New Champion C9 Sports Bras

Ahhhh the joy of sports bras - the eternal search for the best uni-boob support! Haha! There are a ton of different styles, but the aim is the same - keep "the girls" firmly under wraps so you can run for your life, downward-facing dog until you're happy or crossfit like a boss! Ok - I do none of those things :) I can't seriously run due to a knee injury, I look like plump Gumby gone wrong with yoga and crossfit is for serious people - people who like to tell you how much they love crossfit and how much YOU will love crossfit someday (haha!). I am just a humble average gal who wants to be healthier and more fit, but struggles on the daily with things that are more fun like Netflix binge watching, paper crafting, donuts and sleeping in whenever possible, etc. However, we have a small home gym: treadmill, rowing machine and weights. I am a power walker with intermixed bursts of sprints and the rowing machine helps with arms and core. And weights are, well, weights - mainly a little strength training for me. Alllllllllllll this long windedness to say I am looking for support, but nothing too intense because my workouts are pretty simple. I am not ample chested, an overfull B to under filled C - I did *not* inherit my mother's lovely genetics in that department - I am curvy and tall, not in the slightest petite. So given the lower intensity of my workouts and my body design this is how I feel about the two bras made by Champion that I picked up at a discounted price courtesy of Influenster at Target to test out.

C9 Champion® Women's Power Shape Sports Bra $19.99

I picked this bra because it was more like an actual bra vs. the typical uni-boob compression bra. I have never had a sports bra like this and, while I was wary, I wanted to try something different to see if it something I would prefer more. 

I did not. :) 

This bra is, for me, is WHY I buy *other* bras to work out it. It is super padded and structured, it needs to be since there isn't a wire. I felt too buxom in it, my breasts felt in the way of what I was doing. Never mind that I kept thinking about it the whole time I was working out (every joking comment I had ever heard about boobs giving a girl two black eyes popped into my head - cringe!), which kept me from focusing on what I was doing. I also do not like the hook-and-eye strap in the back. I could feel it - pronounced feel it - depending on how I was stretching, bending or moving. The wicking fabric does its job and I am not soaked post work out and I really like the pattern.

This style may be great for some, but it just isn't for me. It is too stylin' and profilin' for my workouts.

Power Core®Compression Cami Sports Bra $16.99

I picked this bra because it was more like the typical uni-boob (this is NOT a bad thing in my eyes) compression bra that I am used to and I like to have things in my comfort zone in case experiments go awry. 

Which it did. Totally did. 

Thank goodness for my forethought to grab two! This style of bra is me, my comfort zone, my happy place. I prefer to not feel so buxom, rather more controlled in the chest area. I like the minimizing effect and that my breasts were the last thing on my mind.  It was comfortable and again the wicking fabric did its job. I think the style is super cute - I really liked the dual patterns (pebbles/stripes) on this one. However, I wish they had made the band around the torso come down a little further. I think it provides more comfort and better support, without detracting from the style.

February Empties - Yes Please or No Thank You!

Hello blogosphere! Oh how I have missed you! Life seems to get in the way or maybe it is binge watching Netflix - either way I missed my quick hit posts of things I enjoy or things I could really pass on. What better way to get back on the horse than to do a little February empties post? I *love* empties blog posts and YT vids. I like to see how things actually worked out vs. hauls when everyone is so hopeful and excited about the pile o' goodies before them. I find I read/watch FAR few hauls than I used to, because unless I know how they worked for people I am less excited to try something. So here are just my few cents on these empties.

I didn't seem to finish a lot in February, but what little I did finish seems to be more around skin care than makeup. So here is the quick 411 of my Yes Please or No Thank you on these products.

  

Makeup(ish) Things

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - I think this is still my favorite mascara of all time! Of all the expensive ones I own, this humble drugstore diva is my go-to. I like how wet the formula is, I get great buildable length and volume. They last a lonnnnng time! I throw them out before they dry out, but probably after the recommended time frame because I love it so much. (Yes, Please!)

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Intenza Mascara - I got this in a Target beauty box and I liked it ok. It did a decent job with the volume, but as usual, I had to pair it with something else to get length. It is a more dry formula, which doesn't work as well with my lashes so it isn't my preference. If you like a dry formula that does a good job with volume this is worth trying. (No, Thank you!)

