ToiletTree Professional Skin Care System Review

If you haven't yet heard of the benefits of using a facial brush as opposed to manual cleansing, then you've been missing out!  Brushes are much less work to use, and they cleanse so much better--they remove a lot more makeup and other dirt from your skin than washing just with your hands.  But some brushes are also quite pricey...luckily, there are great, affordable options like the ToiletTree Professional Skin Care System out there, too!

The Water-Resistant Professional Skin Care Face and Body Brush System is a great value at only $35.  Not only does it come with two facial brush heads (soft and medium bristles), it also comes with a body brush and a pumice stone!  You're essentially getting four different brushes for the price, which already gives it a leg-up over a lot of more expensive brush systems.  It is battery-operated and comes with 4 AA batteries and is available in six colors: pink, purple, green, blue, gray, and black.

The skin care system works to reduce the appearance of problem areas such as dead skin, oily skin, dry patches, fine lines, blemishes, enlarged pores, and blackheads.  Its gentle exfoliation stimulates skin renewal and improves overall clarity, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.  It also cleans deeply to remove stubborn makeup.

I do own a different type of facial brush, so I was glad I had something to compare this one to.  Coincidentally, my other brush is the same color as this one (I was sent the purple one to review)!  What I really like about this system is that it comes with a pumice stone.  I get really dry skin on my ankles and it's quite unsightly--the pumice stone head makes it easy to exfoliate my feet and ankles.

I opted to try the soft brush head first since my skin is oily but sensitive.  I can't even put into words how incredibly soft this brush is!  It's also very effective, but using it felt like a gentle massage.  The entire brush head rotates at one speed, and you hold it flush to the skin and cleanse in circular motions.  You can apply your cleanser either to your skin first or to the brush.  Using this brush really felt like a treat; prior to discovering facial brushes, I hated washing my face because it seemed like a chore.  Not that scrubbing manually really exerts that much energy, but using a brush feels like a mini-spa experience and makes it all the more enjoyable.

I also really enjoyed using the body brush in the shower.  It's basically just a bigger version of the facial brush, with the same soft bristles.  It was a little awkward to maneuver at first, but after getting used to how the brush felt while it was rotating I was able to use it easily.  The body brush also felt like getting a massage, and I loved it!  It lathered up well with my body wash, and I loved how it felt on my arms especially.

Last but not least, the pumice stone is an effective exfoliator for trouble areas like the elbows, knees, and feet.  I know most people use pumice stones to remove dead skin on their feet, but I like to use it on the dry patches on my elbows as well.  Even though it's a stone, using this didn't feel too rough on my skin.  Only a few seconds of work on my ankles banished the stubborn dry skin, and it also felt great on my feet.

The brush also comes with a water-resistant strap for hanging after use.  I like this because the brush heads are able to dry more effectively, which keeps the bristles in prime condition.

• Visit ToiletTree's website to learn more and view their full line of products
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube

Bottom Line: The ToiletTree Professional Skin Care System is an incredible value.  With the holidays approaching, I think it would make a great gift for anyone in your life who is looking for affordable luxury (or, treat yourself to one!).  Having used both more expensive brushes and this brush, I can confidently say that this one works just as well as the pricier brands, and it comes with many more brush options!

*Disclaimer: ToiletTree sent me this brush for review purposes.

Green Esthetics Argan Oil Gift Basket Review

Green Esthetics is a brand with a lot to brag about: they're Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, GMO Free certified, Ecocert certified for sustainability, BIOCert certified for organic and ecosocial products, and USDA certified organic!  Not only do they clearly have a commitment to the environment, but they have a line of incredibly effective products.

Argan oil is all the rage right now, and Green Esthetics has an Argan Oil Gift Basket that's brimming with great products!  Their argan oil is imported directly from Morocco to the United States, and it is 100% cold-pressed pure argan oil.  They then add 100% natural clary sage and lavender extracts to give it a nice fragrance.  Many other argan oils on the market contain unnatural fillers, but you can be assured that that is not the case with Green Esthetics--they comply by the USDA's "Truth in Labeling" standards, so you can be sure you're getting a high-quality, honest product.

