My First Deciem - The Ordinary Order!

I got my first Deciem order some days ago and I'm really excited to try everything. They have several different lines but I got items from the super popular The Ordinary line. This line offers  a range of items from facial oils, acids like AHAs, BHAs and retinols, vitamin serums, foundations, and more. All at extremely budget friendly prices. I'm talking $5-$7 bucks for many of the products.

I heard about this line pretty much when it launched and I was definitely intrigued. However I didn't purchase right away despite the affordability. I just kinda made a mental note to try it someday. Well that mental note wasn't needed because I've been seeing and hearing about the line ever since. It was (and is) on all the blogs, YouTube, social media, magazines, and online beauty publications, and more. With many rave reviews to boot. 

So naturally I became more and more interested in trying some of these products. And one day, I decided to place an order. Well, just so happens that the items I wanted were out of stock. Not for just a day or two, but for weeks and weeks. Meanwhile, these same products were available on amazon and eBay for double and triple the price. Shout out to the resellers! 
So I signed up, on The Ordinary's website,  to be notified when the items were in stock.  After a few weeks I got emails stating that the items I wanted were available. HOORAY! I ordered right away. I got four items:  Glycolic Acid 7% Solution , Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%, Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA 2% Spheres, Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%.  The total cost for my order was $27.80; that's a fraction of the cost for many skincare products that contain these active ingredients. Plus shipping is free if your order two or more items. 

My main skincare goal right now is re-texturizing. And all of these products pretty much address this issue. Of course, I can't use them all at once-using acids together and/or with vitamin C is not recommended. This can cause major irritation. Also, when using a bunch of new products at once, it's harder to tell what's making a difference. For better or for worse.  So I started (for no particular reason) with the Glycolic Acid 7% Solution during my nighttime routine. And so far, so good. I've been using it for about three weeks and I'm seeing some results with smoother and brighter (less dull) skin. I'll be switching these products out soon and taking note on how each of them work for me. And perhaps I'll come back with reviews. Stay tuned!

Have you tried this line before? If so, how are/were your results. 

Update with reviews- Influenster Breezy #VoxBox Unboxing

I received the Breezy VoxBox, courtesy of Influenster, about a week ago. And it was so heavy, I couldn't wait to open it. I made quick video opening the box and showing everything inside. Check it out! And I'm planning to update this post with some reviews. Click HERE to join Influenster. 

Origins A PERFECT WORLD™

SPF 40 AGE-DEFENSE MOISTURIZER WITH WHITE TEA

I thought this moisturizer was ok. First of all I love the scent. It has that wonderful Origins spa-like smell. It's a little on the thick side but it applies and spreads easily. It does has spf but I was able to rub it in with no white cast (I have medium-deep skin tone). Left my skin a little oilier than I like though. 

A PERFECT WORLD™

AGE-DEFENSE EYE CREAM WITH SPF 20

I thought this eye cream was ok. I didn't detect much of a scent. It was a little thick. I have a medium-deep skin tone and I had to work a bit to rub out the whiteness from spf. Seemed to moisturize well though. 

Head & Shoulders Volume Boost Anti Dandruff Shampoo  

I thought this shampoo was ok but not really for me. It smells very nice. Give a good rich lather and rinsed clean but left my hair a little on the dry side. I'd use it in a pinch but wouldn't replace my usual shampoo. 

Head & Shoulders Volume Boost Hair & Scalp Conditioner
This conditioner was ok. Smells nice and left my hair fairly conditioned. My styling products seemed to work quite well afterwards. However, my hair seemed to dry out pretty quickly. I would only use this occasionally.

Nair Hair Remover Wax Ready Strips

I'm not usually a waxer but I tested  these out . Worked quite well on my lil peach fuzz stache. Didn't irritate my skin either. Though I'm not extremely sensitive. And there was a little pain with the rip off, but that's what I expected with waxing.

Profoot Heel Rescue Foot Cream

This product works quite well. It's rich and creamy but not too thick. Absorbs nicely, has a neutral scent, and is not at all greasy. And I noticed a difference in my feet after a few uses. They were definitely softer and smoother.

Sour Punch Ragin' Reds and Pineapple-Mango Chili Straws
Everything you'd expect from this type of candy. Fruity, sour, but not too sour, then sweet. Also chewy and a little sticky

Life Update: I'm A Mama #newmom

Hi all, I thought I'd pop in and tell you about my big life update. And as you can see from the title I am a new mama now. On May 2 , 2017, my husband and I welcomed our baby girl, Malia Camille, into this world. And if you're following me on any other of my social media platforms, then you probably already know. I just wanted to update here because, although the I don't post often, I didn't think it would be right to post about products and such before mentioning this news.

