Natural Pet Shampoo - Wet Dog Smell is Gone!

Honeydew's Natural Pet Shampoo with Lavender & Evening Primrose
8 oz Bottle Under $11

I've had my Sarge for seven years and over the past year, we have tried everything to stop the "wet-dog" smell that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, even when he's dry. Seriously, you could walk in my house and smell dog fur. We changing his food, his treats, bathed often (medicated and oatmeal soaps) and tried deodorizing sprays that made him gag. I had an opportunity to try this shampoo and my first thought when it arrived and I opened it to smell it was..."Hey, this stuff doesn't stink"! It has a pleasant lavender-like smell, with some fruity notes.

The bottle itself has a "press-cap" on it, you press down one side and the other side pops up for dispensing. The shampoo was super thick, creamy and has an opaque sheen to it. I use essential oils in my home for aromatherapy (and to cover pet odors) and loved that this has lavender and evening primrose in the ingredients.

Now Sarge is an English Springer Spaniel and weighs a good 55 lbs, he likes his bathes, but is impatient while I pour soap - a pump dispenser would have been a nice touch. He tends to have some dry, flaky spots on his skin, mostly on his rump near the base of his tail that he likes to itch occasionally.

I always start bathing him at the base of his neck first and work my way backwards. I really liked how this shampoo lathered well, I used way less than I normally would with other soaps. I entertained him (which basically means I keep lathering) while the shampoo sat for a minute and then proceeded to rinse well.

Out of the tub, a good shake and two towels later, he was fairly dry. Funny, no bad odor and while he was actually still damp, no wet dog smell. This is a good sign, I mean even right after bathing him with other stuff, you could still smell an odd odor. Nope, not with this stuff! Sarge smelled fresh and clean.

3 days later, there's less itching on his rear, his coat is shiny (well, he's usually shiny any way to be honest), but there's still no bad odor emitting from my dog. I'm happy to report Sarge is officially allowed back on my bed to rest at his leisure. You can see in the pic, I woke him up.

Honeydew's Natural Pet Shampoo is made in the USA and contains no sulfates or parabens (this is stuff I make sure isn't in my own shampoo). That made me even happier.

PROS: It smells heavenly, odors are GONE, my pooch is itching less
CONS: I would prefer a pump, holding 55 lb dog while you try to pour soap is no fun.

I received this product at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. I'm thrilled to report that this is a wonderful product that really gets bad odors off of your pets.

Slumber Max Shredded Memory Foam Pillow with Bamboo Cover

We're really big in my house on changing linens and pillows every year. My son's pillows have gone flat and are way beyond a good washing. We tossed them and chose this standard-sized, hypoallergenic, shredded memory foam pillow because he's predominately a side sleeper (it's also great for back sleepers). It comes with a bamboo/polyester zippered cover that is machine washable and has a 5-year, no questions asked guarantee...yep, you can get your money back. You can see above that it arrived in a great zippered travel case.

We took it out it's fancy casing and the pillow itself is sealed in plastic:

This is what the zippered bamboo cover looks like:

At this point, I was kind of freaking out. Why you ask? THIS:

I was shocked at how thin it was. Now I have no prior experience with these types of pillows so I immediately got online in a panicked state to read about them. Also, I do want to note, the pillow and case has a slightly weird smell. I found that the shredded memory foam pillows typically may have a slight odor due to the foam and that, if you remain calm and toss it in the dryer for 20 minutes with some dryer sheets, not only does the smell dissipate, the pillow magically grows in size! Much better.

Now, keep in mind the bamboo cover IS machine washable, the memory foam pillow inside IS NOT, it's spot clean only. You're still getting that 5-year guarantee, that gives me some piece of mind.

The pillow once fluffed, is very soft and surprisingly stays cool for a hot sleeper. My son is convinced it's his favorite pillow yet, much better than we've been able to find in local stores. I'm thinking I need to find some king-sized ones right away for my bed, I'm kind of jealous.

PROS: fluffs up well, doesn't get hot, cozy
CONS: that weird smell

I received this item in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. I always try to be as detailed as possible when I give a review, posting pics, as well as listing pros and cons.

