Voluspa Jardin De Verveine Candle Review

I didn't plan on doing a post today but I want to get this candle review out the way. Somehow it is still candle weather so I am still burning my candles like crazy and recently bought quite a few to replace the last few I used up.  I want to get through at least two before the summer heat hits because I do not want to have them for months and months. Mostly because I don't like them.

Voluspa claims:

Fragrance Family: Green

Notes of Lemongrass, Verbena, Lime & Herb Cuttings.

Peer through stalks of lemongrass and verbena as you enter the overgrown threshold of an alchemist’s sanctuary. As you soak in your surroundings, a zesty citrus and herbal accord cultivate your curiosity and enlighten your spirit. Stimulate your senses with notes of Lemon, May Chang and Lemongrass. Softened with a heart of Verbena, Lime, Geranium and a hint of Jasmine. Your thoughts and energy are suddenly refreshed by green Anise notes and a flash of Mint. This is where the magic happens…

Voluspas unique coconut wax blend is hand-poured into a 9.5 oz. glass and topped with a matching lid that keeps the candle dust-free when not in use, and doubles as a base when lit. The single wick allows you to enjoy fragrance throw for 60 hours. Our candles are hand-poured in the United States and feature our proprietary, clean-burning coconut wax blend and 100% natural wicks. Our products are free of phthalates, pesticides, parabens, and sulfates and are never tested on animals. Up-cycle this best seller into a keepsake after the last burn.

Hand poured in the USA

I really like the Voluspa brand...although their candles tend to be lighter in scent- they burn nicely. No smoking or sooting etc. Also  they are a luxury candle brand that aren't cheap but compared to other luxury candle brands the prices are a bit more affordable. Still expensive though.

I went for the classic candle size but I really wish I had opted for the mini tin candle. It would have saved me some cash, It's outside of the usual candle scents I would go for..but it's good to branch out sometimes.  This is a green scent. Or in my opinion it's citrus. When you first get it and sniff it cold it smells complex- I was fully expecting to like it. I don't know what I was smelling but it had depth to it. Burned it and all I get is Lime. So disappointing. I could literally get a bottle of lime essential oil, dilute it in some alchohol and water and spritz it around and it would be the same thing.  For the price, I expected more. Much more.

The packaging is really nice though. I do really like the black glass jar and will be keeping it to repurpose. It also comes in a really nice box that makes it really giftable. The box is really so pretty with images of a lush green garden. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the design of the box and the imagery on it. I think this is supposed to be from an elevated collection than just your everyday Voluspa scents. 

It is supposed to be Coconut Wax. I don't know if it's a blend or what it's blended with but this one feels softer than their normal wax. I also usually notice with this brand the first light I get zero scent and then it starts scenting the room for subsequent lightings. The candle is light but it will travel to other rooms when I have it on- very lightly however. 

It claims 60 hour burn time...and I don't think it's quite that high. It definitely seems to be burning quicker than their regular classic candle. Since I don't love the scent, I'm not too broken up about it except for it does feel like a waste of cash.

Overall, wasn't worth the money. Glad I branched outside of the scents I usually go for but it wasn't worth it for this one. If I try more "green" scents and find something better I will link it here later on. 

Rockie Robbins

 

Quick music post....Rockie Robbins. He was one hit wonder for me...but this song is so underrated. I don't know where I first heard it but it's one of those songs you would play at a wedding reception. Love it! 

Smooth Grooves.

Dove Restoring Coconut and Cocoa Butter Beauty Bar Review

 I'm sitting on the couch like I have nothing else to do the rest of the day. I'm just feeling extra lazy because I overdid the workout yesterday- but it felt good while I was doing it. I should take a break-at least until my body is feeling less sore but...I kinda want to work through it. I guess I'll see how I feel tomorrow. In the meantime- we blog.

Dove claims:

A creamy Beauty Bar that hydrates and nourishes skin for a smooth finish, with coconut and cocoa butter.

• Creamy cleanser delivers the perfect balance of indulgence and care

• Effectively washes away dirt and germs while nourishing your skin

• Hydrates and nourishes for smooth skin

• With our signature ¼ moisturizing cream

• Comforting coconut scent with cocoa butter

• #1 Dermatologist recommended bar brand

Tired of searching to find what helps dry skin? Look no further – the Dove Restoring Beauty Bar is here to help. Formulated with an uplifting scent, this creamy cleanser  makes an occasion of every skin cleansing moment, helping you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

Combining the fragrances of coconut milk and cocoa butter, this head-to-toe body, hand and facial cleanser nourishes skin as you wash, leaving you with a fresh face and beautifully scented skin.
 

Ordinary bar soap can dry out your skin, but Dove beauty bars contain gentle cleansers and our signature ¼ moisturizing cream which nourishes as it cleanses for soft and smooth results. So, let Dove shower you in nourishment – and get softer, smoother, refreshed skin every time. What better way to start the day? 

I was just looking through the Dove website and they have come out with so many different varieties of the Dove Beauty Bar- peach, watermelon, eczema, anti-bacterial and on and on. Are they trying to compete with Bath and Body Works? Because I don't remember them releasing so many.  Also they have really increased their prices since they have gone plant based and took out the saponified animal fats. 

First thing-scent. I could be wrong but I think this smells the same as the Shea Butter and the Peony Bar. Which I find really boring and also find I like the scent less and less each time I find it in a "new" bar. Basically this is a warm vanilla scent- it might have a hint of coconut in it but I think all bars did. The scent is almost nice except I don't like the way it combines with the underlying Dove scent that all bars have. I'm pretty sure I used to like the scent though. 

Dove downsized their bars awhile ago so they are quite a bit smaller. This one is the color of natural Cocoa Butter. I think the Shea Bar looks similar if I remember correctly. I always like the shape of Dove. And the Dove logo. 

The actual soap itself lathers up nicely. The lather is plentiful, rich, thick, creamy. Cleans OK. I really feel I have to scrub it in to get it to work well. It's not a "soap", it's a beauty bar and like all Dove bars it claims to have 1/4 moisturizing cream. I always think that's a lie though. Marketing jargon.

I don't find my skin to be too dry afterwards. But rougher spots like elbows, heels etc can feel a bit rougher with this, at least on my skin. It seems to work well on the rest of my body though. 

Ingredients are typical of what you would see from the new Dove formula. No more animal derived beef tallow- it is plant based. And it does have sunflower oil, Cocoa Butter, and Coconut Oil. I just wish they would use fair trade ingredients.

Ingredients:

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Sodium Oleate, Water (Eau), Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance (Parfum), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Sodium Laurate, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Kaolin or (ou) Titanium Dioxide, Caramel, Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Green 5 (CI 61570).

I bought six bars and have used two. I'm bored of it and don't really want to use the rest in the shower so the remaining bars will be demoted to brush cleaner/hand soap when I run out of what I have currently at the sink. 

Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara Review

 One more post for the day and then I am going to call it quits. The last Bobbie Brown mascara I used I absolutely loved. Compared to that mascara with the great reviews- this one with less than stellar reviews fell short. 

Bobbi Brown claims: 

High-drama volume and curl in the blink of an eye. The jumbo brush fans and pushes lashes up and out, while the rich, carbon-black formula helps thicken, curl, and lift lashes for an ultimate eye-opening effect.

The first thing I noticed about this was mascara was how huge the tube is. I'm pretty sure this is the largest mascara packaging with the biggest brush I have ever used. Even though it looks so much larger than your traditional tubes, it only holds a couple of ml more. So I don't expect this to last longer than the smaller tubes. In fact, I kinda think it's drying out a bit quicker.

When I first got it, I was not impressed at all. It just wouldn't build up unless you let the first coat dry and then I feel like I was getting flaking which was irritating my eyes. So now I let it partially dry before going in for the second coating. Still get some flaking but it takes a couple hours.

As it has dried out it is working so much better. I get more length, more volume, and more curl. It's not so bad if I take my time and really build it but I can't forget those lackluster first couple of weeks before it started drying out and getting better. It's not like the Smokey Lash mascara that performs the very first time until it starts drying up. 

I don't necessarily love the large brush- but I appreciate that even though it's so large I don't make a mess all over my lid like with some other mascaras. 

One other thing I like about it is that it looks the same at the end of the day, there aren't any wilted looking lashes. 

I do find it a little harder to wash off. I really have to get in there to get it off as I do with most mascaras these days. They aren't waterproof but just take more effort to completely clean off. I do like a really washable formulas but the ones that are harder to get off usually last better throughout the day.

Overall, I can't say this one was really worth it. If you want a good mascara from Bobbi Brown- go for the Smokey Eye mascara. 

Italian Salsa Verde, Vitamix Bacon Cheddar Potato Soup, Clam Bisque Provencal

 I think I burned myself out the week before because this past weekend I pretty much cooked absolutely nothing. I have had a cookie recipe I needed to make and it's been sitting on my list and I just could not bring myself to actually make them. I am on cookie retirement for bringing cookies to work too....but hopefully I can find the energy to make myself a batch.

So I put the pasta machine to work. It was the one thing I hurried up to replace because my parents took theirs with them- I should have stolen theirs. They wouldn't have missed it because they don't make homemade pasta. So I did the Italian Salsa Verde and put it on the chicken and on the pasta. It was actually really good. The salsa verde is parsley, lemon, anchovies, olive oil, capers, dijon, and garlic. A new combination for me. I love pesto more but this was good and I could see myself making it again. It took only a few seconds to whip together.

