Dupe Alert - Origins VitaZing Dupe!

Well I know that got some of you to snap to attention.  I reviewed Origins VitaZing a few months ago, you can read that original review here.   In that review I mentioned that I this product reminded me of something I had used from AVON a few years ago, that had since been discontinued.  Well after writing that review I thought I'd do a little research to see if perhaps AVON had re-launched that product under a different name.  As MANY companies are known to do. 


Side rant here.  Why do companies do this?  It is beyond annoying.  I really love my Clinique Almost Make-up but apparently that was discontinued and they've launched a Moisture Sheer or Moisture Surge tint, that is basically the same thing.  Um, what?  How is this a good business strategy?  I just don't get it.  Dear Cosmetics Companies, Knock it off...no one finds this endearing.  Thank you.  


Okay so anyway, I went through the AVON catalogue and found a product that, from it's description, sounded much like Origins VitaZing aka the AVON product I loved years ago.  So I ordered it....   And it came......    And I've been testing it.....   And, well let me compare it side by side to VitaZing and you tell me which is which.  

Hmmm, both lotion like texture with small tinted beads

Beginning to blend each out

Both now blended out

So now you tell me, which is VitaZing and which is AVON?  Can't tell can you?  That's because these are pretty much the EXACT SAME PRODUCT!  Sorry for yelling but I mean come on, these are so similar. So what is this product?


Introducing my new favourite AVON product; 

AVON Ideal Shade-Custom Shade Foundation

How do they compare?

AVON                                                                          

$9.99CDN for 30ml                                                 

SPF 15                                                                           

Available in light, medium, medium-deep             

Sheer coverage                                                              

Blends to match your skintone                                  

ORIGINS
$44CDN for 50ml
SPF 15
One shade only
Sheer coverage
Blends to match your skintone

Now I will say that it takes a bit more of the Ideal Shade to get the same coverage as VitaZing, so the Origins will last you longer.  But if you do the math, you can buy two of the AVON foundations, for a total of 60ml of product, and still pay less than 50% of what you'd pay for the VitaZing. 

Overall I actually like AVON's product better.  I found VitaZing often left me a little greasy by the end of the day, but I don't find the same thing with the Ideal Shade.  So if you were one of the ones that wanted to try VitaZing but didn't want to spend the money, I'd say you have to try the AVON Ideal Shade.  At $10 it's not a huge investment to make, even if it turns out that it's not for you.  As for me, I'm stocking up because Lord knows this will disappear eventually.  

Oh, and which is which?  AVON is the one on the right.  How many of you guessed that?  

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Recently I was given a few blog awards.  The first was from the lovely Andree of Straight Up Glam.  Andree, a fellow Canadian beauty blogger, awarded me the Kreativ blogger Award, thank you Andree!   

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It might be hard to name 10 things you don't know because I do tend to rattle on, but let's see.....


1.  I don't know what my natural hair color is anymore.  I got grey hair as early as 18, so I've been dying my hair for as long as I can remember.  I wouldn't even want to know what my hair would look like now, if left to it's own devices.


2.  I talk to myself a lot.  I started noticing that I do this recently, it's like I do a running commentary for myself.  Very odd but strangely soothing.  I even ask myself questions like should I put this here do you think?  Then I'll answer myself. 

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 3. I hate being too hot, and my idea of a bad time is sweating while trying to go to sleep.  Hence not a fan of hot summer nights.

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4.  I'd almost rather do any chore other than grocery shopping.  


5.  I love looking at real estate.  I can spend hours on MLS looking at all the listings, whether I'm in the market or not. 

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6.  I haven't read a book in about 2 months.  This is so unlike me, normally I'm a big reader.  I did just start The Help this past week, which I know everyone but me has read already. 

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7.  I can't stand people getting in my personal space.  Last week at work this guy wheeled the chair from the front of my desk to the side, and was almost sitting right beside me...just to chat.  What the ?  


8.  I once read that the dirtiest thing in a hotel room is the tv remote and now I carry a ziplock bag with me that we throw it in, so we can use it germ free.  Some of you are probably rolling your eyes about now...others will think I'm a genius. 

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9.  If I can't fall asleep in order to relax, I usually try and think about how I'd like to re-arrange my furniture.  Works everytime. 


