Take your favorite Perfume with you - Travalo Atomizer Review

Now - let me just start off by saying... this little bullet looking contraption is not what you think... it's not a bullet or any type of unmentionable that I surely will not mention... lol - it is a Perfume Atomizer.  What is a Perfume Atomizer?  Well, it is a really cool, easy refill, travel sprayer for your perfumes.  This tiny little thing was a 2010 Cosmo Beauty Award Winner and has been building in popularity.  

This particular Travalo is the the Travalo Excel - their newest edition to the Travalo Family.  It comes perfectly packed in this awesome little plastic case with flourish designs to ensure it does not get scratched up and looks brand new for a long time.  For just $19.99 USD you get this awesome little travel mate perfect to take your favorite perfumes in. 

It is Aircraft Approved - which, let's face it... that means no more packing my expensive and favorite perfumes only to be worried the entire time that they will not make the trip.  It can easily be packed in your carry on luggage and taken on the plane anywhere.  This little bottle has a pressure regulating system that allows your bottle to adjusts to the changing of air pressure during your flights - which prevents leaks and is ready to travel when you are.  Where was this awesome product when I traveled so much for business?

The Travalo Excel is made of 98% recyclable components... awesome for Mother Earth and is so tough and strong - it was made from Aircraft grade aluminium which also makes it light weight. And, to top it all off - there are no glass parts... so it is safe and in the case it should take a fall onto a hard floor or concrete, you don't have to worry about breakage and dangerous glass everywhere.  

Travalo offers an awesome guarantee for the operational lifetime of the product, which is about 10 years or 10,000 operations... which - let's face it... any guarantee now a days is awesome.  

There is no need for funnels - no spills... so easy and effortless. ;)

~MY OPINION~

After the first use - I knew that I was completely sold.  This product is very easy to use, easy to fill and at the price that they are selling it at - considering I would have to replace a very costly perfume, this is a deal.  

Shipping and customer service in my opinion was pretty awesome.  I like when things are effortless and indeed it was.  Communication was quick and responses were very accurate and detailed.  The product arrived in one piece and was packaged in a bubble mailer... which in my opinion means one of two things:  It either really is build tough - or they didn't care about packaging their products.  I decided it was because it was built so tough... not a scratch.

I am very brutal with things I place in my purse/handbag and I must say - this little thing really has been withstanding my ill regard for my purse belongings. lol  I also love that I am not worried that it will leak in any way and my favorite pictures, cosmetics or paperwork in my purse will get ruined... or my purse for that matter. 

I love the color... though I really wish they made the Excel in purple - ya know it's my favorite.  

The one downfall in my opinion is that I had a really hard time pumping any perfume into the Travalo from my shorter nozzle perfumes.  After trying several times, I gave up and decided to use one with a longer nozzle.  It's a bummer - because some of my shorter nozzle ones are my favs.  But - still, I will live with it - because I truly enjoy my Travalo and love it. ;)

All in all - I give this baby.... 5 Stars!  I would definitely buy this again and again and in fact will be placing an order soon for another one.  ;) 

A great investment for all the perfume lovers out there.  Don't let other atomizers fool you... I have tried many, and they are not as tough... one dented so bad when I dropped it, it looked like it was run over by a truck. lol  And - Travalo atomizers start at $15.99 and they also sell awesome carrying cases.  I plan to get me the hot pink travalo next. ;)

To see my video review and demonstration on how to use the Travalo, please see my video below. 

xoxo

Honey

FTC:  This product was sent to me for consideration and review.  In no way am I affiliated or have I been paid or compensated to do this review.  My review is 100% honest and my own opinion.

Luminess Air - Product Review, Tutorial and some Info

Product Review:  Luminess Air

So - I had the opportunity of trying out a product which was sent to me for consideration and review by Luminess Air.  Needless to say - I was so excited when I found out that they wanted me to try their product and do a review.  After receiving the package... I took a day or two to completely read through all of the information and to watch the DVD that came along with the package.  All of the info provided was very easy to read, understand and was not boring in my opinion - which made a whole lot of difference to me.  "Who wants to spend hours reading something boring, right?"

After testing out the product on myself a couple of times and then on someone else... I realized that it definitely does take practice.  I actually did really well on the other person, but I am still mastering the craft on myself. ;) Practice makes perfect - right?

All in all - I am really pleased with the product.  Having Freelanced for a few years - I was very impressed with how flawless my skin looked even if I wasn't doing it correctly.  Not to mention - it did cover my acne scars and the redness from pimples that are beginning to form.  Cleaning the unit/system is actually really easy - considering I have spent tireless and endless hours cleaning my brushes after my regular makeup applications.

Here are a few things that stood out to me:

I really really do enjoy the hot pink system and their brand new stylus.  I wish they made it in purple - as that is my favorite color.  All aesthetics aside - I really enjoy using the product, the coverage it has, the staying power and the fact that I do not need to use so much foundation to cover all of my flaws.

A few downfalls in my book:

I wish that each unit automatically came with a clutch to hold the system and keep it safe.  I keep mine in it's box - but if I wanted to take it on the field - as I will be soon, I have to pack everything in the box and carry it that way. I like things to be together so that I only have to look in one place.

I was not very happy with the Primer/Moisturizer.  I know that it is water based, but it seemed to break me out after using it a few times.  It also gave me a really white cast after I applied the foundation.  Without the primer - the foundation blended flawlessly with my skin tone.

And, another - though I still need practice, I think that it would be awesome if they could have a special attachment that you would use for applying eyeshadow.  Something that will keep the eyeshadow from being so heavy even with a light hand. I am still perfecting this - but I wish there was a nozzle of some sort that would help in that department.

I mention all of the specs for this particular unit in my video (which is in this post) but I also wanted to touch base on something.  After posting my video - I got a numerous amount of questions regarding the unit and whether or not it is worth the cost.  Here is my honest take on this:

I honestly think that it is worth the price, especially if you apply makeup often to yourself or if you are a Freelance Makeup Artist.  If you are just a beginner or use makeup here and there... I would say it is something you would definitely want as a part of your cosmetic arsenal - but don't go rushing out to get one just because everyone else has it.  I will tell you, however... that like all makeup tools (brushes, etc.) - it is an investment, and one definitely worth looking into.  If you were to go out to pick up a MAC brush for Foundation - one of my favorites being the MAC 187 - that brush is well over $40.  You are not just paying for quality but you are also paying for the brand name.  You are investing in your Makeup Future.  The same goes for this machine...  after purchasing a few MAC brushes - you would have certainly saved up for a Luminess Air machine.  Ultimately - it is up to you.  I have had my eyes on one of these since I first heard about it about 2 years ago and even if I was not sent one by Luminess Air - it is an investment I was definitely saving up for.

Here is my video Review as well as the Tutorial on how to use the machine.  Keep in mind that I am still perfecting the use of this and there are still areas that may have the look of uneven coverage, not because of the machine - but because I am still learning how to control it. Practice makes perfect.  ;) If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you again Luminess Air for sending me this awesome product to review. I love it. ;)  

Please visit Luminessair.com to see all of their products in their line as well as how to purchase.

The products displayed and discussed were sent to me by LuminessAir.com for consideration and review.  I have not been paid or compensated to provide this review.  This review is my 100% opinion and all my own. All images regarding Luminess Air from this post were used from luminessair.com 

Do you have to throw out your favorite Perfume?

A few days ago (or maybe more), I received an email from one of my favorite sites, It's a Glam Thing... with information on some tips about the shelf life of your favorite fragrances and Perfumes.  I thought this would be very useful information for all those Fashionistas out there that LOVE to smell wonderful.

The tips were provided by Carolos Ugalde, Founder of Sasha Varon Luxe Parfums via an email from Keith Head @ It's a Glam Thing.  

So what is the 411?

Contrary to popular belief... most fragrances have a shelf life of 2 years but can be extended up to 5 years if kept out of the light and in a cool place.  Many factors go into this... One being the oil to diluents (alcohol and other ingredients other than fragrance/essential oils) ratio.  The more the alcohol in the fragrance, the less concentrated and pronounced the fragrance is... though the shelf life is longer.


Apparently - many people ask if refrigeration can prolong fragrance shelf life and verdict is definitely split.


Here are the two views:
1.)  From thegloss.com:  "Keep essential oil perfumes in the refrigerator to slow oxidization (but this depends on the carrier - oil or wax-based scents can go bad faster than alcohol based ones)."
2.)  The Fragrance Foundation:  This is the premier source for expert fragrance information.  Here is what they have to say:  "It's important that you keep your fragrance protected against extreme cold or heat. Only colognes and toilet waters should be stored in the refrigerator. Perfumes should not be exposed to extreme cold or heat because either may upset their delicate balance. Notes can be affected by extreme temperatures."


So - if not in the refrigerator, where should you store your fragrances?


Solution:
Do store fragrances in cool, dry spaces away from sunlight:
- Cupboards
- Dresser drawers
- Dark closets


Don't store fragrances in:
- Bathrooms (generally moist and warm) Yikes, I usually store half of my most used ones in my bathroom and the less used ones in my bedroom.  I guess I have to get new ones and store them elsewhere. :(

- Windowsills

- Direct Sunlight

So - I have apparently been doing the complete opposite than what I am supposed to be doing with regard to storing my fragrances and perfumes.  Honestly, like I mentioned above... since I usually apply perfume right out of the shower and after I dry off - I leave the bottles of my favorite (most used) perfumes in the bathroom.  I did notice that a few of them have lost the intensity of their notes over a short period of time... and now I know why.  

We are often faced with many questions when it comes to things that are beauty related.  I am so thankful that this email was sent out via It's A Glam Thing... so I am very well informed about the storage of the things that help to make me smell so divine. :)

Thanks again to Keith Head for sharing this info with me.  Please note that a fair percentage of the words above were excerpts from the original email that I received from Keith.

I was not compensated or paid by any mentioned company to discuss or blog about this topic.  This is for informational purposes only.  

Pucker up with Leslie Tyler's Lip Gloss - Product Review

I became a huge Leslie Tyler fan from the first time I seen her on an episode of Jerseylicious.  Honestly, I had no idea who she was before then... but I knew that when I heard her name again - this time, connected to a lip gloss, I just had to try it. :)

I was sent Leslie Tyler's Sheer & Shine Lip gloss in Apricot Glaze to try out by It's a Glam Thing.  I am quite taken with this lip gloss.  I must admit - I am really liking the texture, quality and staying power.

See my vlog review below for all the details. :)

Disclaimer:  The following product was provided to me for product review.  I received no compensation nor do I have any affiliation with the company and/or companies mentioned.  All of my reviews are my own, honest opinion and I am not influenced in any way by the company or its subsidiaries to provide a positive or negative review. ~Honey~

Scrub-a-dub with T.Taio's Aloe Vera Soap Sponge

Like most moms who are running around after toddlers and a six year old - shower & bath time is absolutely sacred to me.  My twin 16 month old boys and almost seven year old son keep me busy during the day and the twins LOVE to bathe me in their homemade food recipes... so much that a warm bath is always the perfect remedy for a long day.

I love the smell of fresh & clean, though I must say that many  body washes, soaps and gels entice me with their fruit and flower scents...  but, I always seem to find myself drawn to the fresh shower smells... like Aloe.  I was very lucky to be sent the T.Taio Aloe Vera Soap Sponge by It's A Glam Thing and could not wait to try out this product that looked so interesting in the packaging.  

Upon opening the product - the smell that tickled my nose was absolutely inviting... and I couldn't get into the shower fast enough to try it.  When the water hit the sponge... it lathered pretty much immediately and I used it to scrub my body.  First off, let me start by saying that I could feel the exfoliating sponge doing its magic... and when the experience was over... my body felt so clean - I think I squeaked as I got out of the shower.  

Did I mention that I also used this on my face... as my facial cleanser?  It's moisturizing capabilities... left my face feeling clean & moisturized for the entire day.  Every part of my body felt like it had a nice relaxing deep cleanse.

Here is some really cool information on this special sponge soap.  

