Friday, February 21, 2014

TGIF: Review of Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #powerofplants

TGIF. I love Fridays. I think it's the result of spending 19 years in the education system and knowing that Fridays mean weekends. Weekends don't mean much to me now, seeing as though I work an irregular schedule in retail, which means I work several weekends. But this weekend, I am free. So TGIF indeed.

As promised, today I am doing a full product review of the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask I received in my Influenster J'adore VoxBox this week.



Spoiler Alert: it's awesome.

Let me take you through my process and explain exactly why I think it's awesome.

I have been obsessed with clay/mud masks since I tried a sample of a high end mud mask I got in a Sephora order. It was so luxurious and made my face feel so good. But I couldn't justify $42 for the amount of mask I'd be getting, so I've been searching for alternatives.

The Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask claims to "actively remove impurities and deeply cleanse" skin, and is made with Willow bark, which is a natural source of salicylic acid, which "helps refine skin texture and actively target imperfections." I do struggle with uneven skin texture, large pores and spots where my skin isn't quite right.

From the Influenster product card: "Treat your skin to deep cleansing with this mineral-rich clay mask. Designed for use on normal skin, the unscented, hypo-allergenic formula absorbs excess oil and deeply cleanses skin. The oceanic clay exhibits a negative electrical charge, which helps to draw out impurities without overdrying, leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother."

Like most masks I've tried, this one says to apply to cleansed skin, so I started by washing my face with this Bioré Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser.



Now I have a love/hate relationship with this cleanser. I love the warming effect. It feels so good on my skin. But the product itself is really thick and hard to lather up, and the microbeads tend to irritate my skin if I rub too hard. I think I need to find a more gentle everyday cleanser.

Now I am about to lay it all out on the line for you people. Here I am, post-cleansing and sans-makeup:




Okay. Maybe not so bad. But let's get up close and personal.



Here you can see just how uneven my skin is. The enlarged pores on my nose and cheeks. The tiny bumps on my chin and forehead. Not to mention the tiny breakouts I have going on right now. Yuck.

Okay. Moving on. Let's get to this mask already.

The first thing I noticed was how much thinner this mask is in comparison to other masks I've tried. I actually needed to shakeup the tube because when I tried to squeeze some product out, all I got was liquid. However, despite the shaking, this product went on so nicely. The thin formula actually made it a little easier to spread on my face.

The thin formula also cut down on drying time. I'd say I put a fairly thick layer on my face and by the time I got around to taking this photo--maybe 30 seconds after application--the edges were already drying. Niceee.



It felt really good--it was smooth and it didn't have any weird or strong smells like some of the others I've tried. I was also really pleased at how it didn't tingle or burn when I applied it to my skin. A few of the others I've tried felt as though my skin was on fire while it was still wet. Maybe due to their perfumes or the ingredients themselves. (The burning wasn't allergies--many reviews of those masks described the same thing. Just an effect of the mask itself.) But this mask was so nice. No burning, no tingling, no watery eyes or using a blow dryer to make it dry faster so the burning would stop. It was relaxing.



It says to let it dry for about 10 minutes, and I might have left it for 15-20 (I was watching TV and waiting for a commercial!) But by the time it was dry and I was ready to rinse it off, my face was pretty tight and difficult to move--a good thing when it comes to a mask for me. Just that one little spot above my eyebrow hadn't fully dried, but I had a pretty thick glob of product right there.

I love how you can really see on my nose where it settled into my pores and really drew out the gross that was all up in there. I LOVE that.

After rinsing, my face felt significantly softer and smoother. Obviously this mask didn't cure my texture issues with just one use, but I can see a significant difference in my skin, and I think with repeated use, coupled with some other products, this mask could really help me with that.



Overall, I am thrilled with this mask. I love that it's easy to apply, quick to dry and doesn't feel like it's burning or tingling as it dries. I really love that this mask isn't full of crazy chemicals and perfumes. The ingredients are literally sea silt (natural oceanic clay), water and willow bark extract--with just a couple preservatives to elongate its shelf life. This mask gets a two thumbs up from me, and I'll be using this tube until it's bone-dry.