• Argan Oil (15 mL) - This is pure virgin, cold-pressed argan oil.  It's 100% natural and contains no chemicals or preservatives.  I love using argan oil on my hair; I heat style daily so this is an extremely effective way to impart more moisture into my strands.  It's also great to use on the skin.  This bottle has an airtight pump applicator, so no product is wasted.
• Argan Oil Roller Ball - I love this travel-sized roller ball!  This can be used to target specific problem areas, such as the dryer parts of your skin like the knees and elbows.

• Prickly Pear Exfoliating Soap - I originally thought that this would be a scented soap because of the "prickly pear" name, but it is fragrance-free and designed for sensitive skin.  It moisturizes and exfoliates, and is made with prickly pear seed and cactus oils.  It's also high in omega 3, vitamin E, and organic betalains.
• Facial Sunscreen with Argan Oil - Even though fall is here and winter is fast approaching, it's still important to use sunscreen every day (sun protection is even more important when it snows since the UVA/UVB rays reflect off of the snow and are even harsher on your skin!).  This sunscreen has SPF 50 and is unscented, with vitamin E, sesame seed oil, and argan oil.  The active sunblock ingredient is titanium dioxide, a safe mineral-based sunblock.

• Anti-Aging Cream - This is my favorite item in the basket because it's so luxurious!  The cream is thick, so a little goes a long way, and it feels like such a treat to use.  It stimulates skin regeneration and reduces wrinkles, and is free of parabens, chemical dyes, and GMOs.  It's also made without dye synthesis or petrochemical derivatives, so you can feel safe putting this on your skin.

Bottom Line: The Green Esthetics Argan Oil Gift Basket is surely a treat!  I love that they are committed to creating products that are free from harsh chemicals and animal testing.  They prove that skincare doesn't need to be full of fillers to be effective!

*Disclaimer: Green Esthetics sent these products for review purposes.

Rochester Food Truck Rodeo!

I'm taking a quick detour away from my usual product reviews to blog about another passion of mine: food!  Food trucks have become incredibly trendy as of late, and I'm so glad that they have because I love them.  There's something about walking up and getting something amazing out of a truck--it seems like the two things should be mutually exclusive, but they most definitely are not!  This past week I went to the monthly Food Truck Rodeo that my city (Rochester) holds and I sampled an old favorite along with a few new fares.

I have been to the rodeo twice, and Le Petit Poutine is by far the most popular truck there.  Their line is always the longest, and everyone I've ever talked to has always raved about their food.  If you're unfamiliar with poutine, it's an amazing concoction consisting of a french fries base, gravy, and cheese curds.  It's a Canadian thing, and living so close to the Ontario border, I'm glad it's one that's made its way over to the States!  Above is a photo of the ladies who run it inside of their beacon  to foodies that is the green poutine truck.

And here's the poutine!  This was my second experience with Le Petit Poutine; I had previously tried their food at a different festival.  My friend Linze is the one who introduced me to them, and I had high hopes because I knew how much she loved it.  My first experience was great--the poutine was delicious and the service was fast, despite it being busy.  This time was not so wonderful.  I ordered the Bacon poutine, and as you can see in the photo above, there is no bacon.  I honestly wouldn't have even minded, except for the fact that I was charged $3 more for the bacon ($8 total for the cup, plus a $1 tip).  I went back up to the truck and explained what had happened, and was met with less-than-stellar customer service.  I ended up getting the bacon, but I was a little disappointed with how the situation was handled.  For now I'll chalk it up to just being busy (even though I'm sure they're always busy, so that isn't really an excuse).

But what about the poutine itself?!  I can't say it was as great as the first time I tried it.  It still was yummy and had great flavor, but the fries were soggy.  I really need crunchy fries to balance out the smoothness of the gravy.  I also wish that the cheese curds were a bit smaller and more spaced out instead of just on top of the fries.  It doesn't melt as well and the chunks are too big.  I want a good cheese to fries ratio without having to work for it, since I'm eating out of a takeout carton.  I'm not giving up on Le Petit Poutine after this, though, because they really do make a good product.  They have some other reviews on yelp that echo the sentiments I've expressed, so hopefully they are able to continue to improve!