#Artnaturals Konjac Facial Sponge Set - Brand Matters

Art Naturals Konjac Facial Sponge Set - 2 Pack
Best Under $10

In the past few months I've really started paying attention to my skin, especially on my face. I have what they call "mature skin" (that basically means I'm over forty). I'll admit, I have always been horrible about taking care of myself over the years. Isn't that something we women do, put others first? This year, I decided to set goals for myself, beauty routine-wise. I've had the chance to try all sorts of new things and have really noticed, that since I take the time to pamper myself each day, even for 10 minutes, I feel more confident about myself.

A few weeks ago I tried my very first Konjac Facial Sponge from another brand. Compared to the buff puff, I found it amazing and thought I would never use any thing else again. Little did I know, different brands had different quality. While the other brand worked well, my face wash didn't lather well, I thought it was just my product. Nope.

A little bit of handy information for you: Konjac sponges are very gentle and perfect for sensitive skin, rosacea, and dry flakes. Exfoliating your skin with these sponges can make your skin smoother and brighter. They are moist little pockets of happiness, feel squishy and clean well.

Art Naturals has their own line of Konjac sponges, so I thought, why not give them a try, I adore their product line anyway! The facial sponge set arrived packaged in a crafty box, clearly labeled with directions. Yep...you get two for the price you normally would pay for one.

BOX BACK

These sponges are 100% vegan and organic, ­paraben free, cruelty free with packaging made from recycled materials. You get one natural for daily use and one bamboo charcoal for once a week deep cleaning. Personally, I think they both feel the same. You'll find that each sponge comes with a string attached for hanging and a bonus suction cup hook to hang on your mirror to let your sponge dry. This is what was missing from the other brand I tried - handy hanging tools!

These Konjac sponges are sealed individually and are hard...don't worry, this is perfectly normal. You'll want to open the sponge of your choice and soak it in warm water for a few minutes. The size will double and it becomes super-soft and round, mine had no odors. I immediately noticed that compared to the other brand I tried, these sponges were much larger once wet. I set out with my coconut and honey face wash and couldn't believe how much better these lathered up the soap on my face. Brand really makes a difference.

I liked how these felt against my skin, not harsh, using it didn't strip my face, but did exfoliate well. I wear an eye brightener that is hard to remove, so with the shape of this sponge, getting under the lashes and in the corner of your eyes is a bit difficult. I think a tear-drop shape would make these even better. I've noticed after using these, my skin feels clean and hydrated, even before I moisturize. Always pat dry!

You'll want to sanitize your sponge every week by placing it in a bowl of water in the microwave for about 2 minutes, then wring out and hang to dry. I would suggest replacing after 3 months.

PROS: natural, 2-pack, exfoliates without stripping, LOVE the hanger
CONS: the only think to make these perfect is if the shape were teardrops for tight areas

I received this item at a discounted rate in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

sérumtologié® C serum º22 - Noticeably Brighter Skin

sérumtologié® C serum º22

Along with trying new moisturizers, I figured I'd give some serums a try as well. This Vitamin C serum 22 by serumtologie is useful in treating and correcting fine lines, age spots and preventing skin dehydration. If you choose, you can use it as an all over moisturizer. The product is 100% vegan, made in the USA, contain no Parabens, Phthalates, Petrochemicals, Sulfates. Synthetic Dyes, Aromas or GMO's....that was a mouthful! They also offer a 100% product guarantee and never test on animals. It's 22% Vitamin C - hence the name.

My box arrived and I loved how serumtologie packaged everything in one handy box. This stuff screams high-end. The bottle was a lovely cobalt blue, which protects it from light and included a really detailed pamphlet, explaining all the benefits such as brightening, healing, inhibiting inflammation and reducing uneven skin tones. The 5% botanical hyaluronic acid achieves maximum hydration by attracting over 1000 times its weight in water from the moisture in the air. Regular vitamin C is very unstable and many typical vitamin C products are inactive by the time they are used on the skin, in some cases, they have become pro-oxidant and actually generate free radicals! Ground-breaking stability data on Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate guarantees real vitamin C activity and best of all, unlike regular vitamin C, it will not cause skin irritation.