As I said before, I got this sample in the J'adore VoxBox from Influenster. Influenster is this awesome program where you can sign up, review products and connect with social media in order to raise your Influenster score. When your score is high enough, you can qualify for samples and VoxBoxes like the one I received. If you're interested in joining Influenster, comment below for an e-mail invitation. I don't get anything if you use my link to sign up, but I think it affects both of our Influenster scores for the better.

I hope you guys have a great weekend. Be on the lookout for my upcoming February Faves post. :)

xoxo
Allyson Rae

FTC Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Influenster! It's JadoreVoxBox Time!

Today is a very exciting day for me. Guess what came in the mail today?



That's right...my very first Influenster VoxBox!
Influenster is a program where you can sign up, review products and connect with social media in order to raise your Influenster score. When your score is high enough, you can qualify for VoxBoxes just like this one. 



I received the J'adore VoxBox, filled with all sorts of awesome goodies to share with all of you.



When I saw this was going to be included in the box, I was so excited. I am obsessed with clay masks, and I am searching for the perfect one. This is the Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask (Retail: $9.39).

"Treat your skin to deep cleansing with this mineral-rich clay mask. Designed for use on normal skin, the unscented, hypo-allergenic formula absorbs excess oil and deeply cleanses skin. The oceanic clay exhibits a negative electrical charge, which helps to draw out impurities without overdrying, leaving your skin feeling softer and smoother."

I am so excited to try this mask, and I'll be doing a full, in-depth product review of this mask in the coming days.  



To be honest, I am not a big hair person. I have really long hair, but I am not good at styling it at all. I pretty much just let it dry and do what it wants. When I do decide to style it though, I default to a flat iron because it's relatively easy to handle and difficult to screw up. My hair holds straightening pretty well, but it does get pretty frizzy. But maybe this will help--the John Freida Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray (Retail: $9.99 for 3.5 fl. oz.).

"Revolutionary heat-activated formula wraps each strand in long-lasting straightness for up to 3 days (or until your next shampoo if less than 3 days) without weighing hair down. Formula, infused with Keratin, protects against heat damage and blocks frizz, making hair glossy, smooth, and swinging with body."
 
Well I know that I will likely not be able to test the 3 day claim, because I can't ever go that long without shampooing. My hair is too oily to last that long. But I have pretty high hopes for this product, and I have a feeling that my hair-obsessed sister will be helping to test this with me.



I have a long-standing fear of false lashes. I am terrified of gluing my eyelids shut, or having crooked lashes. I am pretty blessed with my lashes--they are naturally long and really only need a little mascara for volume sake. I have some experience with Kiss nail products, but the is the first time I've seen their Looks So Natural Lashes (Retail: $3.99).

"KISS Looks So Natural Lashes are made with Tapered End Technology so lash strips blend seamlessly with your own lashes, inconspicuously highlighting your eyes--they're so luxuriously light and comfortable, you'll forget you're wearing them! Available at Walgreens & CVS Stores Nationwide."

Now despite my naturally long lashes, and despite my fear of forever being Patchy the Pirate, I am intrigued by these. Sometimes a girl needs to take a risk to really reap a reward and so I think I will be taking the plunge and trying these babies on.



I am not a huge tea drinker. Sometimes I can drink iced tea if it's super sweetened, and I am a fan of Starbucks Tazo Passion Tea Lemonade (I even perfected a make-at-home recipe to save my wallet!). But the flavors of these Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas (Retail: $4.49 for a carton of 20 tea bags) have me wondering if my palette can handle them.

"Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas deliver rich decadent flavors in a premium black tea blend. Enjoy this indulgence in a cup, with none of the calories and none of the guilt."
 
I got three tea bags in the flavor Creme Caramel and one Decaf Lemon chiffon. I am going to give these the old college try, and hope for the best. If not, I can always share with my mom.



Ahh...and the big kahuna. A family size bag of Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates (Retail: $5.29). As you can see, I couldn't even wait for the photo before digging in to the bag. I am a Special Dark girl myself, but these are perfect to share with my entire chocoholic family.

"The right words don't always come easily. And sometimes it's impossible to say what you really mean. But give someone Hershey's Kisses Chocolates and you'll instantly say it all."

Maybe I'll leave a little pile of these on the kitchen counter for my dad when he comes home, 'cause he is the biggest chocoholic of us all haha.

