Translate this blog....

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

**REVIEW** Majestic Pure Rosehip Oil



A 100% organic, cold pressed Rosehip Oil from Majestic Pure


Let me start this post with a little bit of a rant about my phone... Somehow my photos of this product was lost in that thing that I use to do almost everything but make phone calls. That's why I had to snag a product photo.

There. Done. Now on to the review:

It may not sound very objective of me to say how much I like the products from this company, but it's the truth. The reasons: the quantity and quality as compared to a lot of similar products from other brands. Majestic Pure is pretty consistent with what they put out there. That's important. This, straight from their site
Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals  essential oils are 100% pure with no diluents or additives. We provide high quality organic and/or 100% natural botanicals to the public at very competitive prices, with an emphasis on the pure aesthetics and freshness. We have always put an emphasis on conducting business in an ethical, responsible, clear, and ecological way. 

Some of you know that I have a love/hate thing with Rosehip Oils. It's the smell that puts me off. A while back, when I was still getting used to R.O. in general, I almost couldn't stand it. But the benefits to the skin and hair are so good that I have tried different brands. I really, really like this one by Majestic Pure.

This R.O. feels thicker, or heavier, to me, which is good. That odor is still there but it fades fast (or maybe I am just getting used to the smell after using several brands). Because of the thick texture of this one, I came up with a really good use for it on my hair (especially natural, kinky/curly types) and on my hands.

For the hair:

  1. Shampoo the hair and rinse really well. (I find that the better I rinse out the shampoo, the better the rest of this treatment works.) 
  2. Get ready a small size plastic bag (trash or grocery) and some really warm water (not boiling!) so you can use it in a moment.
  3. While hair is still very damp (just "squeezed dry"), rub the R.O. on your palms. Pat palms on your hair. Add more to the ends of your hair (and to the more damaged areas).
  4. (Optional) Instead of wiping your hands free of the R.O., moisturize the edge of your hairline - and the backs of your ears.
  5. Soak a towel (or, as I prefer, a t-shirt) as wet as you can stand to have wrapped around your head.
  6. Fit the plastic bag over your towel-covered head and...
  7. ... Relax. for a while. I like waiting for about 15 minutes before I rinse with lukewarm water.
  8. Couple tips: for different textured hair (fine or not as kinky/dry), you might want to rinse with warmer water, or just use less oil - concentrating on ends and damage. Also, I have done this after just rinsing my hair instead of washing. Whatever works for you.
For the hands:
  1. Use this - instead of or along with- regular lotion before wearing gloves out in cold, dry weather. 
  2. Use after shaving, exfoliating, masking or konjac sponging the skin. You can coat the skin, then blot or wipe clear, or just leave on for soothing effects.
  3. This can be used (very lightly) as a facial moisturizer if you allow time for it to absorb, then blot. At least it works when my skin is super dry. I don't know how it will work for those with different skin types.
The ingredients? Just one:

Like I said, this is a really nice oil. Rosehip seems to be one of those oils that actually provides most of the benefits we hear associated with it.

Finally, Majestic Pure offers a guarantee: they will refund your entire purchase price if you aren't happy.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.




Tuesday, February 10, 2015

More Online Learning Links

Because this:



A big huge thank you to +Marla Hughes for additions to the links I posted the other day. (When you yell "Help!" Marla is always the first one to arrive. Love her!



Here are the links she provided. I will add more as I have time and hear from other folks:

So there. Can't say you can't learn. Not with all these kinds of resources!


You really can

Peace
--Free

Sunday, February 08, 2015

**Update Attempt** Life-long Learning (links)

*****originally published 8//10 - I have not (yet) updated any links or info because I would like to hear from some of you first. Have any wonderful links to add to this list? If you do, please post them via comments here or on Google Plus. Someone was looking for this kind of info & I think we could all appreciate it. Thanks!*****


I don't usually do this: post info here that belongs on my other blog. But...

I know that some people who read this blog don't always check out my World Wide Wow blog (that's a new name for it, btw!),  and I want to do some shameless plugging for it, so I am posting some self-ed and career links here. If you are into life-long learning or need to refresh or up your skills, these links are for you. Enjoy!

