June FAIR Treasure Review and Unboxing

I'm back with another unboxing!  This one is for a fairly new service (launched in March of this year) called FAIR Treasure, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  For $30 per month they will send you handmade treasures from across the globe that are all ethically sourced.  There is also a three month option that costs $90.

I loved June's box!  All of the items were so perfect for me, so I was so glad I got this month's box.  It contained three items total -- two jewelry pieces and a candle.  It also contained index cards with information about the products and the artisans who made them.

 

The box itself was smaller than I was expecting, but that's not a criticism.  The packaging was nicely done, with recyclable fillers to keep the items from getting jostled around too much during shipping.  The first thing I noticed when I opened it was the scent of the candle.

This Soul Sunrise Necklace from TARA Projects was the item inside of the smaller box with the ribbon.  When I opened it up I was so excited because I think this necklace is beautiful!  I recently got a similar beaded necklace (also fair trade) in turquoise, so now I have one in warmer colors.  I think it's perfect for summertime!  The TARA in TARA Projects stands for "Trade Alternative Reform Action," and they work in and around Delhi, India to promote community development and business.

Next up are the Summer Shimmer Earrings from Noah's Ark International Exports.  I absolutely loooove these earrings!  They're perfectly suited for my style and I just can't get over how beautiful they are.  I wore them the night I received this box to a graduation ceremony for my younger brother.  I like that they're appropriate for dressier wear as well as an easy summer dress.  These are also from India; Noah's Ark provides benefits such as medical assistance and education for the artisans and their families.

Lastly, I received this pretty Firefly Candle from Candelas La Luciernaga in Honduras.  It smells wonderful, like a mix of vanilla and caramel.  Candelas La Luciernaga ("Firefly Candles") is a that is a part of Actions for Popular Development, which is an organization dedicated to providing empowerment for women and their children.  They offer shelter for abused women, a home for pregnant women, and a microlending program.  The candle cooperative helps to support ADP financially while also providing income for the women in the program.

Bottom Line: How can you not love this box?  I think that $30 is a steal for these gorgeous, handcrafted items.  It might seem a bit expensive at first, but consider that you're helping to support fair trade organizations that are working to better the lives of people across the globe.  I know that I'm definitely loving this box!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by FAIRtreasure.  All opinions are my own.

Perlier Deluxe Travel Kit Review

I received the Perlier Deluxe Travel Kit through the iFabbo shop to review, and I have to say that these little guys are perfectly sized for travel!  It contained eight products total, four body washes and four lotions.  Perlier is an Italian company that has been making cosmetics for 80 years, and they specialize in deriving active ingredients from medical plants.

Perlier's products are entirely cruelty-free, proof of which I found on their website (fifth paragraph from the top).  They also advertise as having natural ingredients, which I feel is half-true.  They do use organic honey, white almond oils, and various other ingredients derived from nature, but they also contain ingredients such as parabens and sodium laureth sulfate, so if truly organic products are your preference these may not be for you.

The kit contained four shower creams (1.6 fl oz), one in each of the following: Honey Miel, Olivarium, White Almond, and Shea Butter.  They all lathered well and are lightly scented.  I don't have much to say about these other than that, unfortunately, because they were pretty standard as far as shower creams go.  My favorite was the Honey Miel due to its light honey scent.  Unfortunately these contain quite a few synthetic lathering agents and preservatives, which I prefer to stay away from.

The kit also contained four hand creams (1 fl oz.) matching each variety that the shower creams came in.  I liked that these were very lightly scented, because I don't like to use hand creams that are too fragrant.  The creams were thicker in consistency and absorbed quickly into my skin.  The first ingredient, like with most lotions and creams, is water, and these also contain quite a few synthetic ingredients.

• If these Perlier products interest you, click here and use code "ifabbo5" to receive $5 off any Perlier product purchased through HSN.
• Visit the Perlier website to learn more and browse their full line of products

Bottom Line: I appreciate that Perlier is cruelty-free, but I can't say that these would be my top choice in skin care due to the amount of synthetic ingredients they contain.  It's tough for me because I do like that they contain organic honey, olive oil, and the like, but that is almost cancelled out by the fact that they also contain parabens and more.  Overall, I'll let you decide what's right for you!

