Giveaway: Win two 5 oz. Evian Facial Sprays from Evian!

Photo Credit: Evian 

Evian is hosting a giveaway where 20 lucky people will win two 5 oz. Evian Facial Sprays. As a blogger chosen to work with them in the past, I have been given the opportunity for early access and to spread the word to my readers so you can enter early as well.

If you haven't had a chance to read my review about the Evian Mineral Water Facial Spray, you can still read it here and learn the many ways you can use it. I love using this to refresh my skin after a hot day or to set my makeup making it a staple in my skincare and makeup routine.

"Thank you for participating in the previous opportunity to review evian® Facial Spray! We wanted to give you early access to this giveaway to show our appreciation. evian® is giving away 20 two 5 oz Facial Sprays. Winners will be chosen at random." ~ Evian.com

Be sure to enter by March 16, 2015! Good luck! :)

If the giveaway form isn't showing up below, you can access the form by clicking this link

https://promosimple.com/ps/6a83

Disclaimer: Giveaway ends March 16, 2015. Winners will be chosen at random by Evian®. This giveaway is sponsored by Evian® and backed by Brandbacker. Prize fulfillment will be through Evian® and not Intrice Blog.

x Carol 

Follow me: Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Google+

Versatile Blogger Award

The Versatile Blogger Award Guidelines

When you consider nominating a fellow blogger for the Versatile Blogger Award, consider the quality of the writing, the uniqueness of the subjects covered, the level of love displayed in the words on the virtual page. Or, of course, the quality of the photographs and the level of love displayed in the taking of them.  Honor those bloggers who bring something special to your life whether every day or only now and then. 

*Beautifully worded by Suzanne so I am reusing this section. :)

-----------------------------

I was nominated by the awesome Suzanne of Laughing Scholar for this award. We both started blogging around the same time and we have been supporting each other in the growth of our blogs. She is very funny, witty, and bubbly. She also has her own youtube channel for unboxings of subscription boxes! I will have to see when I will go down that road as well. Definitely check her out!

In accepting this award, the nominated blogger has to write 7 facts about themselves as well as nominate 15 other bloggers who are most deserving. :)

Here are my 7 Facts

1. My favorite kind of chocolate is dark chocolate.

2. I have a huge love for animals but my least favorite are monkeys.

3. My favorite food is Italian. I love just about every sauce + cheese combination with pasta and it actually keeps you full for a long time.

4. I have a pet duck and 2 conures.

5. It's a huge headache to shop for shoes for me (size 4.5 or 5) because I can never find one that fits 99% of the time. And the ones that do fit are most likely available at Nordstroms and very pricey.

6. My favorite eyeshadow colors are browns, golds, plums, and greys.

7. I can't get enough of bubble milk tea (also called boba milk tea). Yes, they can be fattening if you drink it everyday but once in a while is okay! My favorite flavors are Oolong Milk Tea and Taro Milk Tea.


My 15 nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award

1. Shireen of Reflection of Sanity: Very sweet and she tells it like it is. I love visiting her blog to get recipe ideas and also to see what makeup she has next.

2. Cathy of Cathy Ahh: She is posh, fashionable, and a yogi. You have to see the amazing yoga poses she can do on IG. Owns a very adorable cat that pops up in some of her photos on her blog and IG.

3. Shea of Mish-Mash Musings: Hilarious and she is an all around great person to talk to. Love her blog and the humor she adds to every post and comment.

4. Joely of FashionBeyondForty: Another funny lady and amazing person to get to know. I love her love for the ecletic. Offering brilliant fashion advice and writes fun posts that takes you into her life.

5. Hayley of Hayley Louisa Elliot: Even though she is on the other side of the world, I feel like Hayl is a little sister I never had. She runs a lifestyle blog and pretty much posts about her fun life in the UK and things she likes.

6. Candice of Beauty Candy Loves: Candice is super sweet. She writes about all things beauty and is another great source for beauty dupes. I am always astounded by her large reader base with 50+ comments on every blog post.

7. Lisa of Simp.lisa.ty: She balances family and blogging and I commend her for it! She sometimes reviews products but also shares lots of deals through her fb page relating to kids, family, and beauty products.

