Sweet New Products from Suave Professionals

Rose Oil Infusion Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

At first I was turned off by how ROSY this shampoo smelled. I am more of a fruity person, and this whopping Rose Oil scent was too much. The second time I used it I had a scent memory of these little rose shaped soaps my grandmother had in her bathroom back in the 1980's and guess what? Now I enjoy the smell. Thank goodness because this shampoo really does add volume. I have very thin hair and after only two uses my hair feels twice as thick. It definitely delivers on that promise. The scent stays in your hair for quite a while, so if you hate the smell of roses I wouldn't recommend it. I gave it another shot and warmed up to the scent, so who knows. I dig it.

The scent of this conditioner is way less fragrant than it's counterpart. It adds a light scent to your hair after rinsing out. The volume of my hair doubled after two uses. Can't wait to see extended results, my thin hair needs the extra oomph!

Suave Professionals Natural Hold Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray

I don't really use hairspray for anything other than my bangs, but this hairspray changed me.

It makes my hair feel nice and soft so I actually bought a new curling iron to see how it would hold curls. I love it. It doesn't leave a gross, sticky film all over the place and it smells divine! I sprayed all over my head and it held my bangs and my curls all night. I love the packaging, it's cute and easy to hold. A++

Here's a photo of my hair after using the Rose Oil Shampoo & Conditioner for one week and with the Hairspray holding my curls in! Please excuse my first attempt at using a curling wand. 

~Crystal Vicious

I Finally Signed Up With Birchbox!

Birchbox is a New York City-based online monthly subscription service that sends its subscribers a box of four to five selected samples of makeup, or other beauty related products. 

It's one of the least expensive beauty subscription boxes at only $10 a month. I've heard good things so I signed up. It's not a huge investment and you can cancel at anytime.

I love trying out new products, so I'm really excited about recieving my first box! Plus, getting a package of surprises in the mail is always fun! 

Use this link and get 50% OFF your first Birchbox!!!!

That's only $5 for a box full of awesome products! 

Stay gorgeous! 

~Crystal Vicious

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

Making Your Own Bath Products is Fun!

Castile soap is a product I have been wanting to try out for quite some time. Cove has a great Lavender scented one. It is made with all-natural, vegan, and biodegradable ingredients including Argan, Jojoba and Hemp oils. 

Castile Soap is awesome because it is meant to be diluted and you can make a million things with it. Cove was nice enough to put a list of recipes on the back of the bottle, but you can search the internet for even more. 

The easiest things to make are obviously the body wash and hand soap. It's also a great way to reuse old bottles! For body wash I used an old body wash bottle. I filled it half way with soap, then topped it off with water. I even made a cute label, but I can't get it all in a photo. It smells so good! It is the perfect cleanser with only a bit of lather, and it leaves my skin so soft and smooth.

The hand soap is the same mixture. Half water and half soap. I'm sure everyone ends up with an empty hand soap bottle at some point, so grab one of those babies and fill her up.  The hand soap leaves my hands clean, with a fresh lavender scent. I love it!

I have also tried the shave soap, because that doesn't even need a receptacle. It works pretty well. My skin is super sensitive to most shaving creams lately, so this has been a great alternative.

There are still so many things to try! Once I get around to them, I will update this blog. So far, so good. Just for the few purposes I have used this for. I love Cove Castile Soap. 5 out of 5 stars, and I would definitely recommend it. Especially if you're like me and you like mixing your own products, because having your own little apothecary in your bathroom is the coolest! 

Grab some on Amazon.

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

 ~Crystal Vicious

Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum

I have loved the entire Valentia line. Every product from them has been absolutely wonderful. Their Royal Rose Hydrating Serum is formulated for sensitive skin, so I was so excited to try it. Unfortunately, I have any allergy to something in it. Not only did it my face break out, I developed a rash. 

The serum has a very strong rose smell. It might put some people off, but it is a nostalgic scent for me. My grandmother always smelled of roses. She had a rose powder and a puff she would let my sister and I play with when we were very little. The smell of this serum brings me back to those days. I'm pretty bummed that I cannot use this. I wanted to love it. 

The serum is more like a cream. It is white with a medium consistency. It goes on pretty smoothly. It leaves a bit of a sticky feel for a few minutes, but once it is dry it goes away. The smell also dissipates after a bit. My skin felt nice and hydrated, but later I noticed the rash. I only used this once because of the allergy...but then I passed it on to my mom so she could try it. 

