BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: OZ Naturals Matrix 6 Mega Bright Eye Gel

I have another OZ Naturals product (provided for free through Brandbacker) to share with you! This is the OZ Naturals Matrix 6 Mega Bright Eye Gel. Take a look at the photo below for the main components of this product!

Here's a snippet of the official claims that OZ Naturals lists for this eye gel's main ingredients,

• "Matrixyl Synthe'6 helps reduce the appearance of crow's feet and forehead lines. 
• Haloxyl is an anti-inflammatory that helps diminish and fade the appearance of dark circles with repeated use. 
•  Caffeine reduces puffiness 
• Hyaluronic Acid attracts moisture,
• Apple Stem Cells protect skin and help preserve a more youthful look."

OZ Naturals lists this eye gel as 84.2% natural. It is made in the USA and is also cruelty free. This product can be dabbed around the eyes, cheek and forehead area. (Interestingly, OZ Naturals recommends that you use this product before their Eye Créme.) It can also be used as an all over face treatment. This product has a slight scent but it is VERY faint and fades away as it is rubbed into the skin.

This eye gel feels a bit like a serum. It leaves my skin very smooth and absorbs quickly. I had no issues or side effects from the product which was refreshing for a change. (My skin is very frustrating. I'm struggling to clear up persistent acne that always appears on the left side of my face near my mouth. If you have any product suggestions please let me know! I definitely need them.)
Overall, I enjoyed using this product. Of course, because it takes a while to actually see results, I cannot accurately comment on that aspect of this product. However, I enjoyed the way this gel made my skin feel, as well as how cooling it was near my eyes. I am eager to see with continued use how this product aids my dark circles. 

BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: Alterre Black Heel Starter Kit GIVEAWAY (OPEN)

I love shoes. I love all kinds of them. Sporty, elegant, preppy and comfy. All our welcome in my household! Why am I blabbing about my love for footwear? Well because there's an EXCITING GIVEAWAY going on right now!!
Alterre is giving away a Black Heel Starter Kit just in time for the holiday season! This starter kit normally retails for $180.00. The unique concept about Alterre shoes is that each base pair of shoes comes with two different kinds of straps to change the look of the shoes.
These are the Black suede mules they are giving away, with the two different straps in action! (The kit also comes with a handy travel bag.)

Using the black suede Jackie look, 

Using the evening sky Marilyn look

Do you see how the first image is a more casual yet classy day shoe with those black straps, and how the second image looks more like an elegant night shoe?! Isn't that a cool concept?

Here's a handy infographic that demonstrates how these shoes work!

The giveaway will run until December 16th 2015. There will be one winner. You can enter using the widget below! Good Luck!!

BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: Oz Naturals SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer

Oz Naturals through Brandbacker provided me with a nice end of summer type product to review. (Actually, you should always wear sunscreen no matter the season!!) I was sent their SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer in the shade medium. Oz Naturals claims that this product is safe for all skin types and can be worn alone as a foundation type product or under your makeup. I have combination oily acne prone skin so I was a bit nervous testing this out. I'm pleased to report I had no issues and did not break out any more than usual.

When I first squeezed the tube of sunscreen, I was worried because of how dark the lotion seemed. I'm pretty fair in skin tone, and I really didn't want to look all streaky and "oompa loompa-ish." But to my surprise, this product blended out very nicely and easily. It gave me more of a healthