Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Baby Beauty Freckled | Favorite Baby Bath Items

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

I loved watching baby videos on YouTube before our little one arrived.  'What's in my diaper bag' videos, in particular, were favorites.  Beauty videos came to my awareness because a beauty blogger had filmed a 'what's in my diaper bag' video and I happened to stumble upon her beauty channel as well.  Doing my own diaper bag post is on my list, so I will eventually post a review of our bag and what we carry with us daily.  For now though, here are our favorite items for baby girl's bath time!



 
Johnson's Head-to-Toe Wash
This Head-to-Toe Wash is for those first baths where you don't want to deal with separate baby wash and shampoo - just keep this close by and you'll be good to go.  It creates a great lather and doesn't have a super strong scent.  They make a version with the pump top which is easy to use and reach while bathing baby.
 
Johnson's Baby Shampoo with Lavender
The lavender scent smells so amazing we use this any time of day, not just at night. (Beauty Freckled Beauty Tip: this is also great for cleaning makeup brushes!)
 
Johnson's Baby Bedtime Bath
The Bedtime Bath smells just as amazing as the shampoo - it really sets the mood for bedtime and winds Baby Beauty Freckled down.

Johnson's No More Tangles Leave-In Conditioner
Less than a dime-sized amount helps to tame those darn baby hair tangles without having to rinse it out and add another step.

Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (not pictured)
This baby wash is so so creamy, just as the name suggests.  This wash is great for winter, or just that gentle baby skin in general.  It's super hydrating and doesn't strip baby's gentle skin.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash
This is a super gentle bath wash and shampoo combo (I love the dual use) that has a super mild honey scent.  It lathers nicely in the hands or on a washcloth and is so gentle on baby's skin.
 
The Honest Company Honest Bubble Bath
A few capfuls under running water creates great bubbles to play with without being overwhelming.  It also smells awesome with their signature Sweet Orange Vanilla scent.
 
The Honest Company Conditioning Detangler
Great spray conditioner that's a bit lighter than leave-in versions.  It has the same great Sweet Orange Vanilla scent as the bubble bath and other Honest products..
 
Disney Baby Pooh Washcloths
Baby loves to point out her favorite characters and these have held up wonderfully over the past two years.
 
Primo EuroBath Tub (not pictured)
We've used this tub for our Baby Beauty since day one, and it's always worked out well.  I was worried it would be too big when she was so small, but the side that cradles baby is just perfect.  When she is leaned back, we can rinse her head off without getting the shampoo in her eyes.  With Baby Beauty being two we still are getting great use out of this tub since she loves the comfort of being cradled in it, plus it doesn't waste a whole tub full of water for one wee lass!
 
I am going to continue these Baby Beauty Freckled segments with lotions, diapers, feeding, diaper bags, etc.  Just as with adults, all babies have different skin, likes/dislikes, preferences, so different items may work differently for your wee little beauty!  These are just ones we tend to use the most and like around our house!  Let me know what other items you would like to see and what baby products you and your wee ones love!

Monday, January 18, 2016

YogiBox Unboxing | Yoga Subscription Box Review

YogiBox is a monthly subscription box that provides a variety of yoga related, relaxation,  and spa worthy beauty products, as well as yummy snacks and recipes.  The box is $318 for a year, $154 for six months, or $87 for 3 Months.  So by buying the year up front, you get a discount.  You can also order them as a themed present for a friend for $29.  I thought these would be a great present for a yogi friend, someone who is just starting out in yoga, or someone who may just need some extra pampering.


The box is valued at $57 and each month includes a different yoga sequence, a yoga accessory, a favorite gluten free snack, a hand soap, bath salts or bath bomb, a variety of teas or beverages, and a free recipe.  Shipping is free, which is a great bonus as well.

What was in my box:
- Customized yoga sequence
- Yoga Mat Spray
- 3 Yogi Teas
- Detox Recipe using one of the Yogi Teas
- Kind Bar in Dark Chocolate
- 3 Holiday Hair Ties
- 3 Zen Spa Treatments (soap, bath salts, bath bomb in Peppermint)

Zen Spa Items are "organic, vegan, and cruelty free...designed by fellow yogis with you in mind. Ensure your body soaks up the benefits of your practice 24/7. Both on and OFF your mat" (-from YogiBox website).  You can order the Zen Spa items off the YogiBox website if you need a little extra relaxation.  Their cute seasonal themed hair ties are available as well.



I really love my YogiBox and would definitely recommend them for any yogi or as a gift!  The customized yoga sequence and the yoga mat spray are the products I am most excited to try out first.  The Zen bath products will be great to soothe those muscles after a yoga practice.  Kind and Yogi Tea are already brands I love, so new flavors and products are always a bonus for me to try.  YogiBox offers such a great variety of products that there will always be something for everyone in every box.

To try out YogiBox and get your own box of yoga and relaxation, check them out here.

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Disclosure:  YogiBox sent me one box for review purposes.  All opinions are 100% honest and 100% my own.  I was not paid for this review.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid-Touch Foundation

Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Foundation
Claims from Maybelline.com:
  • Breakthrough texture fuses with skin.  A finish so impeccable, yet undetectable.
  • Exclusive dropper
  • Medium to full coverage, ideal for normal skin.
  • For Best Results: Shake well.  Unscrew cap.  Holding dropper vertically,
    allow foundation to drop onto fingertip.  Apply to face as usual.