Presentation people, it's everything.
The topper to the bottle is "dropper" style.

This Vitamin C serum 22 is an opaque white and seemed like an oil. There was no real scent to the product itself. You're supposed to apply 5 to 6 drops and rub into your skin.  Apply morning and evening for optimal results. For all intensive purposes, I applied this product solely to my jaw-line where I have age spots. Make sure you do this after moisturizing but before make-up. It's not greasy or sticky at all and dries pretty quickly without leaving any residue. I'm hoping with extended use, my spots will eventually blend in and even out, this isn't a quick fix. My skin tends to be super picky about what I put on it and I've not had a single breakout. While C serum º22 is not a replacement for sunscreen, when used in conjunction, it provides further protection from skin damage caused by the sun.

Now I've been using this product for almost ten days and I have yet to see immediate results, but I haven't had anything bad happen either. It's what I expected, most serums start to work over time and you have to be proactive and make sure to use it daily. It does seem to me that I have had some brightening of some spots, but nothing that is significant enough to capture with a photo. I'm hoping to have a bigger change around the 30 day mark.

PROS: sensitive skin approved, made in the USA, no added fragrance
CONS: not a quick fix, don't expect immediate results

I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. I've shared my beginners experience with you, we'd love to hear yours!

MOKOQIA® Aromatherapy Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

MOKOQIA® Aromatherapy Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

I love to use essential oils for aromatherapy in my home, they are much safer than aerosol sprays and last longer. This MOKOQIA® Essential Oil Diffuser Vaporizer came packaged in a plain brown box, included a detailed instruction manual in English, a plastic 150 ml measuring cup, a DC24V plug and the actual diffuser itself, which is all plastic and opaque. The lid twists off from the base, so that you can access the water chamber which holds 100 ML of water. I would say the unit is about 6 inches in height. This is meant for a small area, not a large room. I would say about 150 sq. ft. at most in order to have aromatherapy benefits. It doesn't use heat, so no worries about children touching it and burning themselves.

It's really simple to use, you twist the lid off, add in the water to the max line, drop in 6 drops of your favorite essential oil, place the lid back on and you are ready to go. Once the water reaches a low level, it will automatically shut off. There are two buttons on the front, the left button controls the color lights and the right button controls the mist, each button beeps when pressed.

Left Button:
Press once to turn on and all seven colors will slowly cycle through.
Press again until you get to the color of your choice and it will stay on just that color
Press for 3 seconds to shut off light

Right Button:
Press once and unit will spray mist for 30 seconds, shut off for 30 seconds and repeat for up to six hours until water is low, then it will auto-shut off.
Press a second time, button will turn red and run for 3 hours in continuous mist mode, then auto shut off when low.
Press and hold a third time to shut off, or you can hold for 3 seconds.

The colors are very vibrant, the diffuser silent to run. If you use colored essential oils, the plastic on the inside will eventually stain. You'll want to make sure to only use 100% essential oils.

To clean this unit, simply unplug, drain, use a mild dish detergent and wipe down the inside. You'll want to do this every 4 days or so.

This would make a FABULOUS gift, I can't tell you how much my grand-kids enjoy just staring at it. I keep it by my desk for blogging and add various oils to suit my mood. I have reviewed another brand and found that I preferred it because it has a wood base and glass cover, but this unit gives me color options.

PROS: Bright colors, up to six hour run time, simple
CONS: It's all plastic, would have liked a glass cover

I received this it at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experience are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

Coconut Milk & Honey - Sensitive Skin Approved

Foxbrim Coconut Milk & Honey Face Cleanser

I'll admit, if I'm in a pinch, I'll use the cheap stuff to clean my face....or at least I did. My store brand foaming cleanser just wasn't doing it's job to remove all traces of my make-up and was over-drying my skin. This meant red patches and mild break outs. Time for a change!