10.  I fear this list has made me appear a bit insane.  


The idea is to then award 5 other blogs, but I am terrible at doing that so I award everyone who reads this post, and comments on it, with the Kreativ Blogger award.   Now tell us 1o things we might not know about you!

Want a pretty pout? Review of Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine

I just wanted to quickly highlight a product that has now become one of my very favourites.  A lot of you will be familiar with the Korres lip butters.  I got my first pot last year in the much raved about jasmine.

It's essentially a tinted lip balm which I love it and use all the time, but I am not crazy about the packaging.  If you didn't already know, I'm a bit OCD and the idea of sticking my finger into products really drives me nuts.  I tend to only use these types of products at home.  Lord knows what I've touched when I'm out and about and the idea of then sticking my finger into a lip butter & slathering it on is enough to make me have to lie down.

So when I saw the new lip butter glaze that Korres came out with, I realized that they obviously had received similar feedback from like minded and brilliant OCD types.  The formula is still conditioning but a bit more consistent with a gloss rather than a lip balm.  This is what it looks like;

This is one of those tubes with the slant tip applicators.  Granted these types of applicators can still be a bit messy, but they are WAY better than the little pots.

I have way too many lipstick & lip glosses, especially considering that I tend to use them as I go out the door but never bother to carry and re-apply them.  I like this because it gives me a bit of color but it's also conditioning. I don't mind carrying it with me and re-applying throughout the day because it doesn't require you to be as precise as when you apply lipstick. Although I can't quite slap it on quite as haphazardly as I do with a lip balm, it's still relatively low maintenance.

This is what the color looks like;

It was hard to get a true swatch of this but it is a beautiful soft pink nude color and is just gorgeous on your lips.  Mr. A isn't a big fan of too much color on my lips and neither am I for that matter.  This is just the perfect hint of color without being overdone.  Here it is a bit blended out;

And finally blended out a bit further;

It is coming off a little tan/orange for some reason but it truly is a pinkish nude that would suit a lot of skin tones.  I should have done a lip photo to give you a better idea...sorry about that.

So for all of you like minded individuals out there, who are perhaps not 'pot' fans & like a hint of color on your lips, you MUST try this.  This retails for $14USD at Sephora.com and comes in a .034 oz tube.  That size description means nothing to me, but I would guess that it will last me about 3-4 months if I used it regularly.

Have you tried any of the Korres lip butters or glazes?  What is your favourite no brainer lip product?

Tracy

Crazy for Coconut!

I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for any scent that can remotely remind me of a tropical beach vacation.  Coconut is one of those scents that instantly takes me back to that little beach front cabana at our resort in Maui that had the pool and a waterfall behind it and the ocean in front of it that Mr. A & I saw on our first day and said who would pay $100+ a day to rent that when the grounds and the pool of this hotel are so beautiful yet found ourselves camped out there by day 4 and then rented it again because it was so amazing the first time.  But I digress.  Coconut, it makes me think of the beach and therefore I love it so.  


So when I saw these next products I didn't even care what they did, I just saw the coconut and that was the end of that.  They were in my basket and I was high tailing it to the register.

These are the Nourishing Coconut Milk shampoo & conditioner from the Organix line.  


The good: 
The smell, to DIE for.  Great coconut smell that lingers in your hair, a least for awhile.  Love!


The bad: 
Pretty much everything else, so sad.  These do not work for me.  I found them to be extremely drying to my hair.  Quite honestly I didn't put two & two together at first but after reading a few reviews of these products I realized I was not alone.  A number of people report that these were drying to their hair.  
These cost about $9CDN, which is a little pricey for a drugstore line.  Honestly if they worked at all I wouldn't really care about that, but they don't and it's worth mentioning.


Now in fairness some people love these and don't experience the issues with them drying their hair out.  If you are one of those people, I say go for it...you'll smell delicious.  They do have a Moroccan Argan Oil line that gets better reviews so I may give those a try.  


In order to end this on a positive note I thought I'd share a coconut hair product that I'd recommend, it smells amazing and leaves my hair feeling so soft and shiny.  

As you can see I only have this in the sample.  My hair product enabling hair dresser gave me a few of these samples to torment try and I love it!  This is a hair masque not a conditioner that you are meant to leave on your hair for at least 5-7 mins.  The results are beautiful.   I think this is going to be my next hair product splurge.  I say splurge because Bumble & Bumble products aren't cheap.  