Next up is this heavenly dish from Macarollin'.  I LOVE macaroni and cheese (who doesn't?!), so I was eager to try out this truck.  I had passed on them at the August rodeo because their prices seemed steep and there were others I wanted to try more, but I'm so glad I gave them the benefit of the doubt this time around!  This mac was so. damn. good!  I got the Classic mac for $9, and as I was waiting for my order I couldn't help but think, "for $9 this mac had better be life changing!"  I was not disappointed in the least.  There was no one in line besides me so the service was fast, but according to their yelp reviews they are always pretty quick at churning out orders.  I waited only as long as it took me to think out the aforementioned thought.  The first thing I noticed was how heavy the order was!  It was served in a large takeout box and I swear it was at least a full pound of macaroni (maybe more?).  Once I actually took a bite, I was transported to a very happy place.  It had four cheeses, regrettably I do not remember what they were, and breadcrumb topping.  There was also a strong pepper taste.  The noodles were just the right texture, the cheese was amazing, and overall this was just fantastic and well worth the price tag!  I will be ordering from them again for sure.

I had $1 left after the poutine, mac and cheese, and a can of soda I picked up at Macarollin', so I used it to get an Apple Cider donut from Duke's Donuts.  Their stand was across from the table I ate at, and the whole time the aroma was wafting over and filling me with longing.  I had also read rave reviews for their donuts and was surprised at how reasonably priced they were, so of course I had to get one.  This was not a bad decision.  This was the best donut I have EVER had!  It had raised sugar and a good apple cider taste.  The texture was what really got me, though--so perfectly crunchy on the outside, while being melt-in-your-mouth buttery smooth on the inside.  My boyfriend was with me and he had a little more cash left over, so I'm regretting the fact that we didn't take a dozen to go!

I love you, donut.  Just look at that sugar!  I looked up Duke's immediately when I got home and found out that they don't have a shop and are from Buffalo (about an hour away from Rochester), so I don't think I'll be able to treat myself to their buttery goodness as often as I'd like to.  But there's going to be one final rodeo of the season in October, and come rain, shine, or snow (yes, it is 100% possible that we will have snow here in October), I will be there with plenty of money to devote solely to donuts!

Bottom Line: Food Truck Rodeos are always a good time, and even if you're never going to be anywhere near Rochester, New York, I bet there are some great trucks in your area.  Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of your local trucks, and what kind of food they serve!

September BoxyCharm Review

I've only gotten one other BoxyCharm (back in June) and I thought that that box was amazing.  Then I got September's box, and it was even more amazing!  I think this might actually be the best beauty box I've ever gotten, of any subscription!

BoxyCharm boxes cost $21 a month and they always have a good amount of full-sized items from high-end brands.  September's theme was "Fashion Week Fabulous," and it boasted five full-sized items, all from brands that I love!

• Coastal Scents Go Palette in Cairo ($12.95) - There were four different palette options, and I was really hoping for Cairo and I got it!  I love neutral shadows, so this is perfect for me.  Some of the other palettes had really wild colors which I probably wouldn't have used, but this will be used on the daily.  Or, rather, I'll work it into my rotation of palettes because I have too many.
• ncLA Nail Lacquer in Call My Agent ($16) - I have a few other ncLA polishes and while the brand is not my favorite, I do enjoy them.  This one is a red creme, and was one of four possible options.  I would have preferred any color other than red, so I posted this for swap.  I'm still happy to see the brand in the box, though.

• Harvey Prince Hello 10 mL ($29) - I love Harvey Prince perfumes and this is my second sample of "Hello" that I've received from a box.  Actually, this is a full-sized vial and not a sample, but I just mean to say that I've had the scent before and I really like it.  It's citrus-y, which is better for summer, but this will still last me a while so I'll use it more once the weather turns warm again.
• Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hyperlight ($22) - I guess new subscribers got the Hyperlight and existing subscribers got a mascara.  Technically I was a "new" subscriber because I had cancelled after that first box in June, so I got a repeat product.  I posted it for swap because I don't need two, but it is a great highlighter.
• tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss in Tipsy ($19) - This is my favorite item in the box because I love tarte!  This was also randomly selected from four options, and I got the color I liked best.  I was hoping it would be more pigmented on my lips, but it goes on very sheer.  Either way, it has a nice applicator and doesn't feel too sticky, so I like it.