Some Influensters also got a Vaseline Men's Spray Lotion in their box to share with their boyfriends/husbands, but I did not. Probably because I am as single as the day is long.

Overall, I am totally psyched to have gotten this box. There are some great products in here and I am really looking forward to trying them out.

If you are interested in becoming an Influenster, feel free to leave a comment below. I don't get anything if you use my link to sign up, but I can send you an e-mail invitation and I think it affects both of our Influenster scores for the better.

Be on the look out for my in-depth review of the Boots Botanics Clay Mask, and for updates about my use of the other products in this box :)

xoxo
Allyson Rae

FTC Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Quick OOTD: Purple and Sequins

I decided I wanted to post this OOTD because I'm just obsessed with it.
Excuse the fact that I took the photo in the breakroom mirror at my job.

 
The shirt is from a brand called Design History, and I got it at T.J. Maxx on final clearance for $15.00. It was a Compare At: $50.00 shirt, so I was pretty pleased with that. I love it because the shirt is super sheer and lightweight, with a built-in cami, so I can wear it and not get too hot (which is a huge issue for me at work because I get hot when I move around a lot). Unfortunately I did snag the sequins in two different spots on a counter with a sharp corner, so I lost some sequins today. *sad face* 

These purple pants are from DEB (similar here & here), and I love them so much I have them in every color (and two pairs in black!) The dress code at my job is "business casual," but it's basically no jeans and nothing too revealing. These pants are perfect because they aren't leggings, so they aren't clingy or see-through, but they are soft and stretchy and I can move around in them. They have a button and zip fly, and the two back pockets are actually functional. They have made these in so many colors and even some floral patterns, and I honestly think I've bought every style they made. Plus they make them in capri length for summer!

Now if I hadn't been going to work, I probably would have worn my Madden Girl combat boots with this outfit because they have a purple zipper up the back and they are adorbs. But those aren't the most comfortable shoes to work in, so I wore my trusty black Sketchers winter boots. (This style) They are super comfy, and keep my feet warm in the cold, but without being too warm inside all day. My mom, sister and I all wear the same size in these boots, so we bought three different colors and we just share them.

So that's today's quick and easy work OOTD. What are you wearing today? 

xoxo
Allyson Rae

P.S: Be on the lookout for some more posts this week: I have an Influenster VoxBox on it's way, and I'll be doing a haul post from a couple recent shopping trips. :)

Monday, February 10, 2014

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Welcome to iwearcatshirts!

Hi! I'm Allyson Rae and I'm so excited to introduce my new blog, iwearcatshirts.

This first post is just gonna be a little bit about me, and the things I'm hoping to do with this blog.

Well, I am 23...almost 24, and I have a B.A. in English from SUNY Fredonia. I've always been a writer, but up until now I haven't known what to write about. But in the past few months, I have become increasingly interested in beauty and fashion, and I really want to explore a little of that in this blog. I am a plus-sized girl--I always have been--and reading some of the amazing plus-sized fashion blogs out there has really inspired me in my own fashion choices, and has given me the confidence to really put myself out there and try to inspire girls like me. I'm also really kind of obsessed with makeup and nail polish, and trying new beauty products. I want to share my favorite products and the experience of trying new things will all of you.

The name iwearcatshirts came about while I was racking my brain for the perfect blog name. I was making a doodle map of words, and scrolling through my iPhone photo album when I saw a selfie of me in my new favorite cat shirt pop up. It's kind of quirky, which is pretty much me in a word, so I went with it. Thus, iwearcatshirts was born. #meow

This blog is going to be a combination of a bunch of different things. I'd probably call it a lifestyle blog. You can expect product reviews, monthly favorite product posts, random OOTDs, advice about fashion, beauty and life, reviews of books, tv shows, movies and music, and the occasional food post with recipe. Plus, there will probably be--often shameless-photos of my cats, so there is that to look forward to.

I am really looking forward to getting to know all of you, and to sharing my thoughts and advice with you. Feel free to pop me an e-mail at iwearcatshirts@gmail.com or shoot me a comment with any suggestions or ideas of things you would like to see. Also, follow me on twitter @iwearcatshirts.

xoxo
Allyson Rae