Yes, I am a makeup junkie. With Smashbox, I’m like a kid in a candy store – one of my all-time faves! I love the quality, the colors, the style. I love that they are always on the cutting edge with new products and ideas.

Smashbox Cosmetics gets its inspiration from Smashbox Studios where the world’s top makeup artists, photographers, celebrities and models help create backstage-tested products. Smashbox is your go-to arsenal for ‘smashing’  results every time. 

Reviewing the Limited Edition Pretty in Pictures Holiday Set was a total joy for me. This festive kit has everything to get you prepped for holiday parties and pictures packaged in a sleek keepsake photo box. A $230 value for only $89 at Smashbox. Also, check out their videos and tutorials for the Hottest Looks.

Inside you’ll find:

– Metallic Proof Cream Eyeliner Palette.
– Soft Lights.
– Two Photo Op Eyeshadow Trios.
– Full Exposure Mascara.
– Two Double-ended Lip Enhancing Glosses.
– Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I love the cream eyeliner palette – it’s small and supersleek to take with you anywhere with 10 sultry hues of their best-selling cream eye liner. You’ll find shades such as amethyst, emerald and blue topaz along with onyx, platinum and bronze. I mix and match for the perfect shade and it just glides on so smoothly, highlighting and enhancing your eyes professionally.

Complement this with the eyeshadow trios. They are soft and vibrant with many color combinations to choose from, great pigments that stay. I can put them on before I got out and not worry about them fading. 

Full-Exposure mascara is their new studio-tested mascara. It is on my top list of mascaras now since it went on really smoothly, defined my lashes well and there was no clumping or caking. It does a great job of lengthening and volumizing. Definitely a keeper.

On to the Photo-Finish Foundation Primer. This is probably one of the best products out there, and one I didn’t even know I needed until now.  Colorless and silky, it has vitamins A and E, grape seed extract and green tea to help soothe and protect skin. It helps with fine lines and pores by filling them in subtly to make your skin softer with a very smooth finish. I use it after my moisturizer and just before my foundation. It’s super light and I’ve found it helps my foundation stay on all day and look natural. There is also a Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light for those with oily, acne-prone or sensitive skin.

The Soft Lights is a silky shimmery powder. It mixes well with blush and gives a subtle, natural glow.

This brings me to a new favorite of mine. I really love the Girls on Film Blush Rush in Pose. Pose is a very soft rose color that is amazingly natural with a matte finish. It isn’t overpowering, but if you want subtle elegance, it’s perfect. What’s also cool is that it has a mirror that swivels out from the bottom of the blush. Very portable and you can take it anywhere.  

Finishing up, I will just say that Smashbox lip glosses are by far my favorite of the many many lipglosses I’ve tried. I really love their Snap You’re Fab Holiday Lip Gloss Set. They go on supersmooth and light and are shiny/sparkly depending on the style. My favorite aspect is that they are not sticky or tacky in any way. If I have to reapply, that’s fine, because I love the look and feel. The Holiday Flash Double Ended Lip Glosses are great because you can throw one in your purse and pocket and be set. 

So, by now, it’s clear that I love Smashbox and I’m thrilled that they’ve offered one of my readers a fabulous Holiday Kit! Due to the holidays, and stock being limited, it will be comparable to the one I received and will be shipped directly from the sponsor. So, best of luck everyone! Glam it up for the holidays and everyday.

Smashbox is great for holiday shopping for yourself or your favorite makeup junkie! Right now, shipping is free and samples are included with every order. Check out the Special Holiday Offers now!

Where to find them:

Smashbox.com
Smashbox on Twitter
Smashbox on Facebook

All entries will be on Rafflecopter, except the first will be a comment on the blog.

The first two entries are mandatory. The rest are for extra entries. Please make sure your entries are valid, since all will be checked before the winner is drawn. Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent product to review from the sponsor but all opinions herein are my own. 