 Also if you're following me on any other social media platforms, you probably noticed that I didn't post anything about being pregnant. And I'm sure that probably seems odd in this age of sharing and over-sharing. However due to a few issues and complications here and there, I just wanted to get my baby here safe and sound before sharing anything. We didn't ever tell our parents until we were four months in. And at this point, I was so sick, making announcements /social media was the last thing on my mind. Anyway, that's a story for another day.

In other news, I finally decided to open Instagram accounts for my Etsy shop (@jazjewelzdesign) and for the blog (@favethingsetc). I'm hoping to be a little more consistent in posting on those than I am here, on twitter, and on my personal accounts. So follow me there if you wish. See ya there!

Influenster Ole Henriksen Balance VoxBox

I received the Ole Henriksen Balance VoxBox, courtesy of Influenster, a couple of weeks ago and I was pretty excited. This box featured Ole Henriksen's new Balance skincare line that is geared toward oily skin but without stripping. I made a little video explaining the box; check it out and check out my mini reviews below.

Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser

The cleanser is pearly in appearance and has a gel-like consistency. I removed my makeup with an oil before cleansing. I used a pea-sized amount of the cleanser on damp skin-the lather was sort of milky and creamy. The scent is herbal and slightly medicinal but not overpowering in my opinion. Afterwards, my skin felt clean, cool, refreshed and not stripped. 

Balancing Force Oil Control Toner

The toner has a herbally scent similar to the cleanser

And left my skin quite matte. I also felt a slight cooling sensation but no tingle or irritation. 

Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator

This product is pretty lightweight and absorbs quickly. It left my skin fairly soft and matte. I used abou two pumps which was just enough. And of the three products, the hydrator seems to have the mildest scent, though still somewhat herbal.

Overall I thought the line worked well. The products were pretty effective while still being gentle and  non-stripping. I didn't experience any breakouts or irritation. My skin is currently combination so I've been trying the line just once a day, otherwise it would be too drying. Once summer hits, and my skin gets oilier, I can use it more. 

These products were sent to me for reviewing purposes-opinions are all my own.  

Influenster Eat Well Be Well #VoxBox

I received the Eat Well Be Well box, courtesy of Influenster, a couple of weeks ago. This box featured several food brands that offer some healthier food options. I made a little video explaining the box; check it out and check out my quick reviews below.

Earth Balance Buttery Spread
This is a product that I've used kbefore and I like it quite well. I use it the same way I'd use real butter: to cook, bake, and as a spread. And I think it works really well. It melts, blends, and spreads like real butter. Also, has a similar buttery taste. I'll definitely repurchase and try some of the other varieties. 

Udi's Gluten-free Pepperoni Pizza

As mentioned in the video, I went to the store with the intention to buy bread but didn't see any. So I opted for this frozen pepperoni pizza. Note, I haven't had frozen pizza in a while so I don't have much to compare it to besides what I've had in the past. And compared to those it was pretty good. Especially for gluten-free. Not as good as homemade or delivery, but decent and good in a pinch. And please note that I don't follow a gluten-free diet, but I try (and have tried in the past) gluten-free from time to time. 

I cooked it in my conventional oven according to the directions. Then I decided to add a few minutes cooking time to make sure the crust was as crisp as I like. There was a nice balance of cheese, sauce, and pepperoni. It was mildly seasoned but not bland. Though I did add a few of my own seasonings and toppings just to punch it up a bit.  

Evol Enchilada with Bacon

I've seen this brand around for years and have tried a few items here and there. They have a pretty wide selection available so it took me a while to choose. Then I finally settled on the Enchilada with bacon. It was pretty good-not too salty but definitely not bland.  And was very saucy; there was plenty of sauce left after I had eaten the enchiladas. I thought the fillings ration were balanced and the size was right too; not too large or small.

Glutino Pretzels

This was the only food item that came in the box. They were crunchy but not too hard. Not too salty and the pretzel flavor was mild. 

Overall, I enjoyed this box. I really love trying out new products and food items. I'll definitely be checking out more items from each of these brands. Are you familiar with these brands? If so, what are your favorite products. Let me know in the comments. 

Disclosure: This box was sent to my by Influenster for testing purposes