The company is based out of Mexico, but you can still order the product online.  It sells for $4.99 retail from their online website.  The soap sponge helps the skin to maintain its moisture balance, which worked perfectly for me because on days when I am in a rush and cannot put body lotion on, this is ideal for me.  My naturally dry skin that I experience during the winter months was perfectly moisturized through the day.  The sponge does not collect mold or bacteria.  For those that like to leave their sponge or loofah in the shower, mold or bacteria can grow very quickly... especially if you live in a cold environment where the wet air lingers...  I live in an area just like this - so mold is especially a problem for me.  I have been using this soap sponge for a couple of weeks and it still seems like it is mold free and still smells of the awesome Aloe plant.  It is made with Moisturizing Glycerin Soap.  Because I tend to have an oily face, I have been told by dermatologists that the best moisturizer to use should include Glycerin in it, not mineral oil.  This soap has been perfect to use on my face without the problems I would normally get from soap, like Acne breakouts.  Infused in the soap is a gentle exfoliating sponge.  This is where the extra clean comes in... as the exfoliating sponge removes any built up dirt or grime that you may have on your body.  And, the soap sponge is made with Nopal Cactus Pear Extracts.  This very ingredient has been proven to have awesome healing capabilities and I have noticed that the little breakouts that I would have on my body has been almost completely eliminated and cleared up.  

Below is my T.Taio Vlog Review - if you are interested in purchasing this product, visit:  http://www.ttaio.com. You will notice that the site is in spanish...  you can be taken to a site with English Translations by clicking on the "shopping cart" icon on the upper Right hand corner.  The soap sponge bar retails for $4.99 (an absolute steal considering you can pay that much and more for soaps at the drug store with far less better qualities).  T.Taio is running a special right now- use code GLAM 10 and you can get a Soap Sponge Free with Any Order... so buy one, get one free. :)

I know that once you try it - you will like it, I didn't think that it would interest me at all... but now that I have used it - I absolutely love it.

Disclaimer:  The following product was provided to me for product review.  I received no compensation nor do I have any affiliation with the company and/or companies mentioned.  All of my reviews are my own, honest opinion and I am not influenced in any way by the company or its subsidiaries to provide a positive or negative review. ~Honey~

November 2010 - Favorite Products

November 2010 - Favs

 I am so... late with posting last month's (November) Favorite products.  It has been such a busy month - I didn't even realize it came & went so quickly.  This months favs are simple, affordable & should be fairly easy to find in stores.  I have listed the products below and have also included pictures for you to see.  If you would like to watch the video - the embedded link is at the bottom of the post. ;)  Please note:  The items listed below are in no particular order and may not match the videos order.

1.)  Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara by Fabulash - I purchased this from my local CVS store for $8.99.  I absolutely heart this product.  It has been a daily user because it not only provides length and volume to my lashes... I am actually seeing a little bit of growth to my lashes (as the product claims it should do).  I most definitely notice that my lashes are healthier than it was before.  The wand is what makes me love this mascara so much - it is awesome... though big and bulky - it gets the job done. ;) You can also see my review for more information on this product.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kCFBopS-I

2.)  NYX Candy Glitter Liner in French Champagne - I purchased this from my local CVS store.  It is normally $4.29 - but it was on sale at 25% off of its normal price.  I love this liner.  I didn't experience any trouble with it hurting my eyes and used it for over 8 hours.  It has great staying power (I even took a nap) and it is such a great way to glam up a look. ;)

3.)  NYX Single Shadow in Golden Bronze - I purchased this from my local CVS store.  It is normally $3.99 - but it was on sale at f25% off of its normal price.  This color is quite possibly one of my favorite colors out there.  I would not really call it a "bronze" anything - it has a very true gold color... and I LOVE IT.  I now go to this color for my everyday look as it is wearable during the day as an all over lid color.  I can easily glam up this look and add drama too it for a night time look by adding a dark brown or black eyeshadow and applying it to the crease to turn the look into a beautiful sultry smokey eye.  I have used NYX products many times in the past - but I am really starting to build my collection of these products because I absolutely love them.  Those of you that cannot afford MAC or just can't buy MAC products - try out NYX, I know you will love it too. ;)

4.)  China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners in VIII - I purchased this product from my local beauty supply store for about $8.00.  I have been a fan of China Glaze polishes for a long time and especially love their products because they have great staying power and a range of awesome colors.  China Glaze is known for their lacquers containing China Clay as a nail hardener - the same material that gives porcelain its shiny finish.  All of their polishes/colors are free of DBP, Toulene and Formaldehyde.  This is a big deal, especially when you are looking for optimum nail growth, strength and beautifulness. ;)  I chose this beautiful color (a very rich royal purple) because dark purples are the trend for this fall/winter season and this color goes well with any skin tone.  It applies evenly and the color does not need many coats.

