Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Review

The Paula's Choice BzzAgent campaign ends tomorrow and I wanted to give an honest review after having ample time to try this product out.

Paula's Choice Website claims that this product is a "gentle, leave-on exfoliate" for all skin types that:

• rapidly unclogs and diminishes pores
• diminishes the appearance of wrinkles
• improves skin tone for smooth and radiant skin

My Thoughts
The product claims to be gentle, but in the beginning I didn't like it because the liquid made my skin red, hot, and irritated.  I did, however, continue to use this product, perhaps against my better judgment, and the irritation quickly went away.  For example, I used it this morning and I did notice a hint of redness on my skin, but can no longer see it now that I have applied makeup.  Also I felt no irritation using this product.  It feels somewhat greasy upon application, but quickly absorbs and doesn't leave me greasy or alter the application of other face makeup.  

I was most excited about the potential antiaging effects.  I am at the age where fine lines are starting to bother me and any product that claims that it will help my fine lines is worth a try as far as I am concerned.  I do not notice a reduction in my fine lines, which was my ultimate goal.  SAD FACE.  My skin definitely looks even and feels smooth, but I think part of this is the fact that I have started using a Clarisonic to clean my face before applying this product.  This product definitely did reduce the size of my pores, which I noticed before I started using the Clarisonic.  Just to note, I never thought my pores were large, but I definitely notice that they are almost non existent after using this.  

Cost and Love or Pass It

This product retails for around $28.  I definitely would recommend the BHA liquid if you are someone who struggles with large pores since this worked wonders on my pores.  I also think that this helped my skin tone and texture, but I am not 100% certain that all the credit goes to Paula's Choice.  I do caution anyone with sensitive skin from using BHA liquid since I experienced some irritation in the beginning.  Use this at your own judgment.  

If you want to try this product use code "PRBHA16" for 20% off your purchase when you shop through Paula's Choice website.  Let me know how you like it or your thoughts if you already use this.   

Freschetta Brick Oven Crust Review

In my last post I mentioned that I was part of BzzAgent's Freschetta campaign.  You can read more about it here.

BzzAgent sent me package with a Freschetta pizza cutter, a coupon for a free Freschetta pizza of my choosing, and two coupons to share with family and friends.

When I think of frozen pizza  I normally think Digorno as Digorno advertisements frequent the television airways with their catchy slogan, "If it's not delivery, it's Digorno."  And I will say that Digorno pizza's are pretty good, considering they generally cost around $6-8 a pie.  I tend to keep a Digorno on hand for those nights when it's too late to order delivery and I just don't have the energy to cook a meal.  Don't judge, it happens when you are busy with life. 

I've had Freschetta's Naturally Rising pizza before, and I remember I liked it, so I wanted to try one of Freschetta's other pizza options.  Unfortunately my Walmart didn't offer the Gluten Free Thin & Crispy, but they did sell Brick Oven Crust so I settled with a Pepperoni & Italian Style Cheese Pizza.

Since I was at class my husband was on pizza cooking and picture taking duty.  He opened the package to find that the pie definitely doesn't come ready to put in the oven, unless you like all your pepperoni in one corner.

 We don't.  The pepperoni is not frozen to the pie so he made a beautiful piece of pizza pie art work.

He followed the directions and our pizza ended up taking a total of 15 minutes to cook.  

Wait 5 minutes (ideally...he never can) and then cut.  Thanks to BzzAgent we have an awesome pizza cuter that does the job and is kid friendly...no sharp metal.

Frozen pizza has come a long way and it is definitely not the frozen pizza I grew up with as a kid.  Freschetta's Brick Oven Crust comes out crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  The crust is probably the star of the pie.  It is really good!  The pepperoni is delicious and the cheese is 100% natural.  My only complaint is that the sauce could use a little less sugar.  Unlike my friend growing up who put white sugar on her pizza, I prefer my pizza more on the savory side with a side of homemade boneless buffalo wings.  

I've tried a lot of different frozen pizzas and I will say the best is either Freschetta or Digorno.  They are both very similar and offer a range of crusts and toppings.  Without a taste off, however, I can't pick a winner.  Guess I have project...

It never hurts to have a frozen pizza on hand for those busy nights.  And considering Freschetta pizza starts at $5.99, generally less than Digiorno, and are often on sale, they are a great option.  If your family is larger than two I would recommend buying two pies as my husband and I easily polished off our frozen pizza in one sitting.  In fact I wanted more.  Freschetta really impressed me.

Have you tried Freschetta pizza recently.  What's your favorite?  What did you think?  I'm curious to know.  I'm going to look for the Gluten Free variety to try next.  After all, I'm always on the hunt for a good gluten free pie.

Thank you again to BzzAgent for providing me the opportunity to sample a free Freschetta pizza.  If you haven't signed up for BzzAgent click here to be able to also receive free stuff to review.