If you’re like me, you know there are always people that it is hard to shop for. I am always on the lookout for unusual gifts and, basically, I’m a bit unusual myself. I love browsing at Uncommon Goods! So much fun and I’ve found quite a few gifts that were just perfect for friends and family. They have gifts for women, men, kids and teens and will fit your budget, large or small. They have great Stocking Stuffers here too and the best thing is these are things you won’t see everywhere else.

Uncommon Goods is an online marketplace offering creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. They strongly believe that creativity and the expression of individuality represent two great human treasures. Thus, they have set out to create a business that makes uncommon goods accessible to everyone.

The piece I’ve chosen to review is the Reach for the Moon Charm Necklace.  It fits me to a T.  I’m always striving for the moon and beyond.  In gorgeous harmonious colors is a crescent moon, along with a garnet for courage and passion, pink tourmaline for creativity and devotion, and amethyst for happiness and protection. Altogether, they remind me to believe in myself. Sent to another, they let them know I have faith in them.

It is really lovely and comes with a card explaining the meaning behind each charm and stone. The 16″ chain can be be adjusted for lengths up to 18″.

My mom said her father told her to always have faith and she passed that along to me.
When I wear this necklace, I feel inspired to keep following my dreams.

I also love the artist, Mary Steratore’s, other inspirational jewelry pieces: Luck is Believing You’re Lucky Necklace, Dealing with Uncertainty Necklace, Set Yourself Free Earrings, and Positive Energy Earrings.

There are other wonderful women’s gifts at Uncommon Goods.  I would love to buy this Bonsai Forest  for my mom and the Shower Squids are perfect for my sister.

My friend who eats gummy bears all day would go crazy for the Gummy Lamps with their built-in LED light while my science-loving nephew would love the Magnetic Silly Putty.

Something else that I love about Uncommon Goods is their commitment to the environment. Also, they donate a portion of each order to your choice of non-profit organizations: American Forests, AmeriCares, City Harvest, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

Pretty awesome.

And, what else is pretty awesome, is that Uncommon Goods has generously offered one of my readers a Gift Certificate for $50 to their site so that you can purchase anything your heart desires. Find a unique gift or buy something wonderful for yourself!

The first two entries are mandatory, but fairly painless and the rest are extra entries for you.  Just follow the Rafflecopter and it will lead you through.  Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent product to review from the sponsor but all opinions herein are my own.

  NeoStrata Company, Inc. is located in Princeton, NJ and develops and markets a comprehensive range of clinically-proven skin care brands including NeoStrata, Exuviance, CoverBlend, NeoCeuticals and NeoStrata Therapeutics.

 I’ve been familiar with the company for about a year now and have been very pleased with their products. They’ve also been very helpful and great with customer service. I really like this company.

 Doing some more research, I found that the creators of NeoStrata Company, Inc., Drs. Van Scott and Yu are internationally recognized for making the groundbreaking discovery that Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) have a profound beneficial effect on human skin. Their  subsequent research  established that AHAs are not only beneficial in the treatment of dermatological conditions, but are also effective in stimulating prematurely aged or damaged skin to actually rejuvenate itself, thereby revolutionizing the treatment of aging skin.

 Sounds great, doesn’t it? So when Neostrata offered for me to test and review their Exuviance Performance Peel AP25, I was interested and excited to try it.

I have been really into skincare lately and I honestly can see the difference if you use the right products. I wish I had started when I was in my teens or early 20’s, but, at that age, I was out in the sun just having a great time. In any event, I wasn’t sure that products could help if you already had fine lines and the start of wrinkles, but I’m finding out that some actually can.

This product is a 25% Alpha Hydroxy Acid peel and comes with a 6-week supply.  You can read more about it here. 

It came in a box that opened like a book, with the pads on the right side and instructions on the left. It’s a very easy process.

 This is my experience after using the peel for a few weeks. First of all, I had never tried a peel. But, I can tell you that this was extremely gentle on my skin. I had no irritation, no stinging, no burning. Very mild.  I used it twice a week for a couple of weeks.