Shades:  12 Shades
Product Amount/Size:  0.67 fluid ounces / 20 ml
Price:  $9.99 [Ulta]



The Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid Foundation is talked about as being a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup so I wanted to see if this would be a cheaper alternative.  The Urban Decay Naked Skin is $39 for 1 fluid ounce, and has a pump and cap, for reference.  The Maybelline Dream Wonder Fluid has just a dropper style applicator.





I haven't used another foundation that has a teardrop type dropper before.  Following the directions, I let some foundation drop onto my hand and rubbed it onto my face with my fingers.  The dropper style applicator isn't the best, and if the dropper is taking up room in the bottle, I suspect you are in fact getting less foundation for your buck.  However, I didn't have any issues with it looking splotchy with not using a brush or sponge.

The finish and formulation are really nice on the Dream Wonder Fluid Touch.  It reminds me a lot of the L'Oreal Magic Nude foundation which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, especially in the summer (see my full review of the Magic Nude here).  Both are foundations that are great for warmer months or climates because they aren't heavy or cakey, feel super lightweight on the skin, and set to a more powder-like consistency that's very "your skin but better."

I wouldn't necessarily call this full coverage.  I think it's more a medium coverage like a lot of these liquid-to-powder type foundations seem to be.  It's definitely buildable, but I still wouldn't call it true full coverage.  It lasts through the day pretty well, and I didn't have a problem with my oily patches too badly, even when I don't set with powder too heavily.

My issue with the Fluid Touch was that in every other Maybelline foundation I've tried, Nude or Nude Beige have worked out perfectly, so I bought this in Nude (40).  For some reason this time Nude seemed to come off a tad orange.  I would suggest maybe getting one shade lighter than you would normally buy in a Maybelline foundation because I've heard this being a problem with others as well.  Unfortunately for me, I think the previous shade would've been too light.  I could've bought two and mixed them, but at around ten dollars for each bottle, the color matches on the L'Oreal Magic Nude or Urban Decay Naked Skin were much better for me.  [I am a Neutral skin tone, but lean more towards yellow than pink.  So usually drugstore foundations leaning toward yellow undertones look best on me, in my opinion.]

Overall, I love the way the foundation looks, as well as the consistency and formula, but because of the color selection was a bit off for me, I wouldn't repurchase this one unless there were more choices.  I will stick with my L'Oreal Magic Nude or the Urban Decay Naked Skin.

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My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25

MAC Studio Fix Powder -- NC30
Makeup Forever HD -- 130 Warm Ivory
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige N20

Tarte Amazonian Clay  Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation -- Light-Medium Neutral
Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation -- Light
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Medium Beige 240
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation -- Nude 40

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte - Nude Beige 125
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180

Maybelline Dream Wonder -- Nude 40
L'Oreal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oreal True Match -- N3 Natural Buff

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous -- Buff Beige 825
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 -- Nude Beige 832

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Scentbird Review

There are so many beauty subscription boxes out now and so many reviews.  It can be hard to choose just one!  However, one that stuck out from the crowd for me, was Scentbird.

Scentbird lets you '“date” perfumes before “marrying” them' (quote via Scentbird website) by sending you a new perfume every month for $14.95 a month.

What you get:
- A one month supply of perfume (0.27 oz / 8 ml) that lasts for 30 days (if you used 4 sprays a day, according to Scentbird)
- A reusable case (comes with your first month's subscription)
- 350 brand-name perfumes to choose from
- To try new perfumes before committing to a full bottle
 
How it works:
After signing up, you can take a quiz to get suggestions of perfumes you might be interested based on previous perfumes you own or under notes you tend to gravitate towards.  Then you make a queue of perfumes you would like to try.  If you don't make a list, you will be sent the perfume of the month.  The more you rate the scents in your "wardrobe," the more accurate your suggestions will eventually get.
 
Here are a few brands I love that I was interested in as a sample of some of the options: Burberry, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna, Michael Kors.
 
I picked Bvlgari Au The Vert by Bvlgari to try out. If you're familiar with the One for the Money/Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, this is the fragrance of the shower gel that Ranger uses.  I tested it at a store before but wanted to see how it would wear on my skin, because that can make or break a fragrance.  The Notes of the fragrance are: bergamot, orange blossom, cardamom, coriander, pepper, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, woods, tea.  The perfume is really really nice.  I think it's appropriate for any season.
 
Scentbird (open) with velvet travel bag
 
The perfume came in a black bubblewrap bag that was very well padded so it was in no danger of getting broken.  Inside was the reusable case and perfume inside a black velvet bag with the Scentbird logo printed on the outside, as well as two cards.  One card showed how to use the perfume case, which is really easy.  You just have to twist like a lipstick tube.  The other card had next month's perfume of the month with Scentbird Muse who chose it.
 
 

Pictured above: front and back of card inserts (left to right)

Overall, I think Scentbird is worth a try!  I find it hard smelling a lot of different perfumes in a row at department stores, because they all start smelling the same and I end up with a headache.  Scentbird allows you to take your time and test out perfumes without having to commit to a full bottle.  You will know how they react with your own body chemistry, all in the comfort of your own home without having to pay the full price tag.  A one month supply of Scentbird is even less than buying one single rollerball!
 
So check out Scentbird here if you want to try some new perfumes!
 
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Disclosure:  Scentbird sent me a one month sample for review purposes.  All opinions are 100% honest and 100% my own.  I was not paid for this review.