  • Learn Well - This one charges only for C.E. credits (in other words, you can learn free & only pay if you want/need credits). Nice, huh? Covers C.E. courses for RNs, Mft, LCSWs, MFCCs, Pharmacists, Dental Health Workers and others. (Don't get discouraged, keep reading the post for more links!)
  • O.E.R.  (Open Educational Resources) - Here's how they explain their site: "In a brave new world of learning, OER content is made free to use or share, and in some cases, to change and share again, made possible through licensing, so that both teachers and learners can share what they know."  There are various subjects (Arts, Business, Humanities, Math & Stats, Science & Tech, Social Science) and different "grade" levels. Please explore.
  • E-Learning Center - They offer free courses for  those interested in learning HTML, A+, MCSE, Excel and Office. (I see they also have many other courses listed on the homepage - for pay?) Check it out.
  • English as a Second Language - is just exactly what the site is about. From the links on the page, I see there are "listen and speak" tools, podcasts and all sorts of goodies. Really cool & should be helpful to those interested.
  • Free Ed - Nice site & covers LOTS of subjects. (Minor gripe: lots of ads make the site difficult to deal with, but, hey, it IS free, so...)
  • Wanna Learn - good site, lots of topics. A little meandering since you have to find a  subject, then wade through more links to narrow things down. But, again, it's free! LOL
  • Open Learning Initiative - Whew! Can be a little intimidating at first glance, but please give it a shot. (First link I spotted was to a course in "Engineering Statics." I thought it was a typo! ROFL. Shows what I know.... There's a course in something called "Computational Discrete Mathematics" O...kay then... I guess if you understand that then you are smart enough to appreciate that it's free.
  • Math.com - for those who aren't ready for computational discrete mathematics... LOL (like ME!)
  • Wikiversity - Well, we all know how I just love anything "wiki-like!" This is the spot to choose your language preference. When I got to the English page, I noticed that there are supposed to be close to 13,000 learning resources. Wow.
  • Creative Commons - I'm not sure how to describe this resource, so here's their take: "Creative Commons is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright." I do know that it's free and what really caught my eye is that they have MIT Open courseware available. Somebody has got to love that!
  • G.C.F. Learn Free (Goodwill Community Foundation) - described as "your free learning source." The offerings listed on its homepage are for Everyday Life, Math & Money, Computer Training and Work & Career. Cool.
I think that may be enough for now (if not overload!), and I really hope you take a look at the full list on World Wide Wow. (I update that blog often as I can, but I think I'm going to  have to take a free tutorial so that I can make it look nice and be a little more user-friendly. If anyone wants to volunteer to help a sistah out...!) Also, if you are looking for specific links on something, contact me & we'll see what we can do for ya.

Peace
--Free

Saturday, February 07, 2015

**REVIEW** Poppy Austin Eye Cream (with Green Tea & Vitamin C)

It might sound a little silly that when I received this product to review, all I could think about for the first ten minutes is how good it felt on my skin. I didn't think about smell, ingredients, or if it would irritate my face. I was mesmerized by the texture of the cream. Nothing else.

please ignore my dirty laptop screen!


It's Poppy Austin's Eye Cream with Green Tea and Vitamin C. And, by the way, according to my sister, it's very faintly scented and smells of... green tea? (I have a cold so I had to get her opinion.)
Okay, that photo sucked just a little, so...



Thankfully, I pulled myself together and got back to the job of doing an objective review for this eye cream - (though it's not just for the eye area).

This comes in a pump jar. I like products in a pump jar, but only if I can get a lot of use with minimal pumps. So, the first question, for me, was: How much coverage would I get per pump? Answer: one pump to do my undereye area and across my nose. One pump. Nice.

The reason one pump of this covered so well is because of the texture I was raving about right off the bat. The cream is super moist (I think I described it as almost damp. Most creams - even the most moisturizing - don't have that kind of "wetness"). I believe - and this is just me - that it's what the label calls its "enriched blend" of ingredients. The aloe could also lend to the high moisture level.

Whatever the reason, the texture and the feel on my skin is what really wowed me. The cream itself looks like just about any other facial moisturizer: white, thinner than body lotion, and really creamy.

Because what dispensed with one pump was more than enough for my undereye area (and because the cream can be used as a full-face product), I went ahead and, well used it full-face.

Dispensing the cream onto the back of my hand, I used my fingers to just dot tiny amounts around my face, then rub it in. Know how we are warned to be so gentle with the eye area? So that we don't tug at our skin? Well, there's no tugging with this. It's so moist that it just glides over the face, Good coverage, small amount. Love that this will last a long time.

This is how the product defines its use:
 Directly Tackles Dark, Sagging, Baggy Eyes as well as Fine Lines, Crows Feet and Wrinkles.
Well. I don't have the dark or sagging or baggy eyes, but I do have the fine lines, crows feet and... Well not a lot of wrinkles.

#SmileLinesAreNotWrinkles!

Moisture is the biggest weapon against fine lines on the skin, so I think this is going to be great for minimizing, or at least keeping those lines in check. I'd love to hear from someone else about whether this works as well for dark circles. Lord knows, we are all living with enough stress to develop some of those skin problems.

Now. That is all what I love about this product. I didn't have any negative issues with it, but ran into something that is my personal flaw: I have combo skin. Depending on the weather, my face is "Normal/Dry" or "Normal/Super-dry". (As in arid as the Sahara.) This cream worked amazingly well as a moisturizer of the Normal and Dry parts of my face...