My mom isn't big on skin care products, but she liked it. She applied two pumps at night, and said after the sticky feel wore off her skin felt tighter and firmer. She likes it and will continue to use it. I give this serum 3 out of 5 stars. Sadly, I can't be a huge fan of something I cannot use, but my mom does like it. 

Available on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious

The Holy Grail of Serums

I am usually pretty bad at keeping up with skincare regimens. Most face products smell weird, or feel gross on my skin. I hate going to bed with stuff on my face...and sometimes I just flat out forget to do things, especially if I am tired and want to go to sleep. Not anymore. I actually can't wait to wash my face at night so I can apply Valentia Clear Lift Revitalizing Serum. That is a sentence I never thought I would utter. 

Valentia always hits it out of the park with their skincare line...but everyone loves face scrubs and mud masks, so I wasn't sure if I could love a serum the same way. 
Active ingredients include:
- Wakame Bioferment: to detoxify and boost antioxidant defense.
- Gotu Kola: Lessens the appearance of scars and increases skin firmness.
- Lactic Acid: Increases skin cell turnover, for healthier renewed skin.
- Licorice: Corrects skin discoloration.
- Argan Oil: Rich in Vitamin E,  reduces water loss and protects skin's resiliency and elasticity. 

The serum is a a creamy, yellow color with a light-medium consistency. I applied 2 pumps to my face. It goes on smoothly and absorbs within minutes. My skin doesn't feel dry, or greasy and sticky. It actually leaves a nice refreshing feeling. The absolute best part of this serum is that it smells like an orange dreamsicle! I would apply it several times a day just for the scent. I need to get a hold of some clementine oil so I can make a perfume that smells like this. It's literally dreamy!

You're supposed to follow up with moisturizer, but like I said, I am lazy and forgetful...so I haven't done that once. However, my normally dry skin is hydrated and soft. It's also brighter and smoother. I'm going to try to be better with moisturizing since that will lock in the benefits of the serum and produce even better results. Where can I find Dreamsicle face lotion? I give this serum 5 out of 5 stars. It's amazing! I would recommend it to anyone, even those who are forgetful like me but want to start taking better care of your skin. 

Grab some on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious

Cute Headbands from the Curly Co.

Pardon this terrible photo, I'm growing my bangs out and they are not behaving. My friends and family know that I spend 90% of my time with a bandanna holding my hair out of my face. I love having bangs, but unless I am out and about I want them out of the way. I've tried a million headbands. They are always too tight and uncomfortable or too loose and always falling off. Then I discovered non-slip headbands! Oh my gosh, these are the greatest! 

These headbands come in a pack of two! Their logo is a "C", which is cute because that is my initial. The inside of the headband is beaded with silicone, this is what makes them non-slip. The braided pattern is gorgeous. They can be worn around the house, for exercise, or with more formal hairstyles. I made an attempt to do fancy hair in my photo, but I've had a bad hair week. It's a good thing I've been able to just pull my hair back into one of these, and it stays all day.

The first time I tried the headband on, it was very tight. So tight it was uncomfortable. I have a fairly small head, and very thin hair, so I was quite worried. After one use, the band loosened just enough and now it fits comfortably. I have worn them all day, and all night with no discomfort. The silicone really keeps the band in place. 

Usually, I have to adjust headbands every 15 minutes. It drives me nuts...but these stay put for hours. The silicone doesn't pull my hair either. I was pleasantly surprised by that. These bands are by the Curly Co...but I have very fine, thin hair and these headbands still work great. They have yet to pull out my hair, even after all day wear. 

I give these headbands 4 out of 5 stars. They are simple and elegant. Durable and comfortable. They do a great job keeping my bangs and the rest of my hair out of my face. After the first use, they are easy to get on and off. I wish they came in more colors/patterns. I would recommend them to anyone with any hair type that would like to put their hair back or use a headband that stays.

Grab a set here. 

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

~Crystal Vicious

Tea Tree Oil Scrub

I love scrubs and I love tea tree oil! I couldn't wait to try out this Tree Tree Oil Body & Foot Scrub from First Botany Cosmeceuticals! My feet can get dry and I've had the tiniest bit of toenail fungus on the corner of one nail for over 5 years. I've been trying everything to combat that stupid fungus. I figured I'd give this a shot, since the other benefits of helping moisturize and battle stinky feet, plus being able to use it on face and body as well makes this scrub super versatile!

