Series: Do "off-brand" beauty products really work?

I'm back with another cheap beauty product review!
This time its Lantern's Herbal Formula Active Softening Essence.

Supposedly its full of natural ingredients that will help your skin become baby's butt soft. I threw away the box  it came in that had all the ingredients listed on it, sorry *_*;;;

I would give this one a 6/10

I know 100% for sure that this does have lots of aloe in it, I cam smell it every time I put it on. I like the smell, but it does get slightly annoying to smell aloe everywhere you go- although it kinda makes me feel like I'm at the beach.  It does feel very good on sunburnt or dry skin, but I haven't really noticed that it has softened my skin any.  All in all, if you happen to see this product and you need something for a sunburn in a pinch go for it. If however, you don't, then you can just leave it on the shelves. 

You can try to find out more about the Lantern here, but when I visited the page it had a few bad links. 

Series: Do "off-brand" beauty products really work? & Weekend in review

Hello! Hope everyone's weekend is going great.

I've had a pretty slow weekend, my sister's friend has come to stay with us for several days, so I have to actually look like a human being for a few days.  Usually if I am just at home with my family I will wear whatever comes to hand and matches first. I DO NOT dress style over comfort at home... so I look kind of ehhh, not great. Since we have a visitor though, I kind of need to look decent.... 

But enough about that. 

I have been baking!~

How awesome do they look? I'm so proud of myself for taking this picture! 

Now if only they had tasted as good as they looked...

My next baking project is either going to be mochi or macaroons. Big dreams for someone who can't bake worth a darn... but I want to try! 

I've got another product review for you too! 

This time its Venus' Wrinkle Preventing Super Moisturizing Cream.  You can get it here (just to cover my backside, I've never shopped for that particular store before. I have however shopped with other stores on the Amazon website.)

It works on the basis that it is a product specifically targeted at young people, to give their skin all the good stuff it needs to stay beautiful before any age/ sun damage can occur. 

I give it a 9/10

I really do love this cream. It DOES super moisturize your skin, and I thought that I could see improvement in the little lines on my forehead and around my eyes and mouth. I do have skin that it just beginning to settle into ageing, and I'm trying my damn hardest to prevent it from happening.  I would use this everyday except for one big problem:

This stuff will clog your skin up!!!!!

Seriously, if I put it on two days in a row I get several bumps and pimples. Its sucks because for me, this product really does work, so I have to use it carefully. 

I think I paid about $4 for the jar, it is a medium sized jar I would say. The scent is really nice to, a light sweet citrus.

Series: Do "off-brand" beauty products really work?

Good morning! (or at least, it should be when this post goes live...)

I mentioned in the lolita at work post that I've been planning a series of posts on those cheap products that you can find at many discount retailers for seriously low prices, about if they work or not. Here is the first in that series!

I'll start with the product that I have been using the longest, Elizabeth Arden's Deep Cleansing Mask.

Now Elizabeth Arden isn't a unheard of brand, in fact, it has been around for longer than I have been alive, I think. Despite that, I don't really know where it is usually sold, or how the brand is perceived by those who are really into beauty products, but I was happy to pick up this mask to try out.

I purchased it at T.J. Maxx for less than $10, I can't recall the exact amount. 

Since my face is oily/combination and congested (dead skin and such clogs my pores, ultimately leading to breakouts) I love anything that promises to get down deep and clean out my skin.

I would rate this one an 8 out of 10.

My reasoning behind the rating: I do feel that my skin is much less oily after using the mask- its like it just sucks up all the excess oil, without leaving my skin too dry. As for actually cleaning the skin... meh, it does ok. I usually use this mask first and then follow behind it with a wash to get the maximum cleaning. It does help to stop my skin from continuing to break out during a flare up of acne, and used regularly, it helps to prevent my skin from getting nasty. 

Probably for those with normal skin, or skin not prone to congestion, it would be a great cleansing mask on its own. For those with oily skin, or congested skin like mine, you may want to use it with a wash for the ultimate clean. 

One big concern over this product: I think that it may be out of production now, which makes me sad. I couldn't find it listed on the website when I tried to figure out the normal retail price for it. 

shopping pic and a few reviews

Ok, I'll start off by saying that if I sounded slightly more chirpy than normal last post, well- I was under the influence of Advil PM. I have moderate-severe knee pain and I find that Advil PM works wonders when taken before bed when you're in pain. Unfortunately, when given enough time to take effect and at a high enough dosage... well sometimes I end up talking kinda silly. I won't say that I was "buzzed"- no not at all, but once the sedative? kicks in, I get sleepy, and when I get sleepy I can sometimes act slightly different than normal- we all do really- when we get tired enough.

Having said all that- onto what you really came for my nonexistent readers! These are a few of the pictures that I promised you, as well as a few reviews of products that I use to keep me looking my best.

Thigh high socks from Target. I would have rather they were knee high, but at only $1.50, I can can deal with it. They also match the new shirt that I got perfectly!
My boots! I loves them!!!! I can't believe that I found them in Target, of all places. I would have expected it if I found them in Charlotte Rouse, but never Target!