... Except for my chin. My chin is just ri-dic-cu-lous!

The Poppy Austin cream actually did soothe the dryness of my chin, but after a while, I had to add more product to that one area. Who knows, maybe with continued use, even that part of my face might get better? Let us hope.

Now, for the other important stuff, I'm going to leave you with a list (well, a photo) of the ingredients, and the happy note about the manufacturer's guarantee of a FULL refund if you are not happy with the product.

Also be sure to check out the actual Poppy Austin site! I like what they have to say on the "Our Story" page.

Here is a partial list of ingredients from the product page on Amazon, and a photo of more ingredients as shown in the product page photo:
"Poppy Austin® revitalizing under eye cream contains a cleverly combined blend of 72% organic and natural ingredients. These include our luxurious organic Aloe, Grapeseed Oil, organic Jojoba Oil, Green Tea, Lemon Citrus, organic Rosehip Oil, Vitamins E and C and many other sumptuous moisturizers and natural antioxidants. A full list of ingredients is located on the product packaging" 


Since I had trouble with the image copy, my photo attempts to better show all ingredients listed:


Peace
--Free



DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sunday, February 01, 2015

Love to my Circle

I think I have finally (finally!) found the perfect way for using Google Plus. 

All I did was re-organize a little. Put the people I actually communicate with in a priority circle, and put all the rest in their own big circle. Now, all I have to worry about is (maybe) moving folks from the big circle to the priority circle. 

The past couple of days on G+ have been the best. I'm actually having conversations with people instead of running all over my stream trying to keep pace.

So, love to my special little circle...




Can't wait to meet more of the best.








Wednesday, January 28, 2015

**REVIEW** Minzos 4-in-1 Turbo Pen

This is a product that is probably intended for people with more important things going on than I do, but I can always use a new gadget, right?

4 tools in 1 handy little gadget that I can clip to my pocket, purse or backpack:



It's Minzos 4-in-1 Turbo Pen

The best about this -
  • A ballpoint pen that writes well. It's smooth and not leaky.
  • The penlight which I like because it keeps me from using the app that drains my phone battery.
  • The stylus is probably my favorite part of this tool. The point is thick and cushy and it doesn't seem like it's going to deflate so quickly (like my last stylus did).
  • Also... Okay, I don't really have a sensible use for a presentation pointer, but it's great for playing "Climb the Wall" with our cats, so there's that.
It's a great idea - and it's actually a pretty cool tool, but I had some minor problems with it:
  • Ballpoint pen top does not store on end of pen. Easy to lose it because it rolls around on tables and desks.
  • Whatever is printed on one part of the pen (battery insert instructions, maybe?) is so small I literally could not read it with a magnifying glass. Gave up and hope it's not important. But... it's probably about the batteries, which...
  • Fell out when the top popped off after I'd been using the pen the very first day. They are little, itty-bitty batteries and I'm still looking around for the one I lost.
The popping off of the top is a real problem. I didn't even get a chance to get photos of the light functions in use because, well, it's only a 2-function tool if you lose a battery.

Basically, I really do like the tool. It's pretty nice having the multiple functions without digging around in my purse for a bunch of different gadgets. I will get around to replacing the battery when I get around to it but, in the meantime, I am just using to pen and stylus. 

Another positive thing I want to point out is that this is not a cheap, light-weight item. It's sturdy enough in the hand and looks good. There is an insert with the product that instructs you to register the item within 10 days of purchase "for a free upgrade to your warranty" (from 1 year to 18 months).

I kind of don't like the confusing wording of the "upgrade" deal. After the initial notice that I mentioned above, instructions follow for you to register for the exclusive "Alpha User's Group). As a member of the group, you get a "free extended warranty" on your product "from 1 year to 18 months (immediate replacement)" 

Anyway.

From reading some other reviews just now, I see that some users have the same issues I do with the top coming loose. The biggest problem with this item is that there are many similar gadgets to choose from (at varying prices). The few irritations could send a customer to another product.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW* Adovia Dead Sea Bath Salts (UPDATED)

Since I have tried (and mostly love) many Adovia products, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one:

INSERT PHOTO

Ta-da! Adovia's Dead Sea Bath Salts.

Nice, big, 1.75lb pouch. At least I could tell that was the weight when I weighed the bag for myself. You see, there was no label indicating the weight on the package. I also had to rely on the product page to get any information on how best to use the salts.

But.

Once I did get the information...
"The mineral rich salts of the Dead Sea are wonderful to use when attempting to naturally soothe aches and pains from dry skin disorders, joint pain disorders, and muscle pain disorders. They're also great to use when unwinding from a long stressful day or week and your body has been overexerted. Salts of the Dead Sea have been used for centuries to provide soothing relief and now you get to enjoy the benefits of the Dead Sea, too! Use them to sooth painfully dry skin due to Psoriasis, Dermatitis, or Eczema. Use them to relax after a long day at work. Use them to sooth overexerted muscles after a long workout at the gym. And you could even use them to sooth pains from Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. This natural muscle soother is even perfect to use when creating a spa like setting in the comfort of your own home. All you have to do is set the mood in the room where you plan on soaking in the Dead Sea salts, fill the tub, pour in the salts, soak and enjoy. Using Dead Sea salts to soothe dry skin, joint and muscle aches and pains is a fast, effective, and natural way to find relief. Did you know that you can soak in a tub full of these natural salts and warm water to find relief from stress and insomnia as well? Directions for Use of Dead Sea Bath Salts 1. To use these natural bath salts, simply pour 1 cup of salts into a bath tub that is filling with warm water or that has already been filled with warm water. 2. Allow the salts to dissolve before getting in to the bath tub. 3. Get into the bath tub, relax and soak for about 20 minutes. 4. Follow-up with a warm rinse. Dip your body into a Dead Sea salt enriched bath tub every evening before retiring to bed, or at the end of a very long week at work. Use them every day or as needed. The choice is yours. One thing's for sure, regardless of how often you use these naturally soothing bath salts you'll never regret their investment thanks to the many rewards you'll discover." (straight from the product page at Amazon)

...I was happy to see that the salts "Contain absolutely zero additives, colors, or scents. Higher Level of Minerals and Relief than Epsom Salts", but I was still curious about the "over 26 essential minerals the body needs for natural soothing and relaxation" and such. I want a list of the minerals.

If something has great ingredients and there are different ways to use a product, I want to know without having to do a lot of research. Basically, with this product, I wish that all the information had been printed on a cheap piece of paper and slipped inside the bag of salts. Or taped to the back. Or stapled to the bag. Something. You know? (I'm having issues lately with products not coming with adequate information included. Just a peeve of mine.)

Anyway, I don't suffer from any serious skin conditions and I don't (thank goodness) have problems such as Arthritis or Fibromyalgia. What I do have is (selfishly) a love of soft skin. And feet that are more high maintenance than a trophy wife.

Now, my feet are doing better (thanks to a nifty little item I found at a local store, but that's for another post), but I decided to treat them with a soak using these salts. (Okay, here's the deal: I already had a shower today and I'm too lazy to do the whole-body bath thing this late at night.)

So... I tested the salts on these troublesome dawgs of mine. Since I was just doing my feet (and using a foot tub), I went with a quarter cup of salts dissolved in very warm water. I soaked my feet for about 15 minutes. I would have gone the whole 20, but my phone battery was going low and I was expecting an important call. Whatever. 15 minutes or so was apparently good enough because, wow. My feet came out so soft. Actually, I got my feet and ankles, which is good because the backs of my ankles get so dry and irritated from my footwear that the skin is always flaky. (And now you know too much.)

I don't know and cannot tell you if these salts work for the more serious issues addressed in the product description but, baby, if you want something to soften your skin - well, these salts will do it. My feet are like the go-to part of my body for testing a product! If these can soften my feet, well...

Another benefit to these salts is that they actually softened the water. When I lived in Arizona (and some parts of Texas), the water was so hard that you could almost beat someone with it. Here in Alaska, we have some of the best water in the world, but these salts did give the water a soft and almost silken feel. That's going to be heavenly when I take a nice, long bath.

If I have one caution, it's this: I know that some people use Epsom salt to get rid of excess water (by ingesting or by soaking). If these salts do the same thing, just take precaution when using. Besides, I'm not sure what all 26 minerals are involved.

Adovia is great about standing behind their products, but I didn't see any kind of guarantee on the product page. However, this is set at a great price (about $12) for such a hefty bag of salts.

Enjoy!

Peace
--Free

P.S.: The temps here have been sticking at single digits here for the past several days. I have a nasty cold and the chills, so I took a nice, hot soak in the tub last night. Added about 1 cup of the bath salts and fell asleep for about 40 minutes. (Yes, 40 minutes. No kidding. When I woke up after the first 25 minutes, I just added more hot water.) The rest of my body love these salts as much as my feet do. One other thing I noticed: when I moisturized right afterwards -and promptly went to bed - my skin stayed better hydrated throughout the whole night. I don't bathe often in really warm water because it's not good for my skin and I have to double-down on the moisturizer. This bath was long and warm, but I made it to late morning before I had to re-moisturize. Last of all, I don't think I slept any better than usual, but the bath was relaxing.

**UPDATE** I forgot to add something. This tends to leave the skin ashy and dry. Make sure to rinse your body thoroughly and moisturize very well after using.

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

**REVIEW** Shine Whitening

For about a year, I've been wanting to do a treatment to brighten my teeth. I kept backing off because the ones I saw at local stores were too expensive or too complicated looking. And I have a short attention span.

