100% Pure Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel Mask Review

About the brand: Recently I have become obsessed with skin care products. I have a few 100% Pure products but in the blogging world I haven't heard that much about the brand. 100% Pure claims to be a brand that has "no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins." and they don't test any of their products or ingredients on animals. Vegans should also feel comfortable using these products. I was imediately intriqued by this line. Could a natural beauty line compare to synthetic products? I was determined to put these products to the test.

  

The pineapple enzyme mask is said "to smooth away dullness and make complexion more healthy, glowing and vibrant" and is filled with anti-aging ingredients. The claims of anti-aging are hard to prove or disprove but this product made my skin feel soft to the touch. Not as soft as the Dermilogica Daily Micorfoliant but I was still impressed. Now, the product comes in a powder format and before you apply it, you must mix it with either water or yoghurt. I perfer yoghurt because it is easier to apply and mix with the powder. When mixed with water it can become watery and the application is a bit uneven. Plus side, it dries much faster than the yoghurt mixture.

  

The downside of this product? The powder formula makes it inconvienent to use. It takes time to mix it with the water/yoghurt but that also means more product in a smaller container. Next downside? It doesn't peel unlike what the name of the product implies. The mixture dries into a semi-clear/unattractive yellow color, depending on thickness of application. Not the most estheically pleasing appearance but a bit more subtle than the stereotypical green mud mask. Since the product doesn't peel very well, you have to rinse the product from your face with warm water. But it does constrict as it dries giving you a tight, mask feeling. I love that.

     

I have used the mask four times and, as you can see from the picture above, I've hardly put a dent in the product. You don't need a lot of powder--less than a teaspoon. I recommend adding the powder in a small bowl, then add the water/yoghurt. Each time I forget to do that and I end up making too much mask and then feeling wasteful.

  

In conclusion? I really like this mask. The smell wasn't fantastic but neither was it horrid. It's nice to pamper myself  every now and then. The price is very reasonable. The pineapple enzyme mask is available for $17.00 on the 100% Pure website. 

LUSH Satsumo Santa Bath Bomb Review

I'm back at school. Spring break is over, sadly. But over my break I was able to use a few of the LUSH goodies my sister got me for Christmas. First product on my must use list? Satsumo Santa! He is a bigger sized bath bomb. Much larger than the only other LUSH bath bomb I've used, So White. The scent was pleasant. Nothing incredibly memorable. But nothing offensive either. The smell didn't last long on my skin after getting out which was something that So White did incredibly well and it didn't make the water uber moisturizing. I was a little disappointed. 

   

This best thing about this bath bomb? It was so large that it was fizzing for what felt like forever. I'm sure that a frugal person could have easily split this bomb in half to use it for two baths. I didn't because I was unsure about whether that would work. I'm pretty certain it would. Satsumo Santa turns the bath water a bright, red color. It sort of looks like you're bathing in fruit punch. I liked it. Until my sister came in after I'd bathed but before I'd drained the water and said that it looked like blood. It doesn't. Not really. More like fruit punch. I might repurchase this because, I mean, look at it! It is so cute! But I perfer the fresh scent and long lasting power of So White. Even if it doesn't make my bath a cool color.

   

I am officially addicted to LUSH goodies now. Their Easter Collection is currently on sale and I picked up a few things for myself and my sister. She's a little addicted as well. Keep your eyes peeled for more reivews in the future. Have you tried Satsumo Santa before? If so, please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Also, if you have any LUSH recommendations I'd love to hear about them.

The Pros and Cons of the Julelp Maven Program

This is a post that I've been wanting to write for a while. Recently I talked to some people on twitter about Julep and their Julep Maven program. After having these conversations, @JulepMaven unfollowed me. Do you think they were offended? Probably. Best way to stay popular on twitter? Don't talk bad about the people who follow you. But as a blogger, I'm not here to be popular. I'm here to speak my mind.

  

What prompted me to write this? Well, I forgot to skip my box last month...and the month before. You would think that I would learn. I'm just so busy with school and life. It's no excuse but it was still frustrating. I immediately called up Julep and cancelled my subscription after having a discussion with the customer service representative. I realized it was the best decision for me. I might sign up again when money is not so tight but for now I'm content to look at what others are receiving in their boxes. I think it's an amazing program. I'm rooting for this brand because I do believe that they have amazing products. I just can't afford them at the moment every month.

       PROS

• It is a company based locally here in Seattle! [this might be a pro to only me and other Seattleites]


• It is exciting to get a package of goodies each month! This is why monthly subscription programs are so popular.


• Most of the colors are truly beautiful. I have only had two polishes that I found disappointing. In case you were wondering those polishes were Sofia [don't buy this one!] and Gayle [the color was lovely but a bit thick and gloopy].


• Shipping is included in the price of the box.


• If you don't like the box recommended, you can simply switch to whichever box you feel fits your style online before they ship. This also means that the element of surprise is taken away. You know what you are getting, so, in theory, you are less likely to be disappointed.


• The shipping is quick and the boxes are packaged beautifully. I especially appreciated the recent Easter themed box I received. So cute!


• The packaging of the polishes is sleek, polished, and timeless.


• One dollar from every nail polish sold is donated to "organizations that empower women". That quote was taken from the Julep website. It is a bit vague. It would be cooler to know what these organizations are. Plus, I'm not certain if this policy applies to Maven Boxes.


• It is a small business trying to compete with much larger brands.  

        CONS

• You can't cancel online. You have to call a number to cancel your account.


• 
  To skip a month, the skipping period is only a few days long. From the 20th to the 24th, if you do not wish to be charged. It is an odd time in the month and I wish it were for a longer period. Or like Birchbox where you can buy months without having to skip them. It is just a hassle.
  
  


• 
  If you wish to return your Julep Maven box [either you weren't pleased with the products or you forgot to skip the month] you have to pay a $4.95 re-stocking fee. The other option is to receive store credit and no re-stocking fee will be charged. Can't I just get my money back? Especially since the skipping month process seems to be set up in hopes that people will forget.
  
  


• 
  It is difficult [possibly impossible] to see the monthly boxes without an account.
  
  


• 
  The website can be a bit glitchy.
  
  


• 
  As of right now, Julep polishes are only available online or in Julep parlors. This makes it difficult to accurately judge the colors in person. But they will soon become available in certain Sephora stores.
  
  


• 
  It is a small business trying to compete with much larger brands.
     
  
  

And that is the end of my pros and cons list. I know that there have been a bit of talk on the Internet about problems with the referral program but none of that was relevant to me. I also know that Julep is a growing company and I am rooting for this underdog. I cannot, with good conscious, blindly recommend this program to everyone. It isn't for everyone. But I think it is important to present my readers with the pros and cons, thus allowing them to make their own decisions. I will continue to add pros and cons as I discover them in the future. 

   

I think in the end that Julep is a small business and there are bound to be problems. Most of my frustration with Julep stems from my forgetfulness with skipping boxes. But I feel that the system is set up to capitalize on my forgetfulness and others like me. It seems a little shady. That is my biggest frustration. Are you a Julep Maven? Do you think the pros outweigh the cons? Tell me below!

LUSH Porridge Soap Review

This is my new favorite soap! Porridge Soap from LUSH. It smells to good. According to the LUSH website, this soap is for "When you're in a rush on those early mornings you may consider eating breakfast in the shower...We put real oats and fresh organic orange juice in this deliciously nutritious soap, making it a cleansing and exfoliating multi-tasker. Oats soften and slough away dead skin while orange juice and sweet orange oil gently cleanse the skin."

To me this soap smelled a bit like chocolate. But I now know why I must love this soap. I'm a sucker for citrus smells. It smells so good! I normally wash with a louffa but with this soap, I get to skip a step. The oats are gentle but very exfoliating. But can be quite messy after the fifth or sixth use. Beware. I've heard people complain that Lush soaps aren't sudsy but that's never been my experience. This one isn't as sudsy as Ring of Roses but this soap is much more milky and moisturizing. The soap practically melts in your hands. I love this. And I'm going to be repurchasing as soon as I run out.

 One of the great things about LUSH soap is you can decide how much soap you want when you go into the store. Downside? They're quite expensive. I paid about five dollars for this chunk. Beware the oats can get a bit messy as the soap is used up.