InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer

I've used InstaNatural in the past, the Acne Cleaser. It was amazing! It was gentle on my skin, worked perfectly and smelled of oranges. I couldn't wait to try out another product.

Unfortunately this product was a total miss for me. It comes in a nice pump bottle, but the moisturizer is so thick it makes a bit of a mess. The lotion also goes on your face very thick. It takes a long time to absorb and leaves a filmy feeling on my face hours after application. My face is left oily and tight feeling. I haven't even attempted to apply makeup over it. 

It also burns my skin. I sit here now, an hour after applying and my face still stings. I've tried this for several days to see if I could get used to not only the sting, but the very unpleasant scent of the moisturizer. Neither of these things are getting better, so I am probably just going to toss this product. 

I would only give InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer 1 out of 5 stars. I'm not going to be able to use it long enough to see if there are any true benefits. The greasy feeling, the burning and the odor are all too much for me to continue using this twice a day.

I'm pretty bummed because their cleanser was fantastic. I'm going to go wash my face.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Keeping Up The Flame with Maybelline SuperStay 24 Lip Color

I've never really been a big fan of liquid lip color. I've always preferred a stick, a gloss or a balm. This 2-in-1 lip color comes with it's own balm, so I was willing to give it a chance and now I am hooked!

I have never had a lip color last as long as this one, especially "Keep Up The Flame". Red just doesn't like to stay on my lips. 

Application is simple and takes little time and effort, so these are easily an every day beauty staple.
Step 1. Apply liquid color to clean, bare lips. Allow two minutes to dry. 
Step 2. Apply conditioning balm to seal in moisture. Easy peasy!

I tried two colors. "Constant Toast" a pretty, shimmery nude color. I NEVER wear nudes, but I loved it and enjoyed wearing it for daytime activities. It looked nice with my pale skin and lasted all day...even while sipping coffee and eating meals. You can easily reapply the balm on top and it helps boost shine and moisturize your lips. 

"Keep Up The Flame" is perfect for night time. I love Reds and really liked how this looked on me. I've never had a red last an entire night out. Zero mirror checks needed. Just reapply the balm once or twice after eating and drinking and it looks great.

The color is a tad sticky while you wait for it to dry, so try to keep your lips parted. Once the balm is on, they will feel soft and smooth. My lips did feel a bit dry throughout the day, but reapplying the balm fixed that issue.

Maybelline suggests using oil based makeup remover, but my Micellar Water did the trick when it was time to clean up. 

I am extremely happy with this lipcolor and will be grabbing some more shades in the future! I would totally recommend!

Many thanks to Maybelline and Influenster for giving me complimentary samples of Maybelline SuperStay 24 Longwear Lip Color. All opinions expressed are 100% honest, unbiased and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Skin2Spirit Lipstick

After trying Skin2Spirit's lipgloss, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of their lipsticks.

Since it's Autumn I grabbed one in "Pomegranate"...

This is a matte lipstick in a medium, berry pink tone, perfect for Fall.

This lipstick came packaged like their glosses, in a cute green giftbag. 

These lipsticks are new, so the containers do not have logos yet, and the ingredients are printed on a sticker at the moment. The company says these things will be updated soon, so I will not comment on that, even though I'm not bothered by the current packaging.

What I do have a complaint about is the taste and smell of this lipstick. Skin2Spirit claims they use all natural and non-toxic ingredients, and for the pricetag, that's what I would expect. Their lipgloss was absoultely brillant, don't get me wrong, but the lipstick was gross. 

The scent and taste is exactly like the $1.00 lipsticks you would get at the Dollar Store as a pre-teen. The nostalgia it brought was not the good kind. I'm not sure what ingredient is causing this. Maybe it's something that is specific to the color I chose. There isn't even a hint of the vanilla that is advertised on the product listing. The vanilla is the BEST part of their lipgloss, so I was extrememly disappointed by this. 

I really loved the color, which bums me out more. The longevity was really good too. A bit came off on my coffee cup, but most of the color stayed throughout my morning. I retouched after lunch time. I didn't notice much moisturizing action, but it wasn't drying either. I ended up putting a layer of Skin2Spirit's lipgloss on top to cover the unpleasant taste and smell. 

I give this lipstick 3 out of 5 stars. It would be amazing if it didn't bother my senses so much. Having to mask it with a strong scented lipgloss everytime will end up being a hassle, and an extra expense for something that already has a pretty high price tag. 

I'm hoping it's just because of the shade I picked, or maybe I just recieved a bad stick. I want to love this company. I don't think I would recommend this, at least not in "Pomegranate"... or if they adjust the formula.

***Update 11/15/16: Kathi from Skin2Spirit sent me a replacement lipstick in "Berry Red". It was fabulous! No funky scent or taste. I'm thrilled. It went on smooth and lasted a long time, just like the Pomegranate. I would give this one 5 stars. Much better! Also, many thanks to the company for being awesome to work with!***

If you would like to try one, they are available here.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

I Might Have A Coffee Mug Obsession...

