Does dry hair
• Does brush hair
• Reasonable price

Cons:

• Requires extra time to use (in my case)
• Requires maintenance (cleaning)

My overall rating: 90/100

If you have this brush, I would love to know your thoughts on it!

Until next time..

-Cindy

Unboxing PINCHme #1

          Hi everyone! So I am here to do another unboxing. This time it is for PINCHme. Like Influenster you get items to review. However, you get to pick up to 3 items depending on availability! Downside, the items are only sample size. Upside, everyone get ones as long as items are available!!!! For my first box, I was only able to get 2 items. Let me show you:

Yes the box is slightly banged up

Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex

                                      

Gevalia Caramel Macchiato for Keriug

          So I know these are 2 very random and mismatched items, but still better than nothing! I'll give my thoughts on these a little. So many reviews to do in so little time!

Until next time...

-Cindy