Soup season is almost over- but I'll probably be eating it all summer. Especially Vitamix soups. They are so easy to whip up. I used Turkey Bacon because I couldn't find Beef. I mostly try to stay away from cured meats these days but can't have a bacon soup without bacon. It was actually really good. Probably not the healthiest soup but easy to make.  This recipe is close...not exact though. I probably could have made it look better...

I have never made anything with clams before. I don't even think I have tried clam chowder. I used the clams in a can and I probably wouldn't buy the brand I got again (bumblebee). I just don't think it's for me. I had it with a grilled cheese. Maybe it will taste better after it sits but for now, I'm glad I stepped outside of my comfort zone...wouldn't make it again. Found a post of the recipe here.

And that's all for now....

Chagrin Valley Carrot Milk and Honey Shampoo with Fresh Goat Milk Review

 I'm in the mood to watch a romantic comedy...so I'm sitting here and looking up when Bridgerton drops. NEXT MONTH. I really hope this next season is worth the extra long wait. I thought it was coming out around Christmas last year and was all ready for my watch party. 

Chagrin Valley claims:

Natural carrot juice, carrot oil, goat milk, raw honey, and nourishing plant oils and butters are packed into this hydrating shampoo bar to replenish moisture and add luster and body to hair. Give it a try for soft, shiny, and manageable hair. Made with Certified Humane Raised & Handled® Goat Milk.

Good For: Normal to Dry Hair, Body & Bounce, Frizz

Our naturally conditioning goat's milk shampoo bar, jam-packed with ingredients chosen to help nourish the hair and scalp, is the perfect addition to your hair care routine. Give it a try for soft, shiny, and manageable hair. 

Gentle, Goat's Milk helps condition and adds body and luster, leaving hair soft, shiny, and manageable. The proteins and fatty acids in goat milk nourish hair, help control frizz, define curls, and provide a rich moisturizing lather. Our goat milk shampoo is NOT made with goat milk powder. We use real Certified Humane Raised & Handled® Goat Milk.

Honey helps hydrate, adds shine to dull hair, and and acts as a natural sealant, holding moisture and shine in the hair. It may even help ease inflammatory scalp conditions.

The beta carotene in carrot juice and oil drench thirsty hair with nutrients. The nourishing and moisturizing properties of carrot oil make hair softer, smoother, and shinier.

Shea butter conditions and moisturizes while the essential oil blend enhances our already luxurious hair care formula.  

I just looked up when I bought this bar and I have had it for a long time. I didn't even realize I bought these in 2021. I kinda ditched them to use Aveda and whatever else I have been using and reviewing. I don't remember why. I think I was just craving some traditional shampoo that would really strip my hair and get it squeaky clean. Not that these don't work..I just think it's better to rotate them with something more traditional if you are using heavy butters, oils, cones, etc.

I just forgot to rotate it I guess.

The nice thing about Chagrin Valley is their product line stays pretty consistent. They don't discontinue your favorites...so I'm glad this is still around. 

I've used up well over half this bar and just recently pulled it back out to try and use up. Rotating it of course. It's a decent sized orange bar. Best cut into pieces to make it last. That way you aren't wetting the entire bar and melting it unnecessarily. 

It smells nice- definitely smells like carrot essential oil which I was not a fan of at first. It's grown on me and now I enjoy the scent, though I won't say it was my favorite bar. I have a bottle of carrot essential oil that I have used to make face creams by mixing it with Shea butter. My skin really loves carrot oil. And I think my hair does ok with it too.

This is truly a hydrating bar. It does not strip your hair at all but it can feel kinda heavy and like it's weighing my hair down, especially if I use it with a heavy conditioner. I think my hair needs lighter moisture. I think that's why I found it best to rotate since it does seems a bit heavier in my hair. There are other bars that Chagrin makes that agree with my hair more.

While I like these bars, I do find that if you are using less traditional stylers or things with cones- ex dimethicone (I tend to avoid them), you would probably want to use a detergent based shampoo to really wash it out. They do say you can do apple cider vinegar rinses or baking soda rinses but usually I am very lazy and rarely do it. I don't think they get the build up out as easily as a detergent based shampoo. So I find it best to rotate this with something more stopping. So one week I would use this and another week a SLS shampoo or just every now and again use a clarifying shampoo. 

I LOVE the ingredients. I don't think there are any shampoo bars that have better ingredients out there. They use a lot of natural, fresh ingredients. Also many organic ingredients.

Ingredients: 

Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil infused with Organic Carrots, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Sustainable Palm Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Goat Milk, Organic Virgin Shea Butter, Organic Carrot Juice, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Organic Virgin Palm oi, Organic Honey, Essential Oils of Lavender, Carrot Seed, Rosemary, Lemon, Organic Rosemary Oil Extract 

Overall, I think this is a nice bar. If you have hair that sucks up moisture and doesn't get weighed down easily it could be worth a try!