After washing my face, I applied the small round Activator pad to my face and neck area, avoiding eyes and lips. I went about doing other things. It really didn’t bother my face at all. After 10 minutes, I applied the small circular Neutralizer pad to the areas where I had applied the peel. It felt cool and soothing and so very easy and with no mess whatsoever. I imagine if you felt any discomfort, you would just use the neutralizer right away as it stops the exfoliating action. If 5 minutes seems right for you, that’s fine too. Again, I had no irritation whatsoever.

Now, I simply washed my face and dried it and felt my skin. It was super smooth and soft and looked brighter. I went around asking my family how my skin looked and my sister said it looked fresh and glowing. She wanted to try it. It’s always good to get a second opinion from someone you trust.

As I’ve been using it over a few weeks, I am noticing that my skin looks bright and the fine lines are lessening,  My forehead and cheeks are totally smooth, even the small crow’s feet I had. The only area I am still working on are the laugh lines around my mouth, but, I’ll give that a bit more time.

I’ve used exfoliators before, and I believe it’s very important to safely and effectively remove the dead skin, but I don’t think I’ve ever had such a deep treatment that you can do at home or such good results. I really am pleased and will be continuing to buy this product after this package is through.

The Exuviance peel is part of Neostrata’s  Official Holiday Gift Guide this year. It’s been featured in InStyle Magazine and Woman’s Day Magazine. It is a 25% blend of AHAs and PHAs including Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid and Gluconolactone that exfoliates dead, dull surface layers, and stimulates the process of cell renewal among all skin layers, to reveal healthier cells. Clinical studies after one month of twice weekly use indicate:

   * 100% of users saw improvement in fine lines & wrinkles
   * 94% of users saw more even skin tone, texture & radiance

The Exuviance Performance Peel AP25 contains 12 peels (a 6 week supply), which can be used up to twice a week on your face, the backs of your hands, your neck, chest and body.

So, what do you think? Would you like to try it for yourself? Neostrata has been very generous in offering one of my readers the opportunity to try this wonderful peel for themselves.  (a $68 value).

Just follow the Rafflecopter for easy entries. As far as Twitter goes, if your tweets are not public, i.e., if they are protected, they will not count. So, if you use protected tweets, please don’t use that method as an extra entry. There are others. Also, if your Facebook name is different than your name used for entries, please put that in the form as well.  Thank you and best of luck!

The first two entries are mandatory and the rest are additional chances to win.

Disclosure: I received free samples from Neostrata for my review. No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

 

I have to say I was very pleased when I opened the box.
It was a Full/Queen size plush blanket in Burgundy packaged
very nicely.  

But, my true joy came when I opened the package. The blanket is so luxurious and soft that you just want to snuggle in it immediately. I tried it that night and was very pleased. I don’t like thick heavy plush blankets. This one, however, is just as warm as those but very lightweight, thinner and flexible. It was a particularly cold night, and I wrapped myself up in it and had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time.

This blanket is perfect for snuggling in front of the tv, curling up with a good book, sleeping, napping, or just staying warm while you work. It’s really one of the softest blankets I’ve ever felt and I’m thrilled to have it for the coming winter.

And, guess what, my friends? Mertado has been kind enough to offer my readers one of the same supersoft plush blankets.  One reader will win a Coral Springs Home Plush blanket worth $35+ from Mertado.com. 


The first two entries are mandatory and the rest are for extra entries, so best of luck! Please enter via Rafflecopter.

Read more…

Disclosure:  I received a Coral Springs plush blanket for my review. 
No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

 They smell delicious and felt soft and smooth on my lips. I like that they are light and I can also layer them. My favorite is the Sugar Plum Berry with a fruity touch and I also love the Sugar Cookie which smells like the real thing. The Winter Mint is very nice and cooling and Sugar and Spice smells like eggnog to me.  These are perfect to get your lips ready for under the mistletoe or for New Year’s Eve smooches.

The first two entries are mandatory and the rest are optional for extra entries. Enter via Rafflecopter (click Read more).

Disclosure:  I received free samples of Softlips products for my review. 
No compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.

“Life is complicated. STUF is simple” – STUF

Ok, so you’re probably wondering what STUF is. STUF is a great natural men’s skincare line which I just found out about and was very pleased to review.  They have also generously offered to do a giveaway for Strange Daze Indeed readers with the same products I received.

