L'Oreal EverPure Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Hey guys!
Happy weekend!
I just wanted to share a quick video review I made for my new L'Oreal Ever Pure Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner I was sent to test out by Influenster - part of the #Freeyourhair campaign, but all opinions are my own!!! My hair felt soft and much better after air drying and not having to dry it with the hair dryer or style it! Check out the video below and let me know what you think!

Home Teeth Whitening for Coffee Addicts - Smile Brilliant

Hello everyone!
Hope you are having a great week so far, and hope it is a positive and peaceful one!
Today I wanted to share with you a review of a home teeth whitening kit that I've done and tested, with great results! I am a coffee addict, as every grad student is, and my teeth have gotten super stained. I used to drink only one cup of coffee a day but as I am in my 6th and final year, I have upped it to 2-3 cups a day...so you can only imagine the consequences on my teeth! So if your question is, does coffee stain your teeth, the answer is a big resounding YES. As a blogger and one who likes to take photos and selfies, yellow teeth can be a turn off. I was noticing my teeth were getting pretty yellow, and within the few weeks of starting the kit to when I actually started whitening, my teeth got so much more yellow, it was astounding!

I have tried other at home whitening kits, like the white strips, but my teeth and gums are always too sensitive, and I end up super uncomfortable. I did look around at the different options for teeth whitening - here are some tips for things you should know before buying a certain kit (here).

I came across the Smile Brilliant Home teeth whitening kit, and I was sent a whole kit to test out!
I was really excited to get started, mainly because it seemed to be everything that was provided at my dentist, but much more affordable and could do it in the comfort of my own home. I don't have much time to be running to dentist appointments every other day, and I can't afford the expensive treatments they offer! In addition, they say its perfect for people with sensitive teeth, since they offer a desensitizing gel with their treatment to sooth your teeth. I did do some research on their services, and found some tips and causes for tooth sensitivity, that you can read about here.

When I received the kit, it was complete with everything I needed - base and catalyst putty along with the impression trays, to create my custom whitening trays (score! its seriously like the dentist protocol!). They even had a postage prepaid envelope to send back the impressions once they hardened! The kit also came with three syringes of whitening gel and three syringes of desensitizing gel!

Ole Henriksen VoxBox Review - Youtube video!

I'm finally back with a new post! Sorry for being MIA the last few weeks - but I have been active over on my social media, so if you aren't following me yet over on Instagram or Snapchat -- go do it now! I post daily over there!
Life has been so crazy lately, with TAing this Spring quarter, interviewing, graduation, my family visiting, attending a scientific conference in Portugal, traveling to France, and then trying to finish up a paper (one of the final chapters of my dissertation!), so I apologize!
But I am trying to get back a work/life balance and getting back to my blogging! I will hopefully be shooting some outfits this weekend, so I will be bringing you more posts!
I am also trying to get back into making YouTube videos, so go check out my channel and subscribe!

Today's post, I bring you a video review of some skin care products by Ole Henriksen I received through the Influencer App Voxbox! Since I was traveling and anything and everything I wanted, my skin was super upset at me, haha! Traveling, different weather conditions, drinking 3-5 coffees a day, irregular sleep schedule, jet lag, you name it, my whole routine was out of whack! It's amazing how your skin can react!

View the video below, and let me know if you have used any of these products before, if they've worked for you, or if you have used any other products that worked well!

(Isn't my thumbnail so flattering?! :D hahaha!)

Do let me know your thoughts about my first real youtube review below, and let me know if you prefer video or text post reviews!! I'm curious!

Take it easy!

Until next time,

Andrea

xo

* I was sent these products from Influenster Voxbox, but this does not affect my honest opinion on the products, opinions are 100% mine! *

Midweek Celebration - Mia Rosa wine

Since I finished my first interview, and my best friend in grad school also had her first interview, we decided to celebrate by drinking some wine as a little midweek break. We both have been super stressed out with trying to balance life, research, teaching, career development, interviews, and writing our dissertations (or thinking about writing, lol).