When I got the chance to review this one, via Tomoson, I took the jump. It's Shine Whitening.

www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
Doesn't look anything like me!
If I'd had to purchase this, I don't think $30 is too much to pay. (I've seen ones at the store as high as $50+). This one also didn't sound like it was going to be that complicated. Here's my one gripe as I get ready to try it out: The instructions on the package itself are very general. I mean, just basic. For something that I'm going to be using on my teeth, I expected a little more info included with the product. Instead, I was directed to a website address which didn't load properly. I had to delete the "/zero" part to get started. Minor as far as that goes, but I was already annoyed that I had to go online for the full instruction. (What if I didn't have regular access to the internet?)

Instructions for mouth trays decent. All other instructions were too brief.

By the way, I found the website to be lacking in many ways. For instance, the links to FAQs and other areas went nowhere useful. (Also, the Amazon product site didn't have a list of ingredients for viewers.)

The ingredients: Glycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Fluoride, Aloe Barbadensis, Leaf Juice, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Flavor.
Anyway, let me back up to say that I used the package instructions to prepare the mouth trays. How hard could that be, is what my brain was telling me. Well... This is what the trays looked like when I followed the instructions to shape them to my teeth:


www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
My bottom teeth are really this jacked up?

www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
Top teeth... Not so bad. 


~sigh~

Okay. So maybe I should stop listening to my brain since it's kind of sarced out.

By the way, after I shaped the trays, they no longer fit as well into the provided retainer case.


I decided that, yes, I should probably check out the more detailed instructions online (for using the mouth tray because, let's face it, I was going to have to do the re-shaping of them again).

Okay. I got the trays to fit better. I got the "detailed" instructions. I manged to get the light working (had a little run in with the battery cover, which is not easy to grip). I managed to get the trays lubricated with the whitening gel and into my mouth. THEN... I had to get the light into my mouth. I felt like a Cracked Magazine version of a chick imitating Hannibal Lector.


www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
It's pretty awkward having to have the trays and light stuffed in your mouth for fifteen minutes. (It's suggested to use for 15 to 30 minutes per treatment.)

I lasted 13 minutes and 43 seconds before I was drooling all down my shirt. The whole time I was drooling and trying not to lock my jaw up, my little nephew was trying to hold a conversation with me about his new toy car and my sister (who is a little loopy from an infection) was laughing at the both of us. I couldn't wait to get that contraption out of my mouth.

But when I did. Wow.

This is what my teeth looked like pre-whitening:

www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
I didn't even brush with paste before this pic

This is what they looked like after one treatment:
Lips need a scrub, but the teeth are whiter
That's not a trick of the light. I used the kit, rinsed, and then brushed my teeth with a non-whitening paste.

I didn't expect such noticeable results right away. The package label suggests using the kit for 4 weeks. At the rate that this worked, I'll be happy just using it once every few weeks. This stuff really did work. I'm not kidding about using it just every now and then. If I used twice a day, as suggested, I think I'd end up with unnaturally white teeth. I'm pretty impressed. I'm impressed enough that I don't mind the hassle I had to endure to use the kit. I'm impressed enough that I think I'll be purchasing another kit when this one runs out.

This is one of those times that I expected to be kind of ticked off by a product (which has really only happened once before), but come away amazed by the quick results. So, to summarize:

CONS -
  • Instructions are lacking & having to go online for only slightly better "detailed" instructions is annoying. Why not just insert better instructions into the packaging in the first place? Especially when the website you give for more instructions is not there.
  • The trays are difficult to shape to your teeth (or maybe I just have really crazy-to-fit teeth), If my fitted trays indicate the way my teeth are shaped, I'm a little embarrassed.
  • The gel cartridges are a bit awkward also. The instructions to use a "drop" don't really work if what you really have to do is spread the gel along the front of the tray.
  • There will be some drooling involved. This is not the most discreet way to whiten your teeth.
  • There should have been a larger case included to hold the fitted trays. Once you shape them, the case might not be adequate. (I ended up putting my trays into a baggy for storage.)
  • I don't know about you but, in spite of what the website says, I won't be using this "on the go or in the office. Not unless I am President and have Secret Service agents keeping out anyone who might see me with this thing in my mouth and drool wetting my chin. No, ma'am. I have no idea how anyone would even manage to use this "on the go". Where are you going to go looking like a deranged, drooling maniac? With a blue light in your mouth? Huh.)
  • I didn't see any mention of a product guarantee.
  • Though this states that botanical ingredients are used instead of peroxide, I couldn't find a list of those ingredients on the product website. You'd have to see the package for that.
PROS -
  • There really is none of that weird feeling you get with some other whitening products. No numbness or irritation of the gums. It doesn't even taste that icky. That might be because...
  • ...This kit uses botanical ingredients* instead of peroxide.
  • There is a support number listed on the package in case you have questions. (Con: it's not a toll-free number.)
  • You don't have to use the light; it just "speeds up the process". (But the results with the light seem to be pretty awesome.)
  • It works.
  • It works the very first time you use it.
  • It's fifteen minutes per treatment. Now that I know what to expect, I will do my treatments while bathing or having nothing else in the world to do (including possibly being seen by any other human being).
  • It. Works.
Here is what you get all squeezed into that small box:

The mouth trays are inside the white case

www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
You also get the little chart
www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
The light battery cover


If I didn't use this again, I would be happy with the improvement. I drink a lot of coffee, eat a lot of staining berries (and I have cheated with the smoking...), and I drink tons of tea. I don't brush my teeth after every meal. I'm human. If this improved the look of my teeth with one treatment, I imagine it will be amazing for someone motivated enough to use it twice a day for 4 weeks. I imagine you'd be able to use the whiteness of their teeth for a nightlight after 4 weeks.
www.freebeingfree.blogspot.com review of Shine Whitening
This part of light is for your mouth
UPDATE: I realized that I had not removed the tabs from the mouth trays the first time I used the kit. The tabs are there for when you are using hot water to shape the trays. Once I did remove them, the trays (and light) fit much better. It's still not a good look for "on the go" or at the office. Unless you work from home. Behind a locked door. Still, this works so well that, with the trays fitting better, I will be using more often.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

**REVIEW**Digital Luggage Scale by Gear District


True story:

On one of the trips I've taken in the past 3 years (I can`t remember which trip), I sweated all the way to the airport, worrying that my luggage was going to be too heavy. Since I was being dropped off at such a huge airport, my ride was not going to be able to stick around after tossing me out at the curb (at my own insistence). For the whole ride to the airport, I was toying with the idea of rearranging and unpacking some stuff so that I could just send for it later. I didn't  reorganize or unpack, but I was sure praying that I didn't end up giving away clothes at the airport just so I didn't  have to pay any of the outrageous over-weight luggage fees.

(True-story-inside-a-true-story: a family member once tossed a bunch of cosmetics at the airport. Can`t remember if it was a weight thing or a TSA thing...)

Anyway, on this particular trip, I get to Baggage Check and, thank goodness, I had a super-nice agent. One of my bags was slightly over while the other was lighter. The agent let me rearrange some stuff so that both bags met weight requirements. The only good thing I remember about that trip was that I was too exhausted from the baggage worries to be as nervous as I usually am about actually flying.

Remember when air travel was fun and relaxing? Yeah, me neither.

Anyway. I took you on that little story journey to tell you about this:


Ignore my bad photography. 
 That's the Digital Luggage Scale from Gear District. And I think I'm in love.

Man, I hate flying, but I will sure be loving this the next time I have to go somewhere on a plane. Until now, I`ve used bathroom scales and toddlers to try to get an idea of what my luggage will clock in at. (Yes, toddlers. If you know how much the kid weighs, you try to guess how much heavier or lighter than he/she is than the bag. By the way, neither method works very well.)

This scale is pretty awesome. The only complaint I can come up with (if I dig real deep) is that I struggled with trying to figure out how to put the battery in. On the other hand, I am a little sarc-slow. And, hey, at least they did include the battery. (The battery is one of those flat watch type deals, and I never have any of those around the house. Can`t even dismantle the kid`s toy for one.)

That's the itty bitty battery on the left.
The digital read-out is very clear. You just adjust whether you want lbs or kgs. Hook the scale to the handle of your bag and... well, pick it up and wait for the news. I tested it on some luggage that I still have half-packed from the Thanksgiving trip (don`t dare judge me!) and I would try guess what the weight would read. I was never right. I was never even close.

Um, I should have gotten a photo of a readout, I guess. Oops

This box photo doesn't do it justice, but...
There`s really nothing else I need to tell you about this. It`s just kind of a lifesaver when you travel enough  give yourself ulcers over baggage fees. I`m going to be as arrogant as hell the next time I check bags. Or, at least, I won`t be sweating bullets and playing the game of "Which Pair of Shoes/Jeans/Coat Could I Absolutely Live Without?"


Oh - the scale came with a bonus item: a little combo luggage lock. It`s nice, but I haven`t reset the combination. I might use a lock on my luggage while I am at a hotel or staying with friends who have friends I don't trust, but I`m not trying to dare the TSA to bust into my suitcase. I`m that person who always - ALWAYS - finds that notice inside my bag that it was opened for a "random" check. How random is it when it`s always me? Whatever.

Still, it's nice to have the lock. For hotels & such.

The scale looks nice, too. It`s a brushed stainless steel that feels real sturdy. I mentioned that the readout is clear and easy to read. It`s black numbers on a vibrant blue background. It`s small enough to tuck into your purse or briefcase (and it`s light enough so you don`t add to your worries about its weight.