Along came Foxbrim's Coconut Milk & Honey Face Moisturizing Cleanser. Just the name alone yells out for attention. This delicate foaming cleanser removes all traces of make-up without leaving dry skin behind. It has all sorts of goodies in it such as coconut milk, honey, aloe vera, vitamin E, jojoba oil and rosemary. It's safe to use on your face or your body and doesn't burn your eyes, I should know, I got it in there. It's not animal tested and it is made in the USA.

This cleanser is 6 ounces (about the size of my hand) and has a pump-top dispenser which was perfect to get just the right amount on my Konjac Sponge. It smells like a fragrant herb garden with soft notes of honey mixed in, much better than what I'm used to. I found that two pumps is the perfect amount to wash your entire face and neck. This stuff even took off my hard-to-remove eye-brightener. I expected much more lather than what I got, but like I said - it removed everything without scrubbing. It rinses well, leaving no harsh residue. In other words, I didn't feel like I had just stripped my skin like harsher soaps do.

Foxbrim crafts all it's products in small batches to ensure efficacy of the natural ingredients. They also back up their products with an amazing guarantee. Try it. Love it. Or send it back for a full refund. No questions asked.

PROS: smells fresh, for all skin types, prevented dry skin, not animal tested
CONS: would have liked more lather

I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experience are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

#RadhaBeauty Perfect Aromatherapy Gift Set

RADHA 6 Piece Essential Oils
100% Pure & Therapeutic grade Under $20

I just recently bought an Essential Oil Diffuser"to use in my home to help keep the air smelling fresh and to improve moods naturally. RADHA Beauty sent us this 6 pack sampler gift set of 100& pure, steam distilled, therapeutic-grade essential oils. The box was sealed well and upon opening, I was impressed with not only the presentation and scent in each bottle, but the extra pamphlet of useful information about each specific oil.

Each bottle contains 10 ML and made from cobalt colored glass with a screw top plastic lid. The six scents included in the box are:

Lavender: light floral scent, used for relaxation and promoting calmness.
Tea Tree Oil: think clove meets pine scent, a natural disinfectant & anti-fungal, this scent is perfect for clearing pet odors out of the air.
Orange: tangy citrus, perfect for promotion positivity
Eucalyptus: sweet mint & pine, helps with congestion, promotes calmness
Lemongrass: earthy grass with lemon notes. Promotes balance and energy
Peppermint: strong menthol, great to liven up the mood

The one thing I noticed after removing the lids, is that the only way to get the oils to come out, is to tip them over and shake gently until you get the amount you want. Again, I used these in a no-heat diffuser, 5 to 6 drops per 100 ML of water and set it to mist 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off for 6 hours. The scents stayed in the air, weren't over-powering and were noticeable upon entering the room. I really loved the variety of this pack and the quality of the oils were spot on.

Being that these RADHA Beauty essential oils are concentrated and undiluted, you MUST dilute them with a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, olive oil, etc. BEFORE applying them directly to your skin.

PROS: natural, potent, great gift, variety
CONS: bottles are glass, so you have to kind of shake them to get the oil drops out

I received this item at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

ArtNaturals Eyelash Enhancer Growth Serum - Another Success Story

ArtNaturals Eyelashes & Eyebrow Enhancer Growth Serum
No Prescription Needed

I'm a skeptic when it comes to companies that advertise things I find hard to believe, like magically growing better lashes. With age, your lashes and brows tend to become sparse, and I for one, can attest to that. I wanted something to amp up the volume without having to layer on water-proof mascara. The clumpy-look is not in style.

Here's a make-up free close-up of my brittle babies:

I've heard about prescriptions that can give you fuller lashes, and even had friends use it, but that means a doctor visit, and $120 bucks for a product that only gives you 30 applications. Not in my budget.

ArtNaturals Eyelash Growth Serum promises to make thicker, longer eyelashes & brows. It's dermatologist tested and has a non-irritating allergenic formula. They also offer a 100% money-back guarantee. This serum's magical ingredients are Swiss Apple Stem Cells & Myristoyl Pentapetide-17. It's made in the USA and is cruelty-free. I also have experience using this brand and their beauty line, never ceases to impress me.

