Burt's Bees #BringBackTheBees

Maybe you've taken notice lately that everyone seems to be getting on this vegan/cruelty-free kick lately. I think it's great, cruelty-free makeup is amazing. There is no reason that animals should suffer just so we can pretty up our faces, hair, etc.

The big question that was posed by a family member was this: Is Burt's Bees still cruelty-free now that it's owned by Clorox?

The answer? Yes. PETA is a wonderful organization and they do their homework when it comes to companies and their products. According to PETA, Burt's Bees is a cruelty-free company. It is not vegan, however. Most of the products contain bee's wax, explaining why it isn't vegan.

Burt's Bees

Things that made me smile: lip balm, lip shimmer, lip crayon, face wash, "Recycle On Us", #BringBackTheBees

• I have been a sucker for BB's lip balm (chapstick) for years now. I love them. They moisturize my lips and are the only chapstick I'll use. Now they even come in more scents!
• Lip shimmers are not my favorite things in the world, if I'm being honest. But I do love BB's lip shimmer. It's such a nice touch if you want to spruce up while your out. It's great for purses since it's so small it can fit in that little zip pocket on the inside of most purses. 
• Something that has been making me giggle for a while is lip crayons. Whenever I use them I can't help but feel like a kid again trying desperately to draw inside the lines! I've tried a few and fell in love with some. But hands down I love BB's lip crayon the most! 
• Having super sensitive skin is a curse. No matter how well you take care of your skin you will ALWAYS fight break outs for NO reason but your skin got angry. I have a hard time finding a good deep cleansing face wash, but I found one that works well with my skin! I use the Peach & Willow Bark deep pore scrub. This product is great for my skin. I use it about once every week-2 weeks (like I said, sensitive skin). You do have to watch out, though, you can over-scrub pretty easily with this wash.
• The company now has an option to recycle certain approved containers. Lip balm containers and shimmer containers, I know for sure, are approved and will be recycled by the company. Just follow the instructions on the website and you can help the environment! Recycle On Us
• #BringBackTheBees, I love this! BB's decided it's time to deal with the fact that bees are dying out. Check out their website to find out more about their awesome movement! #BringBackTheBees

Things that made me frown: Clorox, shampoo/conditioner

• I was sad to find out that the company had been sold to Clorox. It does seem that Clorox has taken it upon themselves to not only keep the company cruelty-free but also wants to boost the company. Clorox is not a vegan company and is not known for being cruelty-free. So I'm very leery about the company now. (I keep checking PETA's list of approved companies to make sure BB is still on it.)
• With thin hair that LOVES to get super oily I am always on the lookout for good shampoo that helps keep the oil down a bit and helps my hair look voluminous. When I found out that BB's had shampoo/conditioner I got super excited. My hair did fine for about 2 weeks, but after... not so much. Just not happy with the overall feel of my hair and scalp after a while of use.

Over All: Super happy!

•  As a whole, I love this company. There are plenty of products I didn't include because this was becoming a bit too long of a post. (I may do individual reviews at a later date!) This company is simple, and the initiatives that it's taken as of late to better the environment and the company itself shows great and promising signs.  I'm all for this company!

Score: 10 out of 10

Side Note: If cruelty free is important to you and aren't too sure if a company is cruelty free go to Beauty Without Bunnies to check out that company. The majority of large companies are on this list and you'll be able to find out if it's cruelty free, vegan, etc. The majority of my research for my own collection of cosmetics/personal care starts right there!

At Home Remedies for Strech Marks?

Stretch marks, chances are you've got 'em. Sad but true. I can tell you that I  have plenty to go around and would like them to go away! So I have decided to take the time to try out all those weird "AT HOME REMEDIES!" I did a bit of googling and compiled a list of tips and tricks to test out.

1.) Cocoa/Shea Butter
2.) Apricot Mask
3.) Turmeric
4.) Lemon Juice
5.) Olive Oil
6.) Aloe Vera
7.) Sugar Rub

My goal is to try try each method I found for two weeks. I will take notes and before/after pictures for references.  Now they are numbered in the order that I will try them. The first one is Cocoa/Shea Butter, which is convenient considering I already have Shea Butter!

Quick info time! I have stretch marks on my legs/inner thighs and my lower stomach. Typical places for women to have stretch marks. I will be applying the Shea Butter to only one of my legs so I have a control to see if there is a difference at the end of the 2 weeks.