BzzAgent

Have you heard of BzzAgent?  BzzAgent is a website where you get free items to review.  Plus the sign up is free.  I don't know about you, but I like free!  

For signing up I received this great magnet.  

I signed up for BzzAgent in August, took a few surveys (they only take a few minutes), and received my first campaign to review Freschetta pizza within a week or two.  Yep they sent me a coupon for a free frozen pie.

I purchased the pizza yesterday and will be reviewing it this week.

I'm super excited to be a part of this website and I hope to review more items in the near future.  You should join too...sign up here.

Carefree Acti-Fresh Body Shape Pantiliner

Let me preface this post by saying this is going to be some TMI.  If TMI is not your thing I would stop reading right about now and go check out itcosmetics.com because they extended their friends and family event one more day ending today!

You're welcome.    

I joined Influenster and had the privilege of receiving my first Voxbox.

My sample contained Carefree Acti-Fresh Body Shape Pantiliners.

I was shocked.  I thought my sample would be a liner or two, not a full size bag of 20 regular liners.  But hey, I'll take it!  Reviewing liners is not something I'm going to shy away from.  As a woman, a nurse, and a graduate student pursing degrees in Midwifery and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, I know women are afraid to talk about their vaginas.  Vaginas get discharge and it can be normal.  Think of your menstrual cycle.  Your body produces more mucus when you ovulate and you can have discharge with hormonal fluctuations.  (Your vagina also produce discharge for other reasons, which sometimes require treatment, but that's not the point of this.)  A woman wants to feel clean and fresh, and pantyliners are a great way to be able to help with that without feeling like you need to throw on a funky pair of underwear because frankly I still want to be able to wear my cute bras sets from Adore Me.

These Carefree liners were absorbent enough for me to last all day and discreet enough for me to throw in my Ipsy beauty bag to have on hand.

Prior to trying the Carefree Acti-Fresh Body Shape Pantiliners I was using U by Kotex Barely There Panty Liners that claimed to be the thinnest of them all.  The U by Kotex do not seem to stay in place as well as these Carefree liners and are definitely not as absorbent.  I actually prefer (gasp) these Carefree liners even though they are thicker than the U by Kotex.  I guess size does matter...go figure.  They are a great product and I will definitely use the Carefree liners in the future.

And while I have not tried them I just wanted to mention that Carefree Acti-Fresh Body Shape Pantiliners also come in thin, long, extra long, and thong.  My review is on the regular size liners, which I tried out with thong underwear and they fit just fine.

Note: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  My review of this product, however, is my opinion after my own testing of this product.  

Ipsy Match Glam Bag Review

In early March I wrote about Ipsy. At that time I was excited because I received a sneak preview of what I would receive in my March Glam Bag and I thought the color of the NYX Butter Lipstick was fabulous.  Little did I know, however, I would not receive the pink color pictured, but instead a dark purple colored lipstick called Hunk.

I'm not afraid of taking makeup risks, I think that is part of the fun of beauty, but the purple looked clownish on me.  Let's put it this way, when your husband who knows enough to tell you that a new lipstick looks, "great," even if he doesn't "really" think so, but for once says, "well..." with a long pause, you know that the color is a miss!

Lucky for me a friend of mine also receives Ipsy Glam Bags and she did not like her color either.  So we swapped and I got to try out the color I had originally wanted, Little Susie.

From left to right: the two eyeshadow swatches from Pixi by Petra in Apricot Glow and NYX Butter Lipstick in Little Susie

Little Susie is definitely Barbie pink, but I find it a much better Spring color than Hunk.  The third NYX Butter Gloss color some folks received in their Glam Bag was Pops, a nice mauve, which I would have loved, but you get what you get.  These lipsticks retails for $10.

I definitely was not crazy about this month's Glam Bag.  Frankly the only items I really liked were the:

• Coolway Glow Oil Treatment - Normally hair oils make my fine hair greasy, but this manages to tame flyaways without weighing down my hair.  And my hair never looks greasy!  I loved this product.
• Crownbrush Infinity Shadow / Crease Duet Brush - You can never go wrong with a crease brush.  The quality is good.
• The Ipsy bag, which is super cute and I love neon.  

I wasn't impressed with the:

• Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo - While I like the color selection, the eyeshadow is not very good quality.  
• skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels - These did not feel like they did anything for my sensitive, under eye area.  Last month I received a sample of GlamGlow under eye mask and I would highly recommend that product instead.  
• NYX Butter Lipstick - I am undecided about this item.  I'm not the biggest lipstick fan, but the color is pigmented and it does feel somewhat moisturizing.  I found this product just OK.  

Overall I still love receiving my $10 personalized, surprise Ipsy Glam Bag and I would still recommend it.  February's bag was awesome and I hope April's bag will be even better!