NYX HD Concealer - I love this concealer! I have two backups because I use this all the time. I like it for under the eye and down the nose for highlighting most especially. It works well for a little added coverage for hyper pigmentation or blemishes as well. I purchase it in two colors depending on where I am using it. Thankfully, Ulta often has sales for NYX so it is easy to get a good deal. (Yes, Please!)

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Shine Free Primer - No, just no. I am always on the hunt for a drugstore mattifying primer to love because the only ones I love are high end. Sadly, I am still at a loss for a good one. This one broke me out almost immediately and it did nothing to mattify my skin under my makeup. I would not recommend it for anyone with oily skin. (No, Thank you!)

EOS Coconut Milk Lip Balm - I don't find any of the EOS balms really moisturizing except for this coconut milk one. I don't know why this one is different, but it is somehow - at least for me. For moisturizing I like this one, but NO other scent. However, I highly recommend the EOS products (not the coconut milk) under liquid lipsticks. They seem to have a really good priming function to them (the coconut milk is too moisturizing so it interrupts the long wear property). (Yes, Please!)

Elf Lip Exfoliater - Still my go-to lip scrub. I like the scent/flavor (the original is like caramel, I think)  and I like the lipstick style application - far less messy than tubs and pots. I know people stress over the cleanliness of this scrub in the tube, but I only exfoliate after I wash my face and I spray a little isopropyl alcohol on it every so often to kill germs. (Yes, Please!)

Cleansing Cloths

Let me preface these by saying I do not ever use them for "cleansing" or "moisturizing" directly. I use them to remove makeup and then I wash my face with a liquid face wash and use a separate moisturizer. Sometimes I use them to refresh my face post working out or a morning face refresher if I am not showering immediately. So my expectations are very specific. 

Elf Studio Make-up Remover Cloths - Of the bunch, these are definitely my favorites. They remove mostly all of my makeup without burning my eyes or irritating my skin. I like the level of moisture in them, not too wet and not too dry; however, I do find they can get a little more dry by the end of the package. They have basically no scent, which I appreciate as I have a very sensitive nose. Since I can get them at Target (where I do most of my shopping) they are super convenient for me. I know everyone talks about how cheap they are, but honestly, they aren't that cheap. There are only 20 in a pack, which isn't enough to get me through a full month. I wear makeup pretty much every day so factoring in that I have to use 1.5 packs for one month they come out to being about the same price as a lot of other wipes. (Yes, Please!)

Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Cloths - These smell delicious! I love the scent, which is a soft lemony scent and not at all overwhelming or lingering. I think they work decently well for removing makeup, but I don't find it removes all my eye makeup very well so I always have to use a secondary product which is a little annoying. They also seem to sting my eyes - just a little bit, nothing too intense. They are decently saturated and don't dry up before I finish the package. (No, Thank you!)

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - These remove most of my makeup, including eye makeup - but sadly I hate them. They burn - I MEAN LAVA BURN - my eyes. Unlike any other product, they irritate my eyes. Which bums me out because they remove makeup so well and it is a brand I have liked for years, but no matter how many times I try them they burn my eyes and sting my skin. My skin is a bit pink after I use them, which doesn't happen with any other wipes. Which causes my skin to be irritated when I put on my serum or moisturizer on. I am finished with these, there are too many other ones out there to keep trying to make them work. (No, Thank you!)

So Fresh, So Clean - Hello Sahara Dessert - welcome to my cleansing cloth! These are soooooo dry! I had to moisten them under the faucet to even be able to use them. I thought maybe it was a bad batch, so I bought another one - same issue. Maybe it is just my luck or maybe these just suck. Either way they didn't do a good enough job, once moistened, to warrant my trying again. I think I picked these up at 5 Below. (No, Thank you!)

Skin Care

Skin Food Peach Sake Toner - Love, love, LOVE this toner! It is a Korean product - and I tend to love Korean skincare - this toner is geared to oily, acne prone skin. I have used several bottles of this product, so I can confidently say that, for me, it does what it should: helps reduce breakouts and keeps me matte. It is mild and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin nor does it dry me out at all. The peach scent is light, not overpowering and doesn't linger. This will always be a go-to toner for me (especially now that I can get it on Amazon with free shipping) as long as I have a more oily skin profile. Note: I am more dry in the winter and still find that this products works well, not irritating to cold weather skin changes. (Yes, Please!)