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This retails for $26USD for a 5 oz tube on Sephora.com but I'm guessing it will be well over $30 at my salon.   Apparently my new job is meant to solely fund my weakness for all things beauty product.  


So what about you, do you have any coconut scented recommendations?  Have you tried any of these products?

Handwriting Tag!

I've been tagged by the lovely Charlotte of Mason Jars and Fireflies to do the handwriting tag a while ago and I'm finally getting around to it.  You should click on her link to check hers out, she added her own special flavour to it to make it even more unique and add more pressure for me.  Kidding...I kid.  

Here are the questions, the idea is to answer them in your own handwriting.  Like Charlotte I also believe that handwriting tells you something about a person.  I'm just hoping mine doesn't say 'what is wrong with her'.    

1. My name - The name of my Blog

2. Blog URL

3. Copy 'The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog'

4. Favourite quote

5. Favourite Song

6. Favourite musician/band

7. Something you say all the time

8. Who I tag

Have a great weekend everyone, it feels like an October morning here...which is fine by me!

Tracy 

Loosen up those buttons baby! Review of Luxe box by Loose Button

I'm sure most of you have seen or heard of these types of sample programs.  Just in case you haven't, I thought I'd share my experience with Loose Button.  The basic premise is that you pay a monthly fee and in exchange every month you receive a box filled with 3-5 premium sized samples of various products.  Usually us Canadians can't participate because the program is limited to the U.S., but Luxe Box by Loose Button is available in Canada...yay!  Actually unfortunately they are only shipping to Canada right now, but they say they are working on expanding that to other countries. 


I love the idea behind this.  First, who doesn't want to get mail in an uber cute & creatively packaged box?  I know this girl does.  Here's what it looks like;

Seriously, so cute right?  I'm saving the ribbons and boxes for future gifts.  At the time I signed up for this program it cost $9.99 a month but as is life, there has been a price increase and it now costs $12 monthly.  You can also buy a 3 month and a 1 year membership.  


So what can you expect for that?  This is what the website says; 

You will receive a chic box filled with three to five deluxe-sized luxury beauty samples ranging from skincare and makeup to fragrance, body, and haircare. Want to know more about them? Not to worry, we will also include a product sheet with descriptions and tips for all the samples.


So I have now received my first Luxe Box and thought I'd share what I got and my first impressions, here's what it looked like when I opened it.  

Along with a cute little note

And here's what was inside

I really liked the included product description sheet so you know what you're getting and a little bit more information about it. 

They also included a little chocolate Hershey's kiss, which I thought was a sweet touch..no pun intended. 

So because I have been testing some skin care, I'm a little slow to use everything and haven't tried the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant yet.  I have done some online research & this product gets really solid positive reviews, so I'm excited to try it.  It's like a very very fine powder, which is so different from any exfoliant I've used.

The China Glaze is a very pretty bright pink and will be a great pedicure color for the summer.  I received a full size bottle because I signed up for a 3 month membership.  Bonus!

The Consonant Body Olive Oil Soap is just amazing.  First it comes with a little loofa that you rest the soap on, love that.  Second it smells amazing, just a really pure clean scent that I love.  Third it has minimal ingredients and is 100% natural, and you can really feel that on your skin.  Just a beautiful soap. 

Finally the Biocollasis Day Serum from Elizabeth Grant.  Now this is said to be an anti-aging serum and has generally good reviews online.  I did use this once and I experienced quite a bit of redness on my skin while I had it on.  Also it felt a little sticky, as if it just wouldn't absorb into my skin.  I'm not sure if I used too much so I will try it again, but this 

one might not be for me. 

My overall thoughts are very positive.  I'm excited to see what's coming next.  There is a place on the Loose Button site where you can check what the upcoming brands are, but I don't like to do that.  I'd rather be surprised, it's more fun that way for me.  I also thought the quality and size of the products was definitely worth the money I paid for this box.  At this point, after only receiving one box I'd say go ahead and try it.  It's not very expensive and you'll get a chance to try some new things that you may not get to 

otherwise.  For more information or to sign up you can go to Loose Button.  

Just to be clear I'm not affiliated with this company and I bought this with my own money.  

What are your thoughts?  Have any of you tried these programs and do you like them?  

Tracy