Yeah, so, if you travel and are not rich (or foolish) enough not to worry about paying overweight bag fees, this is a nifty gadget. The price is good too. When I was sent mine, it was priced at about $15, down from around $40, but I guess that depends on discounts and other changes in prices. It's still cheaper than one payment of an overweight baggage fee. (Trust me, I know from experience.)



Finally, I have to say this: Usually, when a product claims to be a "great gift idea", I wonder if the Marketing crew just ran out of positive things to say and needed to fill some space. With this product, I will say it because it's true: This is a great gift idea. 

And.... the warranty is a Lifetime Hassle-free one.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

**REVIEW** Majestic Pure Therapeutic Grade Lemon Oil

Yes, I know. I'm getting as wild about essential oils as I've always been about moisturizers. I keep getting to try such good quality oils that I am starting to come up with my own recipes for using them in all kinds of ways.

I LOVE this one by Majestic Pure



http://freebeingfree.blogspot.com/

I am thoroughly enjoying the benefits of their fractionated coconut oil, so I wasn't surprised to be so pleased with this product. It's their Therapeutic grade 100% pure lemon oil.

Okay, so one of the ways that I used this oil (and this is a new use for me) is to moisturize. I know that lemon oil is not the first thing most people might think of as having a moisturizing effect, but... As you know, I've been on a weight-loss journey. I'm really happy to say that I am getting into the best shape I've been in for about 4 years. Like with most people who lose weight, I have to work at keeping toned. Also, I want to keep my skin in good shape, so I moisturize like crazy.

Here is my favorite way to moisturize (and de-stress) using the lemon oil: I put a couple drops of the lemon oil in my palm and add a couple drops of one of my other moisturizing oils (coconut, black castor, argan or rosehip). I rub that mixture onto my belly, the backs of my legs and my thighs just before bedtime. The lemon oil really does seem to give my skin a revitalized look. The fragrance is amazing. And very soothing. Also, it feels so good when my legs are a little sore from any exercise. The whole experience - the massage, the fragrance and moisturizing - is great for relaxing the mind and body after a stressful day. And, whoo! I have had some stressful days recently!


http://freebeingfree.blogspot.com/

Of course, it's no big secret that lemon is a wonderful scent, but this oil is also good at clearing away other smelly odors around the house - where shoes are stored or garbage is collected or where dirty laundry is stored.

The other way I used this oil was by putting a single drop (seriously, just one) onto a damp towel to toss into the dryer with some of my clothes. I'd left some clothes in the washer for a couple hours and  wanted to see how the oil worked as a fabric freshener. It was pretty nice. You get that really clean, fresh scent without having to use dryer sheets.

So, yes, this is another oil I am adding to my "staples" of natural products.

Oh, and, just so I could add to this blog post, I tried using the lemon oil with some raw sugar as a lip scrub. It works great. I went very light on the lemon oil - just a dab onto my finger - and I made sure to use some coconut oil also. Nice.

Finally, I can tell you that the lemon oil makes for a great household cleaner. I haven't gone crazy in the cleaning department yet, but I did try the oil out in the bathroom. What I did was put a couple of drops on a really warm wet cloth to wipe down the sink and counters. It was a little embarrassing that this cleaned some spots that I missed with a regular cleaning just a day or so before. The best thing about using the oil to clean sinks and countertops is the smell that is left. Normally, we use a lot of spray-on products with added bleach for the sinks and counters. The lemon smells way better and is safer.

The dropper is a great way to dispense the oil. I've figured out how many drops to use for most uses. I can add just about 3 or 4 drops to a 6oz spray bottle to use as an air freshener. For moisturizing , I can use about 3 drops mixed with another oil to treat my body from the shoulders down. I am more careful with my face - just using a dab on my finger for my forehead and neck. Also, I only do this at night because I worry about sun exposure. (I haven't gotten up the nerve to use the lemon oil on my hair yet, but I bet I could get some streaking going on! LOL)


http://freebeingfree.blogspot.com/

 As with other products that supply the information, I like knowing what the manufacturing date and shelf-life is.


I love  this oil. I like the good quality, I like the size it comes in, and I like that there are so many ways to use it. My next recipe is to mix a little bit of this lemon oil with some of my peppermint oil into my drinking water...

Majestic Pure will refund your total purchase price if you are not happy with the product.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will be good for my blog readers.