I was contacted by Mia Rosa Wines to try two of their dessert wines, and I said, why not, and this was the perfect opportunity to try them (Yes we finished both bottles in one sitting, but we took it slow and over the course of a few hours of chatting... Oh and they are both low alcohol percentage wine so you can drink it mid day with lunch or what not and not feel 'drunk').

Mia Rosa Wines are bottled and imported from Gattinara, Italy, but the company that imports and distributes the wine is local, based in Glendale, California. So this is a definite SoCal brand, and I love supporting local businesses!

I love Moscatos, my go to wine is white, and I'm not really a red wine girl. I didn't know what to expect with their red, but it ended up being very enjoyable and not very dry as I expected!

First up, the Mia Rosa Moscato White:

This wine was a little fizzy and bubbly at first sip, and it was very delicious and sweet! It had a very clean finish, and the taste didn't linger. I could taste flavors of apple, cantalope, peach, pear - it was very tasty! At 5.5% Alcohol by volume, I easily drank 2-3 glasses without feeling much! Easily a very nice wine to go to after a meal when you aren't ready for a rather wild night, and pairs easily with dessert, cheeses, or I even thought it would pair well with Thai food or other kinds of spicy food - the sweetness is a good level to counterbalance spice!

Next, the Mia Rosa Dolce Rosso Red: 

This wine was also fizzy and bubbly at first sip, and it was a rather tasty red! It wasn't dry like other reds I have tasted, which I think made it more enjoyable for me. I could taste lots of flavors of berry - raspberries, red berry among others. Again, there is only 5.5% Alcohol by volume, so it is a nice light wine to enjoy during the day. I would pair this wine with some yummy dark chocolate (girls + wine + chocolate, perfect!), and maybe some fresh fruit.

Lee Stafford Ubuntun Oils from Africa Hair Product Review

Hello loves!
Hope you had a lovely weekend!
I had the opportunity to go to a Vanity Fair Social Club (#VFSC) Two Day event over the weekend in celebration of and leading up to a viewing party for the Emmy Awards, so I have lots to post about that coming up soon! It was a lot of fun and I got some freebies, if you have been following my Instagram or Twitter feeds! (If you aren't, you should! Go click the links above and to the left!!)
But more on that later this week!

 

Makeup Monday - InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask Review!

Happy Monday everyone!

Today I am bringing you a review for a recent product I received, the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask! I was excited to try this product because I have been having issues with my skin just being out of control, and I am preparing for the conference I am going to in Boston at the end of this week! During the special time of the month my face just goes crazy with acne! You would think being in my later 20s now that I would be over the acne stage... I guess not. I also have a bad habit of touching my face, especially when I am sitting at my desk at work, which I have been doing a lot of lately since I have been writing a manuscript. I did some research online and came across a variety of facial masks that claim to do well for your skin, but Insta Natural Dead Sea Mud Mask seemed to have the best reviews! 

It is supposed to be a holistic detoxifier and purifier, expected to give you radiant refined skin! I needed whatever help I could get without going to a dermatologist so I decided to check out this product! All of the other reviews seemed pretty positive, with only a couple of people having reactions to it. I was sent this product to review, and boy was I surprised when I received a full size 16 oz jar to try! 

Makeup Monday - Makeup Brush Kit Review from Tmart.com

Hello loves!
Welcome to another week of my Makeup Monday series, this time for a review for a Makeup Brush Set I was gifted from Tmart.com. I have been looking around for a complete makeup brush set, especially now that I am a lot more serious about my makeup (for both eye makeup and foundation/face makeup). I had been looking on Sephora's website for an affordable makeup brush set but every set that had the brushes I wanted were super expensive! (I'm talking like $100+!) Can't really afford that right now, so I was delighted when Tmart contacted me to review this specific item!

October Ipsy Glam Bag video review!