Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brightening & Smoothing Moisturizer

I use moisturizer on a daily basis so have used many brands over the years. I must say this Garnier moisturizer is one of my favourites thus far! I like that this product has a pump as it makes application easy. The consistency of the moisturizer is perfect. It is a lotion but it's not too runny. It absorbs quickly and easily into the skin and is non-greasy. It is nicely fragranced with what I would call a green tea scent.

This moisturizer does have an SPF 15 in it which is great if you're like me and wouldn't bother to apply a separate SPF on top of your moisturizer.

Within a few uses of this moisturizer I noticed how soft and smooth my skin was becoming. It made for an excellent base on which to put my foundation. I have noticed just a slight increase in the radiance and brightness in my skin. Hopefully with continued use I will see more of this benefit.

I do have oily and very acne prone skin and this moisturizer did not make my skin any oilier than usual nor did it cause any increase in breakouts. This is a moisturizer I would happily switch to and recommend to others. I do find the price high for a drug store moisturizer and thus would only purchase it if it were on sale.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor to facilitate this review.

Dove Style + Care Hairspray

I use hairspray on a daily basis on my bangs to keep them plumped up and out of my eyes. I first noticed how powerful the trigger on this hairspray is. Just one little touch sprayed out a powerful fine mist. Some hairsprays take a lot of pressure on the trigger to get anything to come out. I was pleasantly surprised at how little effort it took to release the product.

This hairspray gives a firm hold. It held my style perfectly in place without having to touch up during the day. My hair didn't feel sticky or tacky using this hairspray. This is definitely a product I will continue to use and wouldn't hesitate to purchase it in the future.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor to facilitate this review.

Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

I love lemon poppy seed muffins and decided to make these muffins with orange zest and juice instead.  The result is a tender, moist, orange flavoured muffin.  Perfect for an afternoon snack!

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

zest of one orange

juice of half an orange

1 tbsp. poppy seeds

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup sour cream

Directions:

1.  In a bowl combine the eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla, orange zest and juice and poppy seeds.

2.  In another bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda.

3.   Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients, alternating with sour cream.

4.  Scoop mixture into prepared muffin cups.

5.  Bake for approx. 20 minutes at 400F.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water

I have never tried a micellar water so I didn't really know what to expect from this product. As the label suggests, it removes make up and cleanses the skin. I used this water on a cotton pad to remove my make up and it did a really good job. It took about 3 pads to get most of the foundation off my face and about one pad to remove my mascara.

This micellar water did not leave a sticky residue like sometimes happens when I use a pre-moistened cleansing cloth. However, I have a skin care regimen in the evening after removing my make up that involves exfoliating my skin and then cleansing with a foam cleanser. I felt like I needed to continue this routine to get my skin completely clean. I do have very acne prone skin and I just felt like the micellar water, even though it claims to cleanse as well, was not enough for my skin.

I could see skipping my additional cleansing routine if I had a late night and only wanted to remove my make up. This would be the perfect product for that purpose. I do like using this in the morning after I wake up as I have no make up to remove. It serves as the perfect cleanser and toner for me.

Overall, I do see value in the product and like that it comes in a large 400ml format which will last a long time. I would recommend this product to others and would consider purchasing it in the future at a sale price.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor to facilitate this review.

Wordless Wednesday: Rosette Cake

I've seen cakes decorated in roses and decided to try this technique myself.  It was very simple to do and really elevates a basic cake.  I'm loving the results!

Wordless Wednesday: Rag Quilt Series

This is the final post in my Rag Quilt Series.  This is the most recent rag quilt that I made.  It didn't turn out as I anticipated because I wanted to do a "around the world" pattern but it didn't work out.  Nonetheless, I like this quilt as it is neutral and matches with everything.

Wordless Wednesday: Rag Quilt Series

My second rag quilt I made this winter.  This one is probably my favourite as I love the colour combination of the grey and burgundy.