Now, the Shea Butter I am using is 100% Pure Shea Butter from Recho Ayumaah Cosmetics (http://www.racosmetics.com/home.html) in the Lemon Grass scent. It smells SO good! Normally I apply lotion or moisturizers after my showers so I just replaced my normal lotion for my legs with this Shea Butter. So far I have been pretty pleased with this product (even though I've only used it for a short amount of time; my elbows have never been so hydrated and smooth!). I'm excited to see what this will do for my stretch marks.

On the 9th of May I will post my review of what Shea Butter has done for my stretch marks. Then we'll be on to another "Home Remedy". 

See ya soon!

Pearl Bath Bombs- Bath BOMBS?! Part 3

The last in my little three part series is Pearl Bath Bombs. This is a company I had seen all over my Facebook feed via friends sharing the awesome demo videos from the company. Much like the Fragrant Jewels videos I had seen.

Pearl Bath Bombs

• I bought 2 bath bomb, Strawberries and Champagne ($14.94) and Mermaid Goddess ($16.99).
• Before I get into the Smiles and Frowns I want to say that I haven't been so pleased with a company in a very long time. I have a hard time being satisfied with most to all aspects of a company. With Pearl Bath Bombs, I have had a wonderful experience. 

Like my fancy editing? These lovely rings were inside the bath bombs. Super pretty!

 This is the Strawberries and Champagne bomb. Fantastic smell!

Sea Goddess in use. It smelled SO good I can't get over it!

Things that made me smile: customer service, shipping, website, scent

• The customer service I received when contacting this company was outstanding. Simply one of the best experiences I have received from a company in a long time. After my bad experience with Fragrant Jewels I contacted Pearl Bath Bombs and inquired about their shipping. Not only were they far more straight forward, the person helping me did a bit of a quick calculation for me and informed me of a rough estimate of how long it would take the package to get to me once in transit. I contacted them a second time with interest on where to leave reviews on their website and I was given the answer promptly and professionally. 
• Shipping! The one thing that can ruin an order for anyone. The shipping policy for this company is much better than Fragrant Jewels. Not only do they take much less time to ready a package, they ship it through much faster means. All in all, it took roughly 2 days to ship out my package, once the order was placed, and the a week for it to arrive. I am very pleased with Pearl's shipping policies and practices.
• Websites can get messy and jumbled. We've all seen them and you know it. The website for Pearl Bath Bombs, to me, is crisp, professional, and clean. I love the look of it and how easy it is to navigate around it. There isn't a direct way to find their shipping policy but if you go to the bottom of the homepage and click FAQ at the bottom of this page will be an entire shipping section of the FAQ and all your questions will be answered. Great website!
• I had one of the WORST days ever the other day. I had too many errands to run and encountered WAY too many people that were just cranky... When I got home I was so tired I almost didn't even want to get the mail even though I knew I had a Pearl Bath Bomb waiting for me. I got the mail anyway and walked right to the bathroom, started the water, and lit my FAVORITE candle. I used the Strawberries and Champagne bath bomb and I kid you not, I have not had a better bath ever. I got to relax after a super stressful day and I almost fell asleep in the tub! That's how relaxed I got! I would advise everyone to give Strawberries and Champagne bath bomb a try!

 Things that made me frown (kinda?): selection, price

• The one thing I wasn't thrilled with was their selection. There just isn't a wide selection to choose from as far as scent goes. BUT a redeeming factor is that they have bundles you can buy that are not for special occasions; you can buy a 3 pack of a scent if you want any time of the year. So, they made up for lack of selection by adding bundle options.
• Pearl Bath Bombs have bombs at ranging prices. The prices range from $16.99 down to $14.94. Honestly, this isn't a frown so much as an "aw shucks". I grew up where if you can save money on an item by getting it elsewhere, you did. But, I love this company so much I don't care!

Over All: Super Happy!

•  I love this company. Their shipping is standard (1 week roughly and I'm in Alaska!), customer service is out of this world, and I love the products. Definitely a return customer here!

Score: 10 out of 10!

Update on Fragrant Jewels Bath Bombs!

I want to give an update since I have had the opportunity to try out all 4 bombs that I bought.

Things that made me smile: RINGS!

• I am a sucker for RINGS! 

(Please ignore my terrible nails! I just got acrylics taken off!)

Things that made me frown: smell, itching...

• I only enjoyed two of the scents I bought, Revive and Unwind. The other two, Midnight Garden and Tranquility, didn't smell for long and it ended up being a bath with colored water. The issues I had with actually receiving the bath bombs and then once they arrived only two had a scent that lasted for the duration of my bath (instead of 2 minutes) I'm just not satisfied. 
• Itching... I couldn't stop itching for three days after I used one of the bath bombs. I've tried bath bombs from three companies so far and Fragrant Jewels is the only one I had an allergic reaction to.