The eyelash growth serum came in it's own box, had an ingredient list I couldn't pronounce and writing that was difficult to read. I would have loved a pamphlet inside so I wouldn't have to strain my eyes. All that's inside is this little bottle, about the size of my index finger.

The serum is clear and doesn't have any noticeable scent. I was half expecting a mascara wand, but instead found this thin applicator:

Once I was a able to read the instructions, I realized the brush was meant to apply the serum to your lash line ONLY (and your brows). There was no specific mention of using it on lower lashes, so I didn't even attempt to treat them, in fear of getting this stuff in my eye. You should remove all make-up & contacts before putting this stuff on. I didn't want to go blind (call me paranoid, I call it cautiousness), so I complied. I dipped in the brush and paid careful attention, lining my upper lashes at the base completely. Nothing got in my eye, there was no fantastically tingling, just a little dampness until it dried. I did this faithfully every night for a week, AFTER I washed my face, applied moisturizer and eye cream.

This is what my results were:

My lashes have darkened, appear longer, thicker and have more volume after seven days. I didn't even apply mascara! Whoa - THIS STUFF WORKS! I'm sold on ArtNaturals Eyelashes & Eyebrow Enhancer Growth Serum and I'm pretty sure this little bottle is going to last for months on end.

PROS: conditions, promoted growth, thickened lashes
CONS: I still don't know if you should use this on your bottom lashes, the directions aren't clear. Could use a pamphlet inside

I received this product at a discounted rate in exchange for my open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

Etekcity Personal Water Filter Purifier Kit - #BugOutApproved

Etekcity Personal Water Filter Purifier
Under $20

Are you a survivalist aficionado? Like to camp, hike or just have an prepped emergency kit on hand? This is a must have to pack in your bag!

With this Etekcity Personal Water Filter Purifier kit, you can have instant access to clean, purified drinkable water anywhere. With a double filtration system, this portable kit has the capacity to filter almost 400 gallons of water, eliminating contaminants including coli bacillus, legionella, heavy metal ions, chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOC), organic and insect contaminants. It's affordable, compact and lightweight and includes everything you need! The filtration system is made up of a hollow fiber UF membrane and an antibacterial carbon filter for twice the safety. BPA & chemical-free.

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES:
A fold-able 16 ounce BPA-free portable water bag with carry clip
28" extension tube
pre-filter
backwash device
clear instructions

We received this kit thanks to the great people at Etekcity. My son is an EMT, so he always carries a back-up emergency bag with him, both on-duty and off. This Personal Water Filter Purifier Kit comes packed with everything you see above. The straw is designed to be compatible with standard threaded bottles and hydration reservoirs.

There are 4 methods of use:

Direct Filter: using the mouthpiece, you can drink directly from any water source.
Filter Extension tube: If the water source is a little tough to reach, you connect the extension tube to the mouthpiece, immerse in water & drink.
Prefilter: Attach the prefilter to the mouthpiece, place straw in water and hydrate. The pre-filter provides extra filtration when water is more turbid or contains organic or any insect contaminants.
Portable Water Bag: Fill with water, connect the bag and straw from the inlet end and enjoy!

The Etekcity Personal Water Filter Purifier Kit provides reliable filtration for collected rainwater, tap water, unfiltered reservoirs, ponds and lakes. Please keep in mind, this water purifier is not intended for extended long-term use. The filters will clog and need to be cleaned after use.

My son personally collected water from our local lake to test this out and it's pretty murky. He noticed immediately that you do have to pull harder than you normally would through a regular straw and while the water didn't taste like "bottled options", it didn't have an funky taste. This one is a keeper for emergency use for sure.

PROS: compact, affordable, BPA-free
CONS: Really hard to get a good draw

I received this item for free in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. Our experiences are our own, we would love to hear yours!

#ArtNaturals Anti-Acne Serum - Clearer Skin Faster

Art Naturals® Anti Acne Serum Treatment 1 oz

My oldest daughter is 25 and still has problems each month with cystic-type acne, that scabs terribly. She's tried facial scrubs and store bought acne treatments. Nothing seemed to stop or even relieve the break-outs. Here are some before pictures - keep in mind, she has make-up on trying to cover the blemishes. It's not working well.