Simple Micellar Water - I have done an entire post on just this product - check it out here - suffice it to say I *really* love it and I will continue to buy it. There are other micellar waters out there and this is my favorite so far. (Yes, Please!)

I am testing out Bioderma now, but that has other properties in it for my oily/acne prone skin so I am not sure it would be a fair comparison. 

Boots Botanics Mattifying Cleansing Mousse and Shine Away MattifyingToner - I really wanted to like these, but sadly I didn't. They weren't bad, but they weren't great either. I don't feel that they did what they claimed to do - my skin was no less oily or any more mattified. My skin was clean and it didn't irritate or break me out, but it didn't *do* anything for my skin either. I didn't finish the toner, because I have used other toners that I love far more and would rather use those than waste more time with this one. In general I didn't feel like these two products accomplished anything, which bummed me out since I have always read great things about Boots products. Everyone's skin is different, so what works for some doesn't work for others - and I was in the others category on these two. (No, Thank you!)

Lather AHA Hand Creme with Evening Primrose - I am torn on this product - I love it and hate it at the same time. Love: super moisturizing, isn't sticky and repairs my winter hands. Hate: the scent and the pot format. I have found that I am just not a rose person, even with a lighter scent like primrose. I also don't like getting lotion in my nails, it annoys me to death. So while I think this product is awesome it just isn't for me, no matter how hard I try. Hopefully, I will be able to find it a good home because it really is a great product. (No, Thank you!)

Hair Products

Healthy Sexy Hair - Soy Tri-Wheat Lean In Conditioner - This is my favorite leave in conditioner. I like the subtle scent (it doesn't linger), it helps my brush get through my mass of long thick hair without any pulling or tearing. My hair is super shiny and soft when I use this and it doesn't *feel* like I have product in my hair. Highly recommend this product! Pretty much everything I have tried by this company is a thumbs up from me. (Yes, Please!)

Macadamia Oil Control Hairspray - I originally tried this from a sale on HauteLook and found that I loved the hold - firm but not crunchy, the shine - it doesn't dull my hair when I spray it on and the scent - it doesn't linger or choke me. Then Ulta put them on clearance so I bought all of them! Sadly, this is my last bottle, but in searching for a link for the blog I found it on Amazon for a great price - it is now IN MY CART! (Yes, Please!)

And more....

Bath and Body Works - Winter Cranberry Foaming Hand Soap - I am only going to include this once since I bought a dozen during the sale after the holidays (and I had a half dozen stashed away from the year before - don't judge me!). This is my all time favorite scent from BB&W. They rename it every year or every couple of years, but thankfully they haven't changed the scent - cranberry with a tiny hint of peach. Perfection! Funny enough one of my cats *loathes* this scent - she runs away after I wash my hands with it - odd duck! (Yes, Please!)

Influenster Wellness Voxbox

I was happily surprised to receive another VoxBox from Influenster last month! There is nothing more exciting than receiving a box filled with free goodies at your doorstop. Life around my house has been true madness and I haven't blogged in forever since time seems to just escape me completely. Sitting down to really think through reviews, write them, edit them and then have someone else read and edit takes way more time than I ever thought possible! Trying to get dinner on the table so I am posting this without an extra read through - scary - so I apologize for any typos!! It would be so much easier to just say I love everything, but I really like to try things out and see if they are actually worth repurchasing.

So let's check out the breakdown of the goodies (I have included links to all the product pages as well):

Olay Active Botanicals Refreshing Gel Cleanser - I am always hesitant on trying new cleansers because my skin is so sensitive and can easily react. Olay is a respected brand, so I was willing to give it a chance. The bottle touts the cleanser to be formulated with "Snow Mushroom" - really? I feel like all of these companies go in search of fun plant names so they can try to ooooo and ahhhhhh us into buying them for the natural properties. I have no idea if snow mushrooms are a magical answer, but according to a little research this particular fungus is used in China & Japan for its anti-aging properties. I do not see any immediate changes in my skin, nor would I expect to. I don't have a ton of fine lines, yet, so I would assume if I used it for awhile I would be a better judge of its effectiveness. It also supposedly helps the skin retain moisture, but since I use a moisturizer aside from this I don't know how effective it is alone. There is little to no scent - which is MUCH appreciated!