This scrub is a mixture of salts and oils. The tea tree scent is almost non-existent, there really isn't much of any scent in the container. The mixture is pretty dry, yet not very coarse. I like it. I scoop some out and apply it to damp skin, otherwise it will just fall right off of the area you put it on. I notice the oils once I rub it in. After applying to my feet in the shower I try to be careful to not slip. It's not incredibly oily, but my feet end up a bit slick after. 

That stubborn bit of toenail fungus does seem to have gotten even smaller, so I will continue to use this on my feet daily. My feet are also super soft and smooth, which I love. I haven't tried this scrub on my face yet, but I have on my arms and legs. It does a great job getting rid of dry skin and leaving my body feeling moisturized. I give this scrub 4 out of 5 stars. I wish it had a bit more of a tea tree scent, but otherwise it's great. I would recommend it to anyone that has foot problems or those who like scrubs. 


Grab some on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious

Spirit Naturals Face Moisturizer

I have dry, sensitive, acne prone skin. I am always trying new lotions to see if I can find one can that makes my face look and feel better. Spirit Natural Face Moisturizer seemed like something I would love to try. It has some awesome natural ingredients: Aloe, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Lavender Oil, Shea Butter, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Soybean Oil, Jojoba Oil,Hemp Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract and Grape Seed Oil.

This moisturizer comes in a tall, thin bottle. I really love the packaging. It doesn't take up much space, it's nice to look at, and the pump works great. The lotion is a thick, creamy consistency. It feels pretty heavy on my face. It makes my skin feel cool and takes a very long time to absorb despite rubbing it in well. I'm not a huge fan of the scent. It kind of like cocoa butter, but a little "off". After a while, the smell will finally dissipate. The lotion does do a good job moisturizing my skin. You can feel it sitting on your face for hours, but once it's finally absorbed my skin feels soft. 

This lotion has not helped with acne. My acne has actually gotten worse since I've started using this. I also don't notice my skin feeling any tighter. I give this moisturizer 3 out of 5 stars. The smell isn't great, it takes a long time to absorb, and it feels heavy. The only benefit I have received from it is my skin is a bit more hydrated. If that is all you are looking for, I would recommend it, but otherwise I would pass.  

Available on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious

Thermalabs Exfoliating Gloves

I love all things natural, so I was wicked excited to try out these exfoliating gloves. Nothing feels better then a good scrub to get rid of all the dirt and dead cells off of your body right? This set came with three gloves, all made of different materials...Plus a Bonus Finger Exfoliator! 

Also included, is a printed in-depth guide to help you exfoliate like a pro.

It is loaded with information about each glove, care instructions, tip, tricks, and all kinds of other secrets to beautiful skin. It's a great addition to the set because it is so informative.

I hand washed each glove gently before using them. The loofah glove held up fine, but the sisal and jute ones already had bits coming loose, or falling off. Each glove fit my right hand well, but because they are one sided you could scrub everything but your right arm. If you are a lefty, you would probably be doomed...

The Bamboo Fiber 
and Loofah glove was said to be the best for dry skin because it holds the most moisture. The outside of the glove was fine. It was smooth and pretty soft, but the inside of the loofah glove was very sharp and hurt my hand. I took it off almost immediately. I was able to finish up by holding the glove in my hand like a cloth instead of as a glove, because the cloth backing protected my skin. I would not use this one again. 

The Sisal glove is the rougher, sturdier of the set. I was a bit nervous to try it because I have sensitive skin. It wasn't too rough, but a lot of fibers were falling off and sticking to me. It was rough on the inside, but not sharp like the loofah. 

The Jute glove was definitely my favorite, it is the one best for sensitive skin after all. It was a strange texture. Not soft, not rough. I was able to use some soap with it, so I could cleanse and exfoliate together. I will continue to use the Jute glove, maybe the Sisal...but I'm tossing the Loofah one.

Believe it or not, the Finger Exfoliator was my favorite out of the whole set. It doesn't look very comfy in the photo, but it not hard or rough. It's actually made of a soft fabric with some stretch. I have used it every day with a facial cleanser and I absolutely love it! It definitely made up for 2 of the gloves being sub par.  

I give this set 3 out of 5 stars. If you could buy them separate I would totally buy the Jute Mitt and the Finger Exfoliator. I would recommend them if you have tougher skin...unfortunately I do not, so half of this set is too rough for me. 

Grab some on Amazon.

And check out ThermaLabs.com



A free review sample was provided for a fair, unbiased, and honest review.

~Crystal