Archives for March 2016

Product Review: Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum

March 30, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum is a light soothing serum for sensitive skin with great ingredients to support delicate skin.

I have been using a Retinol at night paired with applying a Vitamin C serum during the day skincare program lately, and both require a very hydrating moisturizer to combat the dryness associated with retinol and Vitamin C. If a good soothing moisturizer is not used in tandem these anti-aging products can make skin dry during use and even appear temporarily older and make wrinkles appear deeper.

Valentia Royal Rose Hydrating Serum is a nice light moisturizer for the day with several ingredients to enhance the skin care regiment of someone with naturally sensitive skin or skin that is made sensitive by the use of various ingredients frequently found in anti-aging products.

Some research into the ingredients:

Evening Primrose Oil is wonderful as a vitamin supplement for women and is excellent as a topical ingredient to provide a light moisture layer without clogging skin
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) combats sallowness, wrinkling, blotchiness and the hyperpigmented spots in aging skin, especially in the thin skin of the eye area.
â€¢ Bearberry promotes melatonin which lightens brown spots and acne scars.

If you are not able to tolerate Retinol or Vitamin C, this serum is a viable way to address signs of aging like wrinkles, brown spots and moisture loss. If you can tolerate retinol, this is a great moisturizing serum to pair with them: it is lightweight and doesn’t clog skin, has great ingredients.

The serum also contains lavender and rosehip oil. Both are very good skincare ingredients but the scent is notable in this serum, as would be expected for a Royal Rose product. I prefer not to wear scented skincare but that is just a personal preference. It is not an offensive scent and both are base notes for many fragrances, so it is not a conflict with your chosen perfume scent if you chose to wear this during the day.

valentiarose

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review. If you have any questions about my experience with the product, leave it in the comment box below and I’ll answer!

Tea Tuesday: Chuester UpCup 14oz Travel Mug

March 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I drink tea all day long, and on the mornings when I have a long commute, I relish a cup of tea to keep me energized and hydrated. The Chuester UpCup 14oz Travel Mug is a great way to carry my tea on the go and enjoy it all through the day.

The UpCup is made of double walled glass, and I found that it keeps my tea warm for a decent length of time. This is important to me: my office’s runs on the cold side and tea that I brew in a regular mug gets tepid fast. If I brew a cup and then get immersed in a lengthy e-mail, sometimes I end up not getting a single hot sip off of a tea brew. With the UpCup, tea stays warm for long enough that I can linger over a cup and enjoy it hot. The outside stays tepid to the touch so it isnt uncomfortable. Its not 100% cool but it is in keeping with the heat distribution of a comfortable china mug or insulated thermal mug.

The mug has a nice grip to it, which is important in a travel mug and especially important in a glass travel mug. I donâ€™t tend to travel light so being able to hold my purse, briefcase, and not have to be ginger with the mug is nice. Another appealing feature of the mug is the opening on the lid. I find that drinking tea out of a travel mug to be a frequently cumbersome experience when the opening is too narrow. The opening on the UpCup is wide enough to take a nice slow slip without a gush of hot tea in your mouth or an annoying sputter.

I am impressed that the mug doesnâ€™t retain taste: I can use it for coffee and then wash it out and not have any lingering coffee or cream taste when I use it for a nuanced white tea.

This mug is amazing for blooming teas: those lovely bundles of tea that unfurl into a colorful flower when they brew. Itâ€™s a shame to just admire the bloom for a moment and then toss it. Since itâ€™s made of glass, you can leave the bloom in the mug to admire. Since most blooming teas have several brews in them, you can just add more hot water to the mug and enjoy both the taste and the view of the bloom in your mug. The fact that the mug comes in pink and mint, two colors that compliment the beautiful, subtle colors of fine teas, is a lovely added bonus.