This being said, I have to say (despite the itching) I am in love with the Revive and Unwind bath bombs. These two somewhat redeem the company for it's, quite honestly, many faults.

And now we arrive at the question: Will I be buying from this company again?

• Answer: No. Two good bath bombs are not enough to redeem so much fault. I won't be buying from Fragrant Jewels again.

It's Okay to Pamper Yourself

I can't speak for the majority, but I do know that there are some women out there that grew up being taught practicality. It's a great lesson to learn, keeps you safe in a world of uncertainty. Yet what happens when we are fed up and need to relax? Women tend to be the ones that do it all. We go to work and help bring home the "bacon", clean the house, wash the clothes, cook the food, etc. And you know what? That's okay. If that's what you choose, good for you. Women have the right to choose this. But what I had to learn was that it's okay to, also, choose relaxation.
What do I mean? I mean that a bath bomb here and there, a new hair cut, or getting your nails done; all these things are completely fine to treat yourself to. Women are often taught self sacrifice. We are taught, through the actions of our mothers, to do for others before ourselves. This is noble, humble even. But don't forget to take care of yourself once in a while. Let yourself soak in a bath for a half hour and get all pruned up. Let yourself take an hour and have a nail appointment. Allow yourself to be pampered. It's okay. It's good. It's not practical, but that's okay.
Sorry about the randomness, this isn't a review (obviously). But I just needed to say it. See you soon with Part 3 of the Bath Bomb Reviews!

Fragrant Jewels Review- Bath BOMBS?! Part 2

The first company I ordered from, and subsequently the company I had the most issues with, was Fragrant Jewels. Looking at their website and seeing the wide variety of smells and products I was initially impressed. The candles looked pretty and of course I was drawn to the bath bombs. So with such a good first impression how could I be so unhappy with them? Well, here's my review.

Fragrant Jewels

• Fragrant Jewels has a wide variety of bath bombs. Each bomb is $14.95. I had a hard time picking just a couple. I initially picked three:  Tranquility-Lavender, Revive-Grapefruit, and Unwind-White Tea. I added one more bath bomb, Midnight Garden-Jasmine, when I got the offer of free shipping with any purchase over $50. In total I ordered 4 bath bombs.

Things that made me smile: ring, variety, well known, smell, quantity

• RING! I am a sucker for rings. They're my favorite piece of jewelry! When I received my package (finally...) and got to use one of the bath bombs I fell in love with the ring. I thought I was going to get one of the, well, ugly rings I had seen on other reviews and such. I was so happy to find it the opposite. The clear pod sprang up to the surface of the bath to reveal a beautiful green jeweled ring. Now looking at it I knew this was a $10 ring at most (and I was right) but I don't care. It's so beautiful. I can't wait to see what the others are. (Plus when you order from Fragrant Jewels you can pick your ring size!)
• Variety, boy oh boy! Of the companies that I have tried, Fragrant Jewels is up at the top when it comes to variety. From grapefruit to cotton candy there are so many option it could take a while to get bored.
• The company as a whole is pretty well known. They are all over Facebook and there a good number of review videos on YouTube. I prefer buying from more well known online companies.
• So let me give you some backstory. I really wanted the grapefruit scented bomb. I mean I really wanted it. So when my package finally arrive I was SUPER impressed! I opened my mailbox and found the package inside. MY MAILBOX SMELLED LIKE GRAPEFRUIT! So needless to say once I put the bomb in the water my entire house smelled like grapefruit. I am so very happy with this one bath bomb. (The others don't smell as potent but they are pretty smelling nonetheless.)
• Quantity: this is going to be a loos interpretation of the word. Comparing the size of these bombs to that of Fresh Rain, there isn't much size difference. Actually there is less considering there is a capsule inside the Fragrant Jewels one, meaning less product. But, it fizzes much slower and need much less to color, disperse, and fizz than Fresh Rain. I would bet you could get at LEAST 2 uses out of one bomb if you broke it in half.