ALL ABOUT STUF

It is a competitive world we live in. Mark Spitz has an unequaled competitive edge. You don’t win 9 gold medals by being complacent. His success has streamed from sports to business to entrepreneurship. And Mark recognizes that the way you look has a lot to do with the way people look at you. To be your best requires attention to every aspect of your “game” including grooming.

For my review,  I had the good fortune to have a very good male friend who was eager to try the products and give me feedback.

My friend, Mike, and I reviewed the Classic Shave Kit which includes Daily Facial Cleanser, Shave Gel, After Shave Balm and Anti-Aging Moisturizer with SPF 15.

Let’s start with the Daily Facial Cleanser.  The Daily Facial Cleanser moisturizes while it removes oil and impurities, unclogging pores. It’s naturally pH balanced and contains aloe vera, chamomile, papaya and antioxidants incuding Green Tea, Vitamin C and Pycnogenol to help nourish the skin.



First of all, let me say Mike really was happy that STUF products didn’t have a heavy or chemical scent. These products really smell natural and light. I smelled them and loved the smell. Just very clean and fresh. Not like so many of the overpowering men’s shaving products.  You don’t need too much. A little goes a long way! There wasn’t a lot of lather,  but he said his skin felt non-oily and smooth afterward. I felt it; it did. Very nice. 


Next up, the smoth and silky Shave Gel.  Again, a very nice,  fresh smell.  Mike said it gave him a very close shave, no irritation. It contains aloe vera, chamomile, Allantoin, an extract from comfrey leaf, cucumber and menthol for soothing.  His skin felt moisturized. He wanted to keep the products which I happily agreed to.

After shaving, the soothing healing After Shave Balm. Mike said it felt cool on his skin and soothing after shaving and left his skin hydrated. It absorbed quickly. This one smelled a little stronger. I looked up the ingredients and found Tea Tree Oil. It still smelled good – very clean and a bit herbal. Tea Tree Oil  helps keep pores clear and resolves blemishes, ingrown hair and razor bumps.  There is also Vitamin E and Shea Butter to replenish nutrients and soften skin as well as other healing vitamins and herbs.

Then, we get to Mike’s favorite, the Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. I loved the smell of this. Herbal and delicious is how I would describe it. Mike says it’s very light and moisturizing  and doesn’t feel heavy on his skin. STUF says it: “Minimizes the appearance of aging, smoothing fine lines and improves overall skin heath.” So far, so good on that front. It’ll take more time to see the full results. It’s also good for sensitive skin as it’s non-irritating and contains Green Tea, Vitamins A, C and E and Pycnogenol, a powerful antioxidant that helps reduce fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, and other irregularities, and promotes healthy skin that can stand up to the elements and stresses of life.  Mike says it was non-greasy, absorbed quickly and left his skin feeling clean and smooth.

So,  based on my outside viewpoint, and Mike’s inside viewpoint, I do recommend this set for holiday gift giving, especially because it doesn’t contain  Pthalates, Parabens, Animal By-Products, Colorants, or mineral oil. Instead you’ll find herbs, vitamins and powerful anti-oxidants. This is reflected in the feel, the smell and the results.

One of my readers will be receiving the Classic Shave Kit which I was sent and Mike is now enjoying containing 4 full-size products:  The Daily Facial Cleanser, The Shave Gel, The After Shave Balm and the Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer (SPF 15) – an $80 value. 

Please enter via Rafflecopter.  Click on Read more. The first two entries are mandatory. The rest are optional for extra entries.

I’ve been putting together posts for the holidays about my favorite things and I must admit that Laughing Vixen is one of my favorite people. I love her friendship and her sense of humor, and I love sharing her artistry with my readers.

She has generously offered the winner their choice of $12 silver pendant with chain or ribbon. And, there is quite a fun selection to choose from. You can check out her art at the Laughing Vixen Lounge.