Verdict: Either way it is a cleanser, it cleanses. My skin had no reactions that I noticed and it felt soft and clean, with no weird residue like some cleansers can leave. I recommend it if you have normal or sensitive skin.  

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer - Jergens has been a family favorite for a long time - I think I will always be a fan of the original cherry-almond scent! It reminds me of my dad - he always kept a bottle in the kitchen and would lotion his hands each day. He always knew the best things to use from kitchens to cars and some things never change! 

This particular lotion is different though... and I have to say it weirds me out a little bit. The idea of applying while my skin is still wet is just odd. I don't like the scent at all - too floral - this is the Monoi Oil scent. It is heavy and lingering. It sticks to my towel and competes with my perfume. For that reason I would never re-purchase it. If you don't wear perfume then it shouldn't bother you. I believe there is a coconut one which I would rather try since I love coconut and think it would be great for summer. If it is as strong as this one, then I would wear it in lieu of perfume. The process is odd as it is not natural for me to stand soaking wet slathering on lotion and THEN toweling off.  It is easy to forget since I have been showering and getting ready for a few decades. It would be possible to retrain myself - for the right scent that is. My skin feels SERIOUSLY soft and VERY moisturized! It does what it advertises, but in an odd way. I am also not sure it takes me any less time to put this on vs. other lotion - it just happens in a different order. I was absolutely washing my towels more frequently since the scent was overpowering. I have a super smeller, aromas that bother me are extreme compared to other people. 

Verdict: Yes, extremely moisturizing, easy to use - if in an odd and out of process way for me, Monoi Oil STINKS! Ack! But I don't like floral scents in general, so take that with a grain of salt. I say it is worth a shot for another scent. Coconut is my jam, so I may try that one instead!

Attitude Hair Care - Made in Canada! I don't think I have ever seen that on a product I have purchased. Canadians are so sweet and nice - clearly they have to make something good. Right?! Right!! This is a nice shampoo. It is totally clear, I don't think I have used a shampoo that didn't have some color to it before so this was interesting. I was worried that it wouldn't lather well since I have found a lot of the paraben-free soap products to not lather enough, but this had no issue lathering up. Little to no scent - MUCH appreciated! I have A LOT of hair - a mane, if you will - so this perspective may be different than some people, but I seemed to use more of this than regular shampoo to get it throughout my locks. This isn't necessarily bad, jut means I will go through it faster. I like that they say their motivation is providing safe, toxin free products for the well being of everyone. They talk a good game and this chicky is buying it!

Verdict: Good shampoo. Good company. Good Motivation. Trying something new and pick it up the next time you are in Target.

Attitude Dishwashing Liquid - Oh Canada - I love you! Apple Basil dish detergent?! Yes - YESSSS!! Apple is my favorite scent in my kitchen. I buy it regularly! Now they want to combine that with non-toxic ingredients so I can wash my dishes without worrying about WHAT I am washing them with - YES! 

Verdict:  Clean your dishes with confidence! The scent is awesome, the toxin-free detergent will make you and your dishes happy!

Colgate Enamel Health Mouthwash - My husband is obsessed with mouthwash. He loves the stuff! It figures into his routine a couple of times a day. Maybe this is one of the reasons the dentist says he has the Cadillac of teeth! Haha! I on the other hand do not use it but so often as it immediately precedes coffee and I have to have loyalties in life and pretty much everything fails when placed next to coffee. This is alcohol free and indicates that it helps to fight cavities. I haven't had a cavity in over a decade and my husband has only had 2 in over two decades. So we are pretty lucky on the cavity front. So basically does it taste good and does it freshen breath?? It's mouthwash - of course it does! Haha! 

Verdict: It's mouthwash - it is pretty straightforward, minty, strong and good for a kissable mouth! Two thumbs up for kissable mouths - Colgate can help you get there!