5.)  Nubar Nail Lacquer in Purple Glitter - I purchased this product from my local beauty supply store for about $6.50.  I love Nubar products ever since I was sent their Valentine's Day Gift Set by Nubar last year.  Just like China Glaze, their products are Formaldehyde, Phthalate and Toluene Free and the color payoff and staying power is awesome.  I love the sleek design of it's bottle/packaging and this color goes really well with the China Glaze VIII polish.  Not to mention - it is purple glitter and we all know how I love purple & glitter... total bonus!

6.)  Revlon's Nail Enamel in Star - I purchased this product from my local CVS store for about $5.00.  It automatically caught my eyes because of the purple & glitter and I couldn't resist.  After applying it... I fell in love because the different sizes of glitter (big & small) allow for even coverage and a blinged out nail.  One downfall, the packaging states that it is a Top Coat... though - if you do not put a clear top coat on top of it... it will chip fairly easily... so be sure to put a top coat on top.  This can be used on top of any nail color - looks great with the China Glaze polish VIII.

These were my favs for the month of November. ;)  Stay tuned for more favorites coming your way next month.

Mascara Chronicles - Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara by Fabulash

I did a video review on this specific mascara and I wanted to make sure I listed it here in my Mascara Chronicles edition.  Here is the video I posted:




I like to try and use each mascara for about a month to give it a chance to really show it's true colors.  I am now using the Rimmel Lash Accelerator at the moment and will be doing a review on it in the next month. ;)

Happy viewing.

Finishing up my 30 day blog challenge, in one day....

Things are so crazy lately with the holiday season in full swing...  I tend to be more busy with my photography & shooting portraits because it's the time for Holiday & Christmas cards.  So, since things are so heckteck, I am going to finish my 30 day blog challenge tonight so I will have time to do other posts for all of you. ;)

• Day 23 - What are your favorite beauty products and why  {I have always loved MAC from the first time I tried it.  I am a huge drugstore makeup lover as well, because there are many affordable and great products sold at drugstores.  I love Cetaphil cleanser - it is one of my favs. Curel lotion and moisturizer is also one of my favorites as well.  There are so many products out there that I am totally loving at this moment. ;)}
• Day 24 - What is your favorite movie?  {I have 3 favorite movies of all time,  50 First Dates, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook.  I am a huge movie junkie and love my chic flicks.  These are probably my all time favs... but trust me, the list is VERY LONG.}
• Day 25 - 10 things you could not live without  {My husband & My 3 sons.  I don't have 10 things I could not live without... it's those 4 things I listed that keeps my life going and what I live for ;)}
• Day 26 - What is your favorite food, why? Do you have a favorite recipe for it?  {This is a hard one, because I have so many favorite foods... especially when my husband cooks it.   I LOVE Italian food and it is by far my favorite.  I don't have a recipe for it on hand, but I think I really enjoy eating Lobster & Crab raviolli's with a butter truffle oil sauce.  Yummy - and I can find it at Sansei Bar & Grill on Maui.}
• Day 27 - A Song that best describes you "today"  {Hmm...  really missing my husband today - he has been working almost 3 weeks straight without a day off.  I think I will choose our song as my song that describes me today - "All my Life" - K-Ci &  Jojo}
• Day 28 - Post a picture of you in Highschool, what memories do you have from those days? {Here's my Senior Portrait from High School.  It's not the greatest quality because I took this photo from my year book and snapped a photo of it on my cellphone.  But, this is me, in all my skinny girl glory ;)}  

• Day 29 - What are your goals for the rest of the year and resolutions for 2011 {My husband and I have had a very busy & interesting 2010 - I hope and pray that things can settle down a bit so that we are not running around like chickens without heads... and hopefully we can move out of the place we are staying in now and move into our own house and some privacy. ;)}
• Day 30 - Post a photograph of yourself today and write about 3 good things that have happened in the last 30 days.

Here's a picture of myself today. ;)  Lots has happened over the last 30 days, good & bad... and I can't really get into detail about it except to say that I am looking forward to 2011 and all the great and wonderful things that will be coming our way. ;)