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

**REVIEW** Fractionated Coconut Oil by Majestic Pure

Since I'd never heard of a "fractionated" coconut oil before this one, let me explain what that is. Enter the trusty old copy/paste method of gathering info from the product description:
 Fractionated coconut oil is a fraction of the coconut oil from which almost all the long chain triglycerides are removed, thus leaving mainly the medium-chain triglycerides and making it an absolutely saturated oil. This saturation gives it a very long shelf life and greatly increased stability. In addition, fractionating raises the comparative concentration of Capric acid and Caprylic acid, thus giving it more of antioxidant and disinfecting effect. (my bold emphasis)
If you checked the links I provided for the different triglycerides, you probably were thinking, "Who knew?" (Or who cares, maybe.) If you are like me and always want to know a little bit more than your brain can absorb, you can also check this link that talks about MCTs vs Coconut Oil. I'll leave that right here for you. For now, let's move on to what I found in actually using this particular product.

http://freebeingfree.blogspot.com/

 This is Majestic Pure's Fractionated Coconut Oil (or Cocos Nucifera if you like sounding well-read).

Apparently the whole thing about long shelf life is true. A label was attached showing the manufacture date and the shelf life of my product. I placed my order December 30 so I got a pretty fresh batch.



I got a little tangled up with all the information provided in the links about fractionated oil and maybe you did the same thing. I'm going to point out right now that this particular product is NOT intended for anything but external use. So don't go drinking it or cooking with it.

Since I can't drink or cook with it (heh heh), I have so far used mine in 3 ways: on my freshly washed and conditioned (and damp hair), on my freshly showered body and as a makeup remover. The hair use worked so-so. I think I overdid it. More about that in a moment. First -

As a Body Moisturizer:

When I used this after my shower, I wanted to see which way would work best. First, I used it on my still damp arms and upper body, then I used it on my towel-blotted lower body and legs. I actually like it both ways. Of course, it was a little bit easier to massage in on the dried parts. I have to admit that, when I had to blot after applying the oil to my still-damp skin, I was worried about my towel. No problem. Just as promised, the oil didn't stain the towel and it later washed just as clean as the rest of my laundry.

I love the way this made my skin feel right after showering. It's really, really lightweight, which is a nice change from some heavier oils that tend to sit on this skin and have to be blotted before you can dress. I like this better than cream-like coconut oils I've used because it's much easier to apply. It also is lighter and better absorbing than the jarred coconut oils. I actually liked the way my arms and legs felt after using this.

By the way, when I used this as a sort of lotion/regular moisturizer, it worked well, but it does leave a sheen for the first couple of minutes. I liked it okay, but not on my face just prior to applying makeup.  And this was great as a lip moisturizer!

As a Hair Moisturizer:

Remember that I used this on my hair right after washing and conditioning? Well, that might have worked better if I hadn't gone overboard.

When I put just a little (maybe a dime-sized puddle) in my palms, then rubbed my hands through my hair, I liked that it wasn't greasy. And I should have just stopped right there. I have a suspicion that I might have ended up with soft and moisturized hair, but I can't report that because... I always go one step too far. For some reason, I just had to add another couple "puddles" of oil to my hair. By the time my naps dried, I had a stiff and slightly oily mess. So, yeah, I think next time, I will stick with one "puddle", let my hair dry, then see what the results are. As it happened, I ended up just covering my hair with a scarf until I could re-shampoo. (I haven't had the chance to try the oil again because I just finished reviewing a hair dye and didn't want any more oil in my hair for that...)

I do want to try using this again on my hair because it's supposed to stimulate hair growth.

As a Makeup Remover:

One word for this one: Amazing. Seriously. It's light enough that you don't feel you are gunking up your pores when you slather it on. I generally apply a little to my fingertips and massage into my face, let it sit for a minute, then wipe with a baby wipe. It takes one application for all over and another just for my eye-liner and stuff. Best thing, my face is still moist from the baby wipe so, if I hurry, I can dab a little of the oil on to finish drying with the dampness. That's one way I can use the oil and still apply more makeup within a couple minutes. (Maybe I should always use a little water with the oil when moisturizing???)

The nice thing about removing my makeup with this is, if I'm lazy, I don't even have to apply my nighttime face cream after. The oil doesn't dry out my skin and, so far, it has not clogged my pores.

In Summary:

This oil does lack that delicious coconut fragrance. Of course, that is also a plus in some cases. Sometimes, you just don't want the fragrance.

You can't ingest this oil, so you don't get the "multi-use" factor that you can with "regular" coconut oil. (On the other hand, you can just keep this in your bathroom, dedicated to your skin care use.)

When I ordered this, it was priced at around a dollar an ounce. An ounce will go a long way and, then there's the whole 5-year shelf life thing. That makes it worth it for me. I can keep this in my bathroom without worrying about it spoiling. Then there is the guarantee:

(and the "external use only" warning!)
I like this for body moisturizing and makeup removal because it's not staining sheets and towels. It works great and the price is right. If you are into essential oils (as you know I now am), this is perfect as a carrier oil. I have not yet added it to my existing lotions and creams but I plan to try it. I want to see if it helps me stretch some use out the the ends of my lotions and such.

This is the first product I've tried from Majestic Pure, but I see that they have some other items I might want to check out.

Peace
--Free


DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.