I always have great fun looking to see what she’s come up with next and if you are buying gifts for the holidays, she will accomodate you in any way possible in terms of color and style, etc. until you find just the perfect item. She has done this for me on many occasions and I really appreciate it.

In her own words:  Welcome to The Laughing Vixen Lounge

Specialties of the house:
Pendants, Charm Bracelets and other Needful Things. 

 

My family loves 8th Continent Soymilk. We use it in cereal, in coffee and tea and for cooking.  I think it is one of the best tasting soymilks out there and I’ve tried the original, the Vanilla and chocolate flavors. The chocolate is especially yummy. When 8th Continent approached me to do a giveaway on my blog I was very happy to share the soylove!

8th Continent soymilk is low in saturated fat and an alternative for those wishing to avoid lactose and gluten. Also, you can maintain a healthy heart and have a good source of protein and calcium.  8th Continent soymilk also contains vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12. Very healthy and delicious too.

The American Masters of Taste has awarded 8th Continent Soymilk with an Award of Excellence and declared 8th Continent a World Taste Champion.

 I also wanted to share that 8th Continent has a great new contest revolving around Moms. They will be sending a Mom and a friend to Hollywood to meet the ladies of Hollywood Mom’s Night and donating $5,000 to a school of their choice on their behalf. Exciting! Check it out here! And you can explore the site here.

Also, you can follow 8th Continent on Twitter and like them on Facebook to get great recipes, craft ideas, coupons, and to keep up to date with the contest! They’re extremely friendly!

And, because they’re so cool, they’ve offered 5 lucky readers of Strange Daze Indeed the chance to win 2 coupons each for free cartons in any flavor they would like.

Disclosure: I received free 8th Continent Soymilk Coupons. No
compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.  

JUST CLICK READ MORE TO ENTER  (via rafflecopter) 🙂

Carmex lip balm was invented in 1937 by Alfred Woelbing on the family stovetop. For the next 20 years, he and his wife made Carmex by hand, pouring it into the familiar jars with the yellow caps.  That takes a lot of dedication and devotion. Now, Carma Labs employs about 100 people, but it is still owned and operated by the family: Alfred’s grandsons, Eric and Paul Woelbing.

I feel that this ongoing tradition contributes to a company that truly cares about their customers and the products it shares with them.

As part of the Carmex Blog Squad,  I was sent a  muslin bag filled with a full-size and travel-size Carmex Healing Lotion and Carmex Healing Cream.  It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time, because the weather in New England has been changing. It’s always erratic, but we actually had snow before Halloween. I do a lot of do-it-yourself projects and painting, and I seem to always have dry hands in the fall and winter, so I was thrilled to try these out.

The Carmex Healing Lotion is great for daily use, and, the more I use it, the more hydrated my skin seems to stay.  It has Aloe and Vitamin E to help nourish and moisturize skin. I love the smell. It’s like the Carmex I’ve always loved, but milder, a clean fresh scent. It’s not greasy and absorbs quickly. If I apply it to my legs, they feel incredibly soft and smooth, as well as soothed. I like to put it on after a shower or bath and it’s great anytime.

I found the Carmex Healing Cream to be a bit thicker, with 9 healing ingredients, especially formulated for your driest skin. It’s more concentrated and you can use less.  If you have dry or cracked skin, this is perfect. It’s great for feet, elbows and knees, and dry hands or stubborn rough spots. I use it whenever my skin is feeling especially dry and love having the travel tube to carry with me in my purse. I apply it to my hands at night before bed, and, when I wake up, I’m really happy with the results. My hands feel smoother and softer than when I went to sleep. Over a few weeks, the dry patches have become healthier and healed. This also has a light scent which I found fresh and pleasing.

Carmex was kind enough to also provide a skincare kit for one of my readers, identical to the one I received. It contains:

One 5.5 oz Carmex Healing Lotion
One 4 oz Carmex Healing Cream
One 1 oz Carmex Healing Lotion
One .75 oz Carmex Healing Cream

To enter: 

Disclosure:  I received free samples of Carmex Skin Care products. No 
compensation was received. The opinions expressed are my own.