Things that made me frown (a lot): shipping, customer service, website

• My biggest issue with this company is that they border on falsely advertising shipping. When you look at the checkout page and pick your shipping option you generally assume the days stated mean time in transit. Example: 3-7 business days, most would take this as meaning the package will take 3-7 business days to arrive at my home. This is the option for free shipping. I picked it and waited for my package. 7 business days later no package. I was concerned and looked at the tracking number. It was in Washington... why? I contacted the company and they told me that the 3-7 business days meant how long it takes for the package to leave their warehouse... I went to the website and found that there isn't an easy way to click on shipping information. It's in their FAQ section and it's poorly organized to boot. (This is honestly a whole story/review in it's own. I might elaborate more later or in a video.) All in all it took over 2 weeks to get to my home. Very unhappy with this whole ordeal.
• Customer service is something everyone has to deal with at some point in their life. My job was customer service for 4 years! Trust me, I get that it gets old and some days you just CAN'T paint on that happy face and be UBER nice to people. That's why I don't expect that when I deal with anyone's customer service associate. I get it. What I do expect, however, is the service I would give someone. I would not tell them they were wrong when they told me the tracking number my company sent them. I would not be rude right out the gate. I would not make the experience terrible for the customer that misunderstood the horrible shipping policy my company decided on. Instead of trying to sympathize and explain, nicely, what I misread/misunderstood, they just told me I was wrong and that there isn't anything to be done.
• Website... I hate it when websites have important information that is HIDDEN somewhere in a non-easily accessible section of the website. It isn't that hard to put a "shipping" section on your website. I really don't like it when it's hidden in the FAQ portion of the website. In the case of this company it's poorly written/organized how they explain shipping. And then to be cryptic in how they advertise shipping on the checkout page... Not impressed at all.

Overall feeling

• I like the product. I'm impressed with the one bath bomb I really wanted. I got a beautiful ring. But honestly, I wouldn't make buying from this company a habit. For one, they are $14.95 each. When I have the option to buy ones I already love for only $4 a piece it seems like a ripoff to order one from Fragrant Jewels AND have to pay shipping as well. The company has not impressed me with their service and I find the way they advertise their shipping on the main parts of their page bordering on false advertising.

Score: 3 out of 10

• Reasoning: I liked the smell of the grapefruit one I really wanted. I liked the ring. That's all. I ordered 4 and was not impressed, per say, by the other 3 I ordered. I was let down by the company on service and shipping standards. And as I have stated many times already, I GREATLY disagree with their advertisement methods pertaining to shipping. I probably won't be ordering from this company again.

Bath BOMBS?! Part 1

Okay, unless you have been living completely off-grid you have no doubt seen advertisements for bath bombs lately. There are a multitude of companies that sell them including Lush, Fragrant Jewels, Pearl Bath Bombs, etc.
For me, I decided to try a multitude of bath bombs. I have ordered from a couple different companies so this will end up as a 3 part series (for now!),

Fresh Rain Bath And Body

• I bought a whopping 12 bath bombs. So according to their 6 for $20 deal, 12 bath bombs are just $40. (I did get a little discount so I paid just under $40.)

Things that made me smile: price, location, service, website

• These babies are only $4, 6 for $20.  They're super affordable in my opinion.
• Fresh Rain is located in my town, making this my go-to place for bath bombs. 
• The service I received, while a little too helpful, was such a refreshing change from my other experiences that were less than favorable that I walked out of the store genuinely happy.
• So one of the things that makes me frown the most is when I fall in love with a little mom 'n' pop shop and then move far away from it... Thankfully, I won't have this problem! Simply hop on over to https://freshrainak.com/ and check out the options! DISCLAIMER: The products are made by the owners so they may not always have certain ones in stock.
  

This one is a great option for anyone wanting a nice bath that smells amazing!

Things that made me frown: smell?

• The only thing I didn't like about some of these bath bombs was that I couldn't tell what it actually smelled like without opening the package. For example, I bought the Sweet Pea bath bomb and once I opened it to use it did not smell like I had hoped. (This isn't too upsetting considering I had never bought bath bombs before. And when packaged, you don't always get the most accurate sniff possible.)

 Overall Feeling

• I love this company. I recommend the Cucumber, Summer Fun, and Lavender bath bombs. I have tried quite a few already and the only factor in me not liking a couple of them is just the smell. No big deal. I have plenty more to try!

Rating: Total 10 out of 10

• Reason for rating: My only frown was something that is an assumed risk with any "smell-good" product. With this already in the back of my mind I am completely happy with this company and their products.

For now, I'm off to take another bath! I've got a rose scented bomb to test out!

Welcome!

I decided a while ago that it was time to put my opinion out there. The catalyst was this: I ordered bath bombs from a company and received such poor service and had such a terrible experience I wished I had been able to find clear, concise, and honest reviews of that company before I ordered. So here I am, giving my reviews of the beauty products (and their companies) that I try.

I'm most likely going to start with the bath bomb company that I ordered from... if they ever get here, that is.

Anywho, I will be back sometime in the next few days with a report on some bath bombs! Until then, see you later!

Michelle