Watercolor Pencils are Neat!

US Art Supply has great products at great prices. I love experimenting with new mediums and I have never used watercolor pencils before. I could not wait to try these out.



This set came with 36 watercolor pencils and a roll up canvas wrap. I love keeping my supplies organized, so this was a great idea. 

I was able to keep all the pencils organized by color and could easily roll them up for storage when I was done using them. The range of colors was great. Black, white, neutrals, skin tones, and a few values for each color.

The pencils came sharpened, and the leads were soft. The colors went down onto paper smoothly. The amount of pressure I used correlated perfectly with the amount of pigment that went down. 

Adding water to a watercolor pencil drawing.

I love that you can use these dry for drawing, or paint over them with some water for more vibrant colors. And after adding water, you can even go over again with the dry pencils to add more details or bolder lines. I love versatile things. These were so fun to use. I already have a bunch of ideas for what I will do with them next. 

I give these colored pencils 5 out of 5 stars. I love the colors. I love how they feel. I love how they go down on paper, and I love how they react with water. The storage roll is a great added bonus for those who want to be organized. I would recommend these to artists, crafters, students or children who wanted to draw, paint, color, anything really! These have so many uses and are really neat!


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

Spiky Balls For The Win!

Run Baby Spiky Massage Ball is designed for Plantar Fasciitis relief but can also be used as a deep tissue massager. It's like a mini foam roller...covered in spikes. What a cool product to have to help with your sore feet and tired legs. It can also be used to improve circulation, and release muscle knots. This is great to use for self massage, all you need is a wall or a floor. 

The ball is made of a firm, hard rubber and the spikes are not sharp. They actually feel great on your muscles when you apply pressure to them. Using the ball on your feet is very easy. You just place it under your arch and roll it back and forth or around in circles under your foot. This felt really nice and relieved some of my foot pain.

You can use the ball to self massage on the floor or against a wall. I have tight muscles, so using this ball regularly will be very beneficial for me. I love using it along my shoulders and my lower back. You just place it between your achy muscle and the wall and roll. When you find a knot, just apply pressure on that point for 10-15 seconds, and then move on to the next sore spot. 

I give the Run Baby Massage Ball 4 out of 5 stars. It's easy to use, easy to store, and small enough to be portable. I look forward to using it frequently to help with muscle aches. 

Grab one on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious

Acrylics For Days!

I have been arting like crazy this past month. Even though Acrylics are one of my least favorite mediums, I have been using a ton of them. I've been trying out a bunch of awesome supplies from U.S. Art Supply. I honestly haven't stopped painting! Today I am going to talk about a spiral pad of 9" x 12" Extra Heavy-Weight 246 Pound Acrylic Painting Paper. These 12 pages come on a spiral notebook.

I loved that I could flip the cover over, and sketch right inside the book. The paper has a nice smooth texture and I enjoyed drawing on it. The pages are an off white color. It held up to an eraser better than other papers.

I was unable to tear the page out because the paper is so thick. I had to use scissors to cut the page out after I was done sketching. I usually prefer paper that has perforated edges so I can tear my paper off easily. The spiral is a pro and a con at the same time. I love the thickness of this paper. It is stiff and strong and held a lot of paint. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it for students, artists, and crafters. It is a great value.

Time Lapse of Painting with Acrylic.

Grab this on Amazon.

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

~Crystal Vicious