The wonderful people at Art Naturals® sent us their Anti Acne Serum Treatment. It comes in a glass bottle with clear directions and a dropper style applicator. The serum itself was a watery, opaque cream color, seemed a bit oily and smelled medicinal with notes of lemongrass. My daughter used this product for over a week as a spot treatment for her problem prone areas daily and immediately noticed that it didn't dry out her skin, it actually moisturized it and made it softer. This meant no painful, bleeding scabs that she typically has to deal with and less chance of scarring.

Art Naturals® Anti Acne Serum Treatment is Free Trade Certified. ­Paraben Free, Cruelty Free, made with recycled materials and uses natural and organic ingredients. It contains Manuka oil for anti-bacterial properties, Lemongrass oil as an antioxidant, anti-bacterial and aroma-therapeutic use. You can apply this twice a day using a cotton swab BEFORE moisturizing.

I have tried numerous items from Art Naturals and have always been delighted with each one of them, from shampoo to mud masks, they nail it each time!

PROS: reduces inflammation, dried acne, without drying skin
CONS: medicinal smell

I received this item at a discounted price in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. Our experiences are our own, we'd love to hear yours!

#CushionCare Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad & Mouse Pad

#CushionCare Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad & Matching Mouse Pad
Under $20

My son spends an awful lot of time on the computer on his days off from work, using both a gaming keyboard and a gaming mouse. We had an opportunity to review this CushionCare Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad with a free Matching Mouse Pad and thought this would be perfect for him comfort-wise. What we really liked about this set is that it's made from high quality foam, has a skid proof back, is light-weight and affordable. It also comes with a full 3-year warranty! Using the wrist wrest encourages proper wrist alignment and can help prevent joint problems and carpel tunnel.

This Keyboard Wrist Rest Pad & Matching Mouse Pad comes sized just right and includes everything you see in the photo. I liked that it was boxed really nice, so this would make a great gift choice for someone you know that uses computers often. My son couldn't wait to get it out of the box and set it up. He thought it might take some getting used to, but nope....for him, it was an easy transition. He immediately noticed how relaxed his hands felt and that it's improved his writing posture.

PROS: perfect for gift giving, comfortable, doesn't slip, wrist relief at it's finest, long warranty
CONS: none, and I mean absolutely none at all

I received this product at a discount in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experience are my own, we'd love to hear yours!

EiioX Essential Oil Diffuser - Spa-like Aromatherapy

EiioX Essential Oil Diffuser
Under $25

This Essential Oil Diffuser is a great little item to have in your home if you love aromatherapy. It comes with a removable opaque glass cover, a wooden base, one detachable DC24V plug and a handy plastic measuring cup with an easy pour spout. It's about 5 to 6 inches in height, has two buttons of the front to control mist & lighting options and holds 100 ML of water for 3 hours on continued use. The LED lighting is a soft yellow tone, it does not change colors. Once the water is low, it will automatically shut off.

Button of the left is for mist control

1st option - 3 hours of continuous mist
2nd option - 10 seconds of mist/10 seconds off (about 6 hours of use)
3rd option - 1 hour timed mist mode
4th option - 2 hours of continuous mist

Button to the right is lighting selection:

1st option - High
2nd option - Medium
3rd option - Low
4th option - Off

I used this with a sample pack of RADHA essential oils and added about 5 drops of orange oil to 100 ML of water. It worked immediately to fill the air in my kitchen and dining room with no effort. It's amazingly quiet and very aesthetically pleasing. You don't even notice it!

I do want to add, that my box came with no instruction manual and I still managed to get it up and running in no time.

PROS: no heat needed, simple to use, great to keep your home smelling great with essential oils
CONS: no instruction manual

I received this item at a discounted rate in exchange for an open, honest and unbiased review. My experiences are my own and I will do my best to update the post a month or so from now to report back on how long the unit holds up for.