8. Bridgette of BridgetteRamos: Amazing aspiring makeup artist. She does beautiful work and offers amazing tips. Her blog is a great resourse for all things makeup.

9. Linda of I Sort of Beauty: She is very dedicated to her blog despite a busy life. I look to her for inspiration sometimes for makeup and fashion.

10. Roz of Roz in Focus: She is an inspiration and one of my favorite people that I am friends with irl. All of her inspirational blog posts connect with so many people and sometimes lift your spirits if you are dealing with a difficult time. She really has a way with words.

11. Abigail of Just a Primer: Sweet personality covers a large range of beauty products. I like to read her posts to get ideas on what to buy.

12. Stephanie of Eat Beauty Love: She shares with me a love for food and beauty. Pretty photos + food + makeup, what more can you ask for?

13. Bethany of TwentySomethingPlus: Ambitious and a fashionista. She takes gorgeous photos and puts so much work into her blog and Instagram. Sometimes I look at her IG for photography ideas.

14. Priya of Glamour and Giggles: She is my go to for all things makeup including high-end stuff and sometimes features korean products. Amazing photos mixed with a bit of her make-up expertise, flair, and humor.

15. Sammi of College Beauty Buff: Kind, sweet, bubbly. Writes lovely review posts on a wide variety of brands. I am always discovering something new when visiting.

x Carol 

Follow me: Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Google+

Review: Pura Dor Shampoo, Conditioner, and Argan Oil

Photo Credit: Pura D'or 

Pura D'or is a new organic haircare brand that makes all their products free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, and gluten. They are a best seller on Amazon for the "shampoos and conditioners" category.

I was sent a hair care kit to test and keep so I could write an honest review for my readers about how well this product performed. This post includes lots of photos with swatches as well as before and after shots.

The kit arrived with the following, which can be purchased separately on their website:

1 x Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo
1 x Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Conditioner in Lavender Vanilla
1 x Pure and Organic Argan Oil

They are having a special promotion just for the month of February with a special coupon code to get 10% off and a free gift with your order. The details can be found in this post.

"For more than four years, Pura d'or has been growing a culture planted on a natural set of values and beliefs. But when all is said and done it comes down to one unified mission—to create organic personal care solutions that naturally work.

All our ingredients are grown on trees, not in test tubes. Our products are artisanally handcrafted by a hybrid team of artists and scientists, not by machines. Some say that this is a step backward, but we believe that this is a step in the direction of how things should be

Pura d'or creates better beauty products from ingredients that are not only naturally beneficial, but are also sustainably grown and raised with respect for the animals that eat them and the people who produce them." -- Pura D'or (www.purador.com)

Review: InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum

InstaNatural has another serum to add to its collection developed to help those who want to reverse the first signs of aging. All their products are made with natural and organic ingredients without harsh chemicals. This serum focuses on clearing up acne blemishes, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and giving skin back a healthy youthful glow. 

I was selected to test out InstaNatural's Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum and to write an honest review on the results after using this for a week. 

Active Ingredients:

• Vitamin C: Brightens skin tone and lightens dark spots
• Niacinamide: Soothes redness and inflammation and promotes new skin cell growth
• Retinol: Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles while promoting new skin cell growth
• Salicylic Acid: Helps with fighting pimples and cleaning out pores

Recently, my skin decided to have a huge breakout so I was in need of something to help combat redness, shrink pimples, and lighten blemishes. Luckily, I just received this serum so what a good opportunity to try it out and see if it works.

First Impressions:

Like other serums from InstaNatural, this one comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. I like using a dropper to dispense serum as opposed to pouring because you can get the exact amount your want without contaminating the rest of the product.

InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum - Dropper

The serum itself is a thin white formula with a light citrus scent. When dropping a few drops on my hand, it easily runs so be careful when applying.

Review:

The InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum absorbs quickly into the skin because it is very thin. There is no sticky feeling or greasiness. Usually, skin serums are applied after a toner (if you tone your skin) and before a moisturizer to increase the absorption of the moisturizer into the skin.

Depending on what moisturizer you use with this serum, it could feel a bit sticky or greasy. When I used the InstaNatural Age-Defying Moisturizer on top, I could feel a bit of greasiness on my skin. If I applied the InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer, it became very sticky. Using the InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer with this, there was no stickiness or greasiness. I think the InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer works the best with this serum.