*Disclaimer: I received this travel kit through the iFabbo shop.  All opinions are my own.

b.liv Skincare Review

I've been using a line of products from b.liv by cellnique for the past three weeks and I've achieved some pretty successful results.  This line is cruelty-free, but they are not made with natural ingredients (nor are they paraben free).  I wanted to give that information up-front and let you as readers decide whether or not that is important when deciding to try b.liv.

I received five products total to try.  When b.liv contacted me to see if I was interested in hosting a review, they asked me questions about my skin so that they could tailor products to meet my needs.  I let them know that I had oily/combination skin and my main concern was balancing sebum production.  I definitely noticed a reduction in the oil production on my skin at the midday point.  I always use oil blotting papers at work after lunch and the amount of oil was much less while I was using these b.liv products.  I'm not posting before and after pictures of my skin because it didn't look any different after using these products, but it definitely felt different.

I enjoyed using the Sqeaky Clean Beads Cleansing Gel ($25 for 4.4 fl oz) cleanser the most.  It had a slightly tingly feeling and smelled like peppermint.  The gel contains little microbeads for daily exfoliation, and they felt extremely gentle.  I wasn't worried that the cleanser was too abrasive for daily use.  I used this once in the morning and once at night.  It has a pump dispenser, so one pump was the perfect dime-sized amount.  It lathered well with a little bit of water, and rinsed off just as easily.

The Got Oil Relief Oil Controlling Toner ($21 for 4.4 fl oz.) came next.  The bottle has a spray cap, so I would just spray a light mist onto my face after cleansing.  I didn't care for the scent of this product--it contains witch hazel and chamomile, so I think it was a mixture of the two of those ingredients.  I don't mind each of them on their own, but for some reason all of the ingredients combined didn't equal a great scent to me.  It sprays on nice and lightly, though, and refreshes the skin throughout the day as well.

After the toner comes the Soothe and Splash Anti-Sensitive and Anti-Dryness Moisturizer ($39 for 1.5 fl oz).  This dispenses from an air-tight pump, and only two or three drops were necessary for me to cover my entire face and neck.  It has a lightweight formula and didn't feel heavy on my skin at all.  It also absorbed nice and quickly.  The cream felt very smooth.  I like this because my skin is oily but also sensitive, and this works to combat both.

The final two products I received were the Off With Those Heads Blackheads Sebum Gel ($39 for .5 fl oz) and the Leach Me Moisturizing Mask ($32 for box of seven).  I think the Off With Those Heads gel was the most effective product in balancing my sebum production.  I really loved using this product!  It works for blackheads and whiteheads, and even though the bottle is small it will last a long time because you only need a few drops.  I applied this to my T-zone in the morning and it significantly reduced my oil production throughout the day.

The Leach Me mask was my least favorite product.  I normally love using masks of all types, but this one is a paper mask and those aren't my favorite.  I received three to try, and I wasn't able to fully use the first one.  I ended up throwing it out before being able to really try it because it was so soaked in liquid that it dripped into my eyes and all over my lips--not a pleasant experience.  On my second try I wised up and squeezed out the excess liquid before applying the mask.  I let the paper sit on my skin for about five minutes, but then I removed it and just let the liquid left over sit for 20 more; I found that this application was the most comfortable for me.  Although it wasn't my favorite type of mask, it did make my skin feel super smooth and hydrated after use.

• Visit b.liv's website to learn more and see their entire line of products
• Connect with them on Facebook

Bottom Line: b.liv's products were very effective for me and I would highly recommend the ones I've reviewed here for anyone with oily/combination skin.  Based on their effectiveness, I would say that their products for other skin types are probably very effective as well!

Vine Vera Resveratrol Skincare

Have you heard of resveratrol?  Previous to learning about Vine Vera Resveratrol Skin Care, I was only slightly familiar with it.  I knew it could be found in wine, but other than that I wasn’t too familiar with what it was or what it did for your body.