I drink loads of coffee, tea & cocoa. I need an arsenal of coffee cups so I always have one on hand.

I have mugs from various vacation spots, different fandoms and I can't forget the owls! Silly novelty mugs are definitely a favorite. I fell in love with this one when I saw it.

I've never had a glass mug before, so I didn't know what to expect. I was initially worried about how hot it would get. 

The glass is very thick. I haven't held the body of the mug right after pouring my beverage in, but the handle stays cool. After a few minutes, I'm able to hold the whole thing without discomfort. 

The handle is thick and sturdy. There is a seam down the middle of it. I'm assuming it's from a mold. It's only bothersome on days my hands are hurting me. Damn you, Neuropathy! I don't know if this is something that would irritate someone with normal nerves. That's not a dealbreaker for me though.

Even though I have a ton of mugs, this one has been my go-to since I recieved it. At 13 ounces, it holds plenty of hot beverage. It has held up to lots of washes. The print is bold, clear and great quality. 

As a photographer, who constantly says and writes "Today I shot a baby, a family, my sister, etc.", this mug was just too perfect! I think the quality is great and it is quite durable, even in my clumsy hands. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and would totally recommend it. I would even check out Make Em Laugh's Amazon shop for more silly drinkware.

Grab one here.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Poison Candle Video Review

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 

Autumn! 

Chilly weather means it is time to light a ton of candles. 

I got an amazing Halloween candle from 

Sugar Creek Candle Company.

Check out the video review here.

Grab a Poison Candle here...

or check out Sugar Creek Candle Company

This candle gets 5 out of 5 stars. It's a great quality candle with a great scent that throws well, lit or not. Plus the label is adorable! I love it and would recommend!

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

Sucker For A Red Lip

I am obsessed with all red lip color period. I also love natural, organic products. It's an added bonus if it smells and tastes good. Skin2Spirit combines all of these things and now I am in lip gloss heaven! 

Skin2Spirit is a small, women run company in Pennsylvania. They use certified organic ingriedients like Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil and Cocoa Butter in these lip glosses. These glosses are Lead Free, Petroleum Free, Non Toxic, Cruelty Free, Vegan and Phthalate Free!  I am all for supporting such a business. 

There are several colors available, but as a red lover I got this Botanical Lip Gloss in "Merlot"! How perfect?

You can buy your own here.

This lip gloss comes in a 0.23 fl. oz. tube with a standard wand. It opens and closes perfectly and the wand applies the perfect amount of gloss. It sweeps on silky and smooth. The color is translucent, but you can build it up if you want it darker. I love the versatility of it. All the ingredients are listed right on the tube. The photo on the top right is right after application and on the lower right is after four hours of wear with no reapplication.

I also applied the gloss over a red lipstick. It brightened it up and gave it a nice shine. I will wear this both alone and over lipsticks for several different looks. This gloss smells and tastes delicious! It is made with vanilla and I have to try really hard not to lick it off of my lips. It is hardly sticky at all, and feels really moisturzing. The color stays for a few hours, even with food and drink. I was surprised at how well it held up.

The gloss came in a cute little bag with Skin2Spirit's card detailing the company. What a great gift idea! I give this lip gloss 5 out of 5 stars. The color is lovely. It lasted longer than I expected. It's all natural without all the harmful ingredients found in most makeup. The scent and taste are to die for, and they even have more colors! I would definitely recommend these to any makeup fan. I'm in love!

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious

More Matcha

I tried Matcha for the first time last year. I have been hooked ever since. I am always excited to try out new brands. 

I still haven't gotten around to getting the tools to make Matcha the traditional way. I just fill my tea infuser with one teaspoon of powder and steep and stir until it dissolves. I drink ceremonial matcha several times a week and I add culinary matcha to smoothies as well as baked goods. 

Minister's Morning Matcha is organic ceremonial Matcha. It's on the pricey side, but it comes in a gorgeous storage container. Even the box it comes in is fancy with gold lettering. It would be great as a gift!  

The Matcha powder comes sealed in a bag for freshness. I emptied mine into the cute storage container. It is currently filled to the top, so it is very messy when opening and closing. Matcha dust goes everywhere even though I am gentle, so be ready for clean up.

This Matcha tea is no different than the others I have tried. It is finely ground powder. It is a beautiful bright green color and has a fresh, earthy scent. It dissolved better than a few other brands I have tried. This is great because I don't make it traditionally, so I end up with lumps.

The flavor is on par with other brands as well. It has the fresh, sort of sweet, green flavor that I love. It comes with more powder than other brands I have tried, so that helps explain the price. It also is the nicest packaged Matcha I have had. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it, especially as a gift.

You can order some from Amazon.

I received this product at a discount. This review is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

~Crystal Vicious