Urgent RX Ache and Pain Relief To-Go - I am a big fan of products like this. I used one like it many years ago, thanks to a friend, and it was very helpful! I haven't been able to find it in awhile so I am guessing it was discontinued. I don't often use medication like this, I try to limit my intake for only desperate times/measures, so I have not had an opportunity to use it. However, I am happy that it is small and easily kept in my wallet for any emergency when I may need it. I don't look forward to using it since that means I will be all ouchy and stuff, but I am grateful to have something within reach that will hopefully fast acting and easy to use in any situation!

Verdict: TBD... However, I see on their website they have several varieties so I think I may try the allergy version or the upset stomach (I have the weakest stomach of life!!) since those are more likely things I would use a little more often instead of pain reliever. 

Yaye: Group Fitness Motivation and Connection - I did not download this app and test it out. I feel like there are already so many fitness apps out there that connect people already. I have two on my phone and, in all fairness, I don't use those as often as I should so trying another one is just not something I have time for or interest in. 

Here is an overview - per their website: 

"It’s getting harder to be active these days. You’re busy and it’s not so easy to exercise as much as you’d like. You wish you had the motivation, the energy to get moving.

Maybe if you were meeting your sister or your best friend you’d make it to the gym. You wouldn’t want to let them down. And it’s way more fun when you’re together.

Your sister can’t always be there with you. And your best friend might live on the other side of the country. But you can still get moving with them. And benefit from their energy, motivation and fun.

Yaye bring families and friends together to get fit and healthy, wherever, whenever."

Burried Baubles?! Yes, please!!

I recently stumbled across BaubleBar, a site that I see friends of mine have liked or followed across social media. Since I am an accessory fan addict I thought what the hell - let's see what they have! It is a wide variety of simple and statement pieces that are mostly trendy in style. They have three color tones gold, rose gold and silver and depending on the piece different finishes smooth, shiny or matte. The prices are a little high for some of the pieces (for me) and on point for others. I am pretty picky about how much I will spend on "fun" (fashion) jewelry. A lot of the pieces are a bit much, too much statement for me, but they are still pretty and very on point in terms of the current trends. I prefer their more simple pieces, but I am unsure if I would pay full price for those items. 

Then I made a phenomenal discovery! They have a bit they run on Friday's and Monday's (I believe) called "the buried bauble". Basically you "hunt" through the necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings to find the buried bauble - a treasure hunt if you will. These items are on sale that day for $10 or $20. SCORE! Mama loves a good deal! On the hunt I found a few pieces that I liked and spent only $10 per item. Who couldn't get behind that - ESPECIALLY since U.S. shipping is always free - what, WHAT?! FREE! Be still my beating heart - no limits, no requirements - just straight up free! SOLD! Notably they seem to also have good sales - I purchased the earrings on sale vs. the buried bauble method. They have a couple of pieces right now that it is taking wild horses (aka: my husband) to hold me back from grabbing as well! :)

The packaging is awesome! The box is easy to open - no scissors, pull tab - love it. Everything is wrapped very snugly in little bags, then in bubble wrap (yes, I annoyed my husband for a good 5 minutes just *pop-pop-popping* away!) and then in tissue paper. All this wrap is good to save for gifting, swap sites and mailing anything at all. Reuse, recycle you will feel good about it - I promise :)

The necklaces are more my speed - simple and go with everything for my current day-to-day life. I admit the gold tag is my favorite because it is the longest and easy to layer with other pieces I already have. A girl's gotta layer! Looking at these pics I realize that I really did go plain-Jane with the pieces I selected. I may try to do something a little more bold next time - that usually falls into the $20 range for the buried bauble, I believe.

The earrings were my attempt at something "trendy" for only $10 - these are the 360 stud style where the backing is larger and part of the "earring". I like them, surprisingly; my husband hates them, not surprisingly. It was something fun and very different for me, glad I picked them up. 

I am not sure how long the pieces will wear - i.e. when the finish starts wearing away, but they do remind you to keep them away from moisture and to not wear them every day in order to prolong their life. For $10 I am not worried about it, but if you buy one of the more expensive full priced pieces I would definitely be more careful. It is nice that they give you little baggies to store/transport your jewelry - very handy!