Bottom Line: This box had a combined retail value of $98.95 and I only paid $21 for it (shipping is included)!  I have been consistently impressed with the brands BoxyCharm features as well as the amount of full-sized products they include.  You can still purchase this box at their website.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Memebox Special #26 Hand & Nail Care + Coupon

The Memebox Special #26 Hand & Nail Care is my first experience with their special boxes, which are packaged with four to eight full-sized products and deluxe samples that fit a specific theme.  Obviously, this box is all about having a great manicure!

Memebox (pronounced "mi-mi-box") is a Korean beauty service that curates tons of different boxes.  All are one-time purchases, so you can buy as many or as few as you'd like without having to worry about a recurring fee.  This Hand & Nail Care box is an example of a Memebox Special, but they also have Superboxes (which contain only full-sized products) and standard Memeboxes.

• with shan Baby Hand Set ($9 for 15 mL) - I received the Lemon Treatment Oil, which is infused with lemon juice and vitamin E.  You soak the nail file (the purple one in the photo above) in the oil and also place a drop on your nails, and then you can use the file to buff away callouses.  I was excited to try this because I hate the mini-callouses that form around my nails, but I don't think I soaked the nail file for long enough because it just ended up hurting my skin.
• with shan Dr. Care Set ($13 for 15 mL) - This is an "emergency kit" for split and/or broken nails, which is not something I really have a need for.  My nails have always been ridiculously strong (I have to use a toe nail clipper to trim them), but this would be great for someone with softer nails.  You are supposed to apply it every two days for a full week, and it can be used as a basecoat.

• BARBINIE Shea Butter Hand Cream ($18 for 50 mL) - This is my favorite product in the box because I love all things moisturizer!  The scent I received was White Lily, and while I normally don't like florals, this one is light enough that it doesn't bother me.  The cream is very silky and absorbs quickly into the skin.
• Shara Shara Soft Hand Gommage ($6 for 50 mL) - A gommage is an exfoliating gel that you apply to the skin and massage in.  It then starts to ball up on the skin, lifting away dead skin cells with it.  This is a gentle peel, and I think it's almost too gentle, because I didn't really notice much peeling when I used it.

• PURE SKIN Hand Care Pack ($4 for 15g) - This is a hand mask that contains grape and grapefruit extracts, witch hazel, collagen, and boabab tree and olive leaf extracts.  It deeply moisturizes dry hands and also removes excess skin impurities.  I haven't used it yet, but you're supposed to leave it on for 20-30 minutes while it works its magic.
• PURE PLUS Hydrogel Moisturizing Nail Patch ($8 for 10 patches) - I was interested in trying these because they are a different design than the Kocostar 5 Finger Pack I got in my Memebox Global #14, so I thought I might like them better.  They're little gel patches that you apply on top of your nail, so they did allow me to use my iPad while I was waiting to remove them (the Kocostar's didn't), but I didn't care for the effects.  My cuticles actually felt more dry after I used them.

• SUR 3D Nail Art Kit ($29) - This kit comes with a magnetic nail polish (mine is silver), a magnet, and a nail art pen.  I'm a bit confused by the instructions, because normally you paint on the polish then use the magnet to create designs, but this one is saying to use the polish then draw designs on with the nail art pen.  I think that the polish itself is not magnetic, but the nail art pen is?  I haven't tried this yet, but maybe I'll do a separate review for it when I do.

Bottom Line: If you like boxes that are catered around a specific theme then you'll really enjoy Memebox Specials.  I thought this one was a lot of fun and contained great products for healthy hands and nails!

• Use coupon code XUQ6 for $5 off of any order in the Memeshop.  This is an affiliate code, so you have to use my affiliate link in order for it to work.

*Disclaimer: This box was sent for review purposes.  Post contains affiliate links.