After a week of using the serum, my blemishes looked much lighter. Some blemish spots were originally a dark brown that even a concealer could barely cover it. The longer I used this, the lighter and less noticeable they became. The smaller spots lightened too. 

I did not feel any redness or skin irritation from applying this serum even though it contains Vitamin C. The pimples that were on my face when I was using this serum shrank in size within 2 days. I didn't experience skin breakout while using this. If you are someone with acne prone skin, this serum would be a good option to keep it under control.

Final Thoughts:

Out of the four serums I have from InstaNatural (Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, and Age-Defying Skin Clearing), my top two to use would be the InstaNatural Retinol Serum or the InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing serum for oily skin types.

Due to this product containing Vitamin C and retinol, it can make your skin become more sensitive to sunlight. If you do want to use this as a daytime serum be sure to apply sunscreen to avoid making your blemishes become darker.

InstaNatural Age-Defying Skin Clearing Serum (Product Page: Instanatural.com)

Retails: $21.95

Overall Rating: 5/5

Absorption: 5 - Controlling Acne: 5 - Fading Blemishes: 5 - Product Design: 5

What is your current skin serum in your skin routine?
Share your thoughts with me in the comments. :)

x Carol 

Follow me: Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Google+

*This post is powered by Brandbacker and sponsored by InstaNatural. I received this sample product to test, keep, and write an honest review. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own. Photos used in this post belong to this blog (Intrice Blog) unless otherwise stated.

Review: Laqa and Co. Lip Crayons in Jammy Bastard, Palate Cleanser, Lambchop, and Pinkman

Laqa and Co. makes these very hydrating lip crayons that are easy to apply and leaves a nice lip stain as it wears off. I finally saved up enough Birchbox points to get these colors I have been wanting for a long time. Luckily, they were on sale too!

Laqa and Co. Fat Lip Duo Box (Full Size) in Palate Cleanser and Jammy Bastard

What I like the most about the Laqa and Co. lip crayons are that they twist up so you don't need to purchase a separate sharpener. The staying power for these last for a good 4-5 hours. Just apply and have peace of mind for the rest of the day.

Laqa and Co. Lip Crayons in Palate Cleanser (Red) and Jammy Bastard (Coral) 

The colors Jammy Bastard and Palate Cleanser are "Fat Lip" versions of their lip crayon covering a wider space as you draw. These are the full size of their lip crayons. Out of these two shades, Jammy Bastard is more moisturizing than Palate Cleanser.

Swatch of Jammy Bastard and Palate Cleanser

Jammy Bastard is a lovely coral that looks the most flattering for fair to light skin tones.

Laqa and Co. - Jammy Bastard

Palate Cleanser is a neutral red that can be worn by various skin tones but best worn with a lip liner to prevent feathering.

Laqa and Co. - Palate Cleanser

The colors Lambchop and Pinkman I bought as part of their "Lil Lip Duo" pack. These are the portable versions of their lip crayons, which makes them easy to stash away in a handbag or in a small clutch.

Laqa and Co. Lil Lip Duo - Lambchop and Pinkman 

I thought the art on the box was cool for the Laqa and Co. Lil Lip Duo Box

Swatches of Lambchop and Pinkman

Lambchop is a bright pink that is very eye catching when you walk into the room. You can tone down the color by blotting.

Laqa and Co. - Lambchop

The name reminds me of the puppet Lambchop from Lambchop's Sing-A-Long. It's a very old children's show on public television when I was younger with Sherri Lewis doing the voices of all the characters. If you never heard of it, you should google it because it looks very cute.

Pinkman is a rose magenta pink that can be worn with a day or evening look and looks flattering on all skin tones. This is the most versatile color to wear out of the four colors featured in this blog post.