Are they the final say in fashion jewelry? Not sure about that. Do they have a voice for a specific audience - absolutely! I think a lot of pieces would be fun presents for friends, bridesmaids or anyone you know between the ages of 15 and 150 in your life that loves shiny things. I believe there really is something for every taste/style preference on this site.

 I will regularly pop in on a Friday or a Monday to see if my $10 is theirs or mine to keep - that is a gamble I can afford!

City Color Cosmetics at Five Below

Recently I popped into Five Below to pick up some beach gear as we are readying ourselves for vacation. I love buying cheap, fun stuff for the pool and the beach that we don't have to worry about losing or breaking or leaving behind with the kiddos. Because I am a makeupaholic I walked through the beauty aisle to see what kinds of things they have and was pleasantly surprised to find a one of my favorite products - a blush/bronzer/highlighter palette from City Color Cosmetics for only $4. Um, YESSSSS PLEASE! SOLD! I also decided to pick up one of their matte blushes ($3) and two of their matte/gloss lipsticks ($3). (I also picked up two Wet 'n Wild lipsticks ($2) that were dramatically vampy, but I did not know that... not sure if those will make an appearance in my real life or not - haha!) I apologize my swatches of everything are a bit messy - I was just so excited!!

First the palette - love it! It comes in three colors at the store (online there are four colors, but one is currently sold out), I chose the Skinkissed Trio in "Golden" as I don't have a lot of peachy type blushes in my life and clearly I needed to change that! This is $4 at Five Below and $6.99 on City Color's website - score for me! I think all three products are so pretty! The blush is a beautiful peachy tone and has a fair amount of shimmer in it, so I did need to be careful with the amount of highlight I added. Also, the bronzer also has a light shimmer so you cannot contour this product, which is no biggie for me. It is important to note since all of them are shimmery if you don't care for a glowy look this may not be for you or maybe just not an all-in-one for you. The bronzer is the quite powdery with a fair amount of fallout if you don't tap off your brush, followed by the blush and none at all with the highlighter. I think the wear is great for normal daily activities and I am likely going to go back and grab another color to try. (Notably: I love this one as much as I love my "ride or die" Naked Flushed palette from Urban Decay, the wear is definitely longer with the UD, but the colors are equally beautiful and creamy in both.)

Since the palette was all shimmer I grabbed one of the Matte Blushes, I believe there were 6 or 8 in the store, but there are 12 online. In sticking with the peachy toned theme I bought the shade "Fresh Melon". This is $3 at Five Below and $4.99 on City Color's website, on sale at the moment for $3.49. Another good deal and my zero-to-2 peach blushes in one day was a hit! I think this color is so lovely and would likely work on light to fair to medium skin tones because it is buildable. Unlike the palette above, it was not at all powdery when I used it. The swatch on the left is one swipe and the swatch on the right is few - so clearly it can be built up. They have a nice range of shades so I may grab one (or two) more, BECAUSE $3!! 

Since I was already on a roll, two lip colors were a must. A MUST! On these Matte To Gloss lippies one end is a matte lipstick and the other end is a complimentary gloss. These two shades are Mauve Dazzle and Raspberry Dazzle, there are four other shades in total and the store had all of them. These are $3 at Five Below and $5.99, currently on sale for $3.99, on City Color's website. Sadly, these were a fail for me. First they smell funny - like old lipstick. I have a super smeller and scents really bother me if I don't like them and these do not seem to settle at all. The scent lingered and lingered. Second, there is the teeniest amount of product on the lipstick end, which is the side that I would use more often. Third, the glosses felt very wet. They didn't have the right balance of wet to sticky. The transfer was immediate and almost all the product wore away within an hour once the gloss was applied. I definitely will not repurchase and I am unsure if I will wear them due to the smell. I love the Raspberry color so much that I am going to attempt to use one of my delicious smelling Lorac glosses over it to see if that will mask the smell enough for me to enjoy the color. 

While I never thought I would ever purchase make up at a Five Below I could not be more thrilled about the palette and the matte blush - enough that I want MORE! The price point is amazing for the range of options, pigmentation and good day's wear of these products. The lippies I would say are not at all worth the money unless you just want some stinky lippies to blog about :)