I also love the fact that the mug is chemical free. Part of why I drink tea is for is the many health benefits. It doesnâ€™t make sense to negate the benefits with BPA or other health hazards, so I can enjoy my tea far more knowing that Iâ€™ll be getting the health benefits of the tea but not the risks that come with other travel mugs.

I am very impressed with the Chuester UpCup. It is attractive, highly usable, and works great for a mobile lifestyle.

Chuester UpCup

Find the Chuester UpCup at http://www.chuester.com.

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and I was compensated for my time and effort, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli and Dyed Blue Calcite Beaded Necklace, 15.5″ with 2″ Extender, ‘Blue Muse’

March 11, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I was drawn to the Blue Muse necklace because I like to wear blues such as cobalt and royal, but these deeply saturated shades can sometimes be difficult to accessorize, so I like the idea of a mixed gemstone piece. And I really like the saturated color of a gemstone because it adds nice color to an outfit and some interest and can be dressed up or down. This particular necklace pairs nicely with this Italian dress I am wearing in the photo with a bare scoop neckline. Iâ€™ve been trying to find just the right accessories for several months and I really like the look of this choker because not only do the colors match, but also there is texture to the necklace, which seems right with the dress fabric. And in looking in my closet at my general wardrobe, there are several other items that could match these colors amongst both my dressy clothes and my more casual going to brunch or museum type outfits that just need a little character.

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli and Dyed Blue Calcite Beaded Necklace Blue Muse

About the Necklace
The gemstone pattern is about ½ inch wide, which is not large enough to be clunky yet it is also not too thin, so it is dainty and ladylike but still enough to make a statement and be noticed without being overpowering. I like the combination of the blues, the two colors play the saturation of the hues of the other stone nicely, and there is generous use of the gemstones.

It is basically choker length. There is an optional 2 inch extra extender “drop” for the length to accommodate neck size or make the necklace a bit longer if needed. You can wear this hanging down the back of the neck for interest, you can extend the length of the necklace, or leave it off entirely.

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli and Dyed Blue Calcite Beaded Necklace Blue Muse

Some details:
It is a silver plate base, hand tied stonework.

The necklace has lapis lazuli (the darker blue color) and calcite (the lighter blue color) gemstones. The lapis lazuli stones are two shapes of gemstone. The calcite, as seen in the photos, are clustered.

There is a lobster claw clasp, so I am not afraid of the clasp coming undone. But, and this is the one and only thing I sort of dislike, it is a difficult clasp to secure on oneself because the eye of the loop is small. Since this is a handmade item, perhaps that is just mine. If you find this to be the case with yours as well, just give it a little check just to make sure the clasp is closed after you put on the necklace.

The irregularity of stones adds interest and texture, but they are not damaged, chipped or scratched gemstones. The irregularity does not seem uneven, the stones are of the same size but appear crafted.

The thread is dyed silver, which I like on the clusters to have a hint of metallic and not bare white or clear thread. It looks richer and does not distract from the beadwork itself.

The lapis lazuli gemstones appear to be lightly buffed but not a fake or shellac type of shiny

This particular necklace comes in an attractive patterned and thick jewelry pouch that will keep the necklace safe from scratches while stored away and is also an attractive bag that makes for nice packaging if giving this necklace as a gift, and inner plastic bags.

This is a versatile piece that would match the style of women of various ages, useful as a gift.

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli and Dyed Blue Calcite Beaded Necklace Blue Muse

About Novica

I received the Novica print catalog for years and always like seeing the unique, handmade items on their website. I enjoy owning items that are distinctive, use quality materials, are well-crafted, and not the exact same thing that everyone else is wearing.

I own a few Novica jewelry pieces and artisan glassware, the handcrafted quality is always evident and Novica makes it a company mission to treat their artists well. Each piece has a small autobiography of the artist, which is interesting to read their stories of how they came to hone their artisan skills and often some details about customs from the region they live, as well as some information about the materials used in the making of the artisans item, such as if those gemstones hold special meaning, or if they are indigenous to the region. Many of the artists are women.

NOVICA Lapis Lazuli and Dyed Blue Calcite Beaded Necklace Blue Muse

Tea Tuesday: Midori Spring ECO Class Culinary Grade Matcha

March 8, 2016 · Leave a Comment

StyleChicks has long touted the value of green tea for glowing skin, for its anti-oxidants, for healthy weight loss or maintenance by kick-starting the metabolism, and for general hydration. Green tea makes for an excellent anti-inflammatory agent within beauty products, and holds many well-known health benefits. Staying well-hydrated with a quality loose leaf green tea is a beauty treat that cant be easily replicated. While most of us have heard of green tea, Matcha is somewhat less well-known kind of green tea. It is considered the equivalent of numerous cups of green tea, and has significant health and beauty benefits.

Matcha is a fine milled powder green tea variant. It is naturally lighter tasting than many green teas but not too sweet. This Matcha, as stated in the description, is a Japanese Matcha with a process that increases itsâ€™ oxygenation and affords optimal at-peak tea leaves. It is a fresh green, natural taste, sort of earthy, but not too overwhelming, especially when tempered with other balancing flavors such as vanilla, maple syrup, or a fruity blend. It is a very fine mill that blends well, which is nice to not find lumps of the powder in a baked good or smoothie.

This particular Matcha is a culinary-grade Matcha, not a ceremonial drinking Matcha. This means it is too concentrated for just stirring into your hot water to make a green tea as it will make your tea taste much too bitter. It could however, blend well into a mixed drink, such as a latte or other mixed beverage. Matcha adds a nice anti-oxidant feature to various recipes, which is especially useful in the winter when good, fresh fruit is less available. I like how pure the process is to avoid unnecessary chemicals or additives in the process or product. I am personally not a health-food devotee, but there is no reason to be exposed to excess chemicals, especially in a food or drink product.

This is a very good price compared to many of the Matcha varieties available, and just a bit goes a long way in a recipe; this bag will last for a while. It is easy to find several recipes online for smoothies, breakfast breads and muffins, protein shakes, even Matcha green tea ice cream.
For those who cook for finicky eaters, or are fussy themselves, there is always the issue of appearance. The natural green color, once mixed or baked into a product, is not murky or lima bean color, which might turn some people off from using the Matcha, it is a fresh springy color that is visually appealing.

This recipe was adapted from Gena Hamshaw’s Matcha Green Tea Chia Pudding recipe. She adds fresh fruit; mine uses almonds, and sometimes, dark chocolate chips. The pudding is a nice switch from a morning, mid-afternoon or pre-workout smoothie as it is rich in anti-oxidants, calcium, protein and healthy fat. (The Full Helping http://www.thefullhelping.com/matcha-green-tea-chia-pudding/)

I like this combo of Matcha and chia seeds to have some invigorating energy without feeling caffeine jitters. There is a point in the day that I really need a pick-me-up but I dont want more coffee because I have had so much caffeine that my heart-rate is about as fast as a hummingbirds. So I find a Matcha based tea, smoothie or baked item (some people even add a little Matcha to their pancake mix!) with about one-third the caffeine, gives a nice natural energy boost.

Ingredients

2 cups almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp Matcha powder
6 tbsp. chia seeds
2 tbsp. maple syrup (optional)
sliced/diced almonds or dark chocolate chips to taste (optional)

Instructions

Add in the blender the milk, sweetener, vanilla, and Matcha together and blend in pulses until the mixture is smooth.
Add the Chia seeds to a bowl. Pour the liquid over the chia seeds. Stir thoroughly. Stir again every few minutes for the next fifteen minutes. Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Stir the mixture once more, add almonds to taste. Makes 2 servings.

Midori Spring ECO Class Culinary Grade Matcha

Find Midori Spring ECO Class Culinary Grade Matcha at Amazon.

I received this item in exchange for my unbiased review.