Laqa and Co. - Pinkman

Where they are available: Laqaandco.com, Birchbox.com

Laqa and Co. "Lil Lip Dup" Lip Crayons (Lambchop and Pinkman)
Retails:  $16.00

Laqa and Co. "Fat Lip Duo" Lip Crayons (Jammy Bastard and Palate Cleanser)
Retails: $24.00

*An Individual Laqa and Co. Fat Lip Crayon Retails: $20.00

Which is your favorite lip shade? :)

x Carol

Follow me: Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Google+

Review: InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask

InstaNatural is an organic skincare brand that uses all natural ingredients and avoids harsh chemicals in their products. The InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask is no different. I was sent a jar of the InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask to test and keep. It is made from 100% Dead Sea mud, which supposedly has all the essential minerals in helping promote healthy skin.

Here are my results with photos after using it for the first time.

Other Active Ingredients:

• Organic Shea Butter
• Organic Jojoba Oil
• Organic Aloe Vera
• Organic Calendula Oil
• Hickory Bark Extract

*All of these ingredients work towards soothing dry and irritated skin

Targets: Acne, Blemishes, Fine Lines, Wrinkles

Review: DHC Pore Cleansing Oil

I have used the original yellow bottle of DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, which contains olive oil, in the past but I realized that one wasn't working well with my oily skin type. It ended up making my skin produce even more oil, shine, and acne breakouts. 

I really liked DHC and was doing research to see what products just came out for oily skin types from them and stumbled onto this. This is a popular skin care brand in Japan and they also sell their products now in the U.S both in-store (in some states) and widely available online.

Definitely choose the DHC Pore Cleansing Oil over the original DHC Deep Cleansing Oil if you have oily skin. Here are the reasons why.

Target Skin Type: Oily Skin, Large Pores

Haul Post: Birchbox Acetastic 40% Sale

Sometimes Birchbox has random sales for ACE level members. These are the latest items I picked up during their 40% Sale on select items. I used my birchbox points to cover part of the cost.

Total Cost: $6.50 

(w/ 40% discount, free sample pack, Birchbox Points)

Actual Value: $62.50

Review: Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum

The Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum promises that you will see results after using it for just 2 weeks. It is supposed to smooth out fine lines, wrinkles, and reverse other signs of aging. I received a sample of this facial serum as part of my Influenster #FrostyVoxBox to test and write an honest review.

The amount that came in the small packet was enough for me to use for about a week. So the results I will be discussing are after one week of use. I am in my mid twenties so I am trying to build up my anti-aging skin care arsenal.

With the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum, it is white but applies as a transparent clear liquid. Only a dime-size amount is enough to cover the entire face. I really liked that this did not feel sticky at all and it was able to absorb quickly into my skin after application.

With each day that I used it, I noticed that it helped to plump up the areas of my face that had deep lines like my smile lines. The areas with my fine lines around my eye area were moisturized and plumped too. It gave me a less tired looking appearance.

I think the plumping action of this serum is how it makes everything look smoother and what the brand considers as reversing the signs of aging. Sadly, I don't have enough product from the sample to know what my skin will look like after just 2 weeks.

For the week that I used this, my complexion was glowing the day after day. My skin was supple and I think it helped to enhance the absorption of my nighttime moisturizer. It seems like a good serum to target fine lines and help with the overall complexion of your skin.

I think this is something worth considering if you are looking for an anti-aging serum as a preventative measure and want to improve the overall health of your skin. There is also a "Intense" version of this serum for women who have deeper wrinkles.

Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Serum
Retails:  $17.49 (Target.com)

Have you tried any products from Boots No7?

What is your current facial serum?

x Carol

Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

-----------------------------------------------

To see more results of others who sampled the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum, join the conversation on hashtag #getADVANCED on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

*This post is sponsored by Influenster and Boots No7. I received samples of the Protect and Perfect Serum to try and to write an honest review about each product. All opinions are my own and reflect my experiences when using these products. All photos belong to Intrice Blog unless otherwise stated.

Review: Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea

For those who don't know, I am a huge tea fanatic! I grew up drinking tea and have continued to explore the wide variety of aromatic teas out there.

I have tried the tea brand Celestial Seasonings in the past but I had no idea they made "limited edition" flavors in time for the winter season. It wasn't until I received a sample of Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Green Tea as part of my Influenster #FrostyVoxBox that I found out.

Being a huge fan of peppermint tea, I was excited to try this tea flavor.

Flavor Profile: Mint, Vanilla, Green Tea