I now know that resveratrol is an antioxidant found in red wine and the outer layer of grapes that has been an anti-aging secret for centuries.  The use of resveratrol is believed “to help slow the aging process and retain a timeless youthful appearance,” according to Vine Vera.  Since it is a naturally occurring antibiotic, resveratrol also works to cleanse the body of impurities.  All of these benefits work to maintain skin’s health and elasticity while also preventing new wrinkles from forming.  The antioxidants in resveratrol reduce existing wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming because they eliminate the free radicals responsible for them.

Vine Vera cosmetics is committed to rejuvenating your skin, which is why resveratrol is the key ingredient in all of their products.  They have a fantastic collection with a variety of products.  Their lines include: Merlot, Eyes, Mens, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Chianti, Cabernet, Shiraz Instalift, Pinot Noir, and Malbec DNA.

The Merlot Cleansing Kit is one product that was especially interesting to me.  It retails for $126 and is made up of the Resveratrol Milk Cleanser and the Resveratrol Balance Toner.  The “How To Use” for the cleanser instructs the user to apply a generous amount to the face and neck using a cotton ball, which is new to me.  Most cleansers are just applied with the hands and lathered with water, so this technique is definitely new and interesting.  You keep applying until you have a clean cotton ball.  The toner’s application is similar; the user soaks a cotton ball in the toner and applies to the face and neck areas to remove impurities and hydrate the skin.  Both of these products are formulated for daily use.  They also pair well with the Resveratrol Merlot Facial Serum, Resveratrol Merlot Refining Peeling, and the Resveratrol Merlot Reformative Mask.

I am pleased that Vine Vera is also a cruelty-free company.  Their stance on animal testing is listed below, taken from the “Contact Us” page on their website:

Vine Vera does not test on animals. The company believes in providing high-quality products as well as high-quality service. You can be ensured that all Vine Vera products are formulated with ingredients that are universally used by the cosmetic industry. All of our products are thoroughly tested for safety and must pass very stringent requirements.

If you have any concern about products' ingredients, please e-mail us with specific information such as name of product and a detailed explanation. We will gladly report back to you within a timely manner.

The prices of the Vine Vera products place them on the higher-end of the skin care spectrum, but if you’re more interested in a bit of luxury and indulgences than I think, these products are a great choice.  I have not tested them myself, but I’m sure that the resveratrol is a potent ingredient for the management and prevention of the signs of aging.

Follow Vine Vera on Twitter.

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by XVIO.  All opinions are my own.

April Little Black Bag (Bag 2 of 2)

I opened two Little Black Bags in April, and I'm finally posting what I received in my second bag.  I think the trading for this bag went pretty well and I was happy with all of the items I got.  To see what I got in my first April bag, click here.

I received five items total in this bag and I think it cost me around $34 after tax and shipping.  I'm so glad that LBB is no longer charging sales tax for NYS customers, so now my bags will be a little bit cheaper!

• MMS Design Studio Striped Crossbody ($30) - I love this little bag!  I opened with it and traded it away, but then I decided I wanted it back so I offered the same multi I had taken on it and was able to get it back again.  There was also a blue and white version that I think was more popular, but I liked the colors on this one better.  It's the perfect summer crossbody.
• Melie Bianco Eyeglasses Wristlet ($14) - These debuted in the gallery the day I was closing my bag and I was luckily able to grab one.  There was also a pink key and a green key design, but I like the glasses one.  The retail on this was only $14, and it's a pretty big wristlet considering that price.
• Mata Traders Macrame Necklace ($26) - I love this necklace!  I wasn't sure if I was going to like it in person, but it's beautiful.  It's handmade and fair-trade, which is even better.  I originally had the pink/coral one but someone accepted my trade for the turquoise one on my last day of trading.
• All The Rage Triangle Necklace ($16) - I like that this necklace is a little bit edgy but dainty at the same time.  There was a blue/turquoise version but I liked this pink and red one better.
• Carol Dauplaise Fringe Hoop Earrings ($18) - I had been wanting these earrings for a while but I ended up returning them for an exchange credit because the stones were too big.  The design was really interesting and I liked the colors, they were just too clunky for my personal tastes.  Plus I wanted to see how the new exchange system worked.

The total retail value of my bag was $104, and $86 after I returned the earrings.  I'm happy with that, considering I only paid $34 for it all!  I have a May bag on its way, so keep an eye out for a review for that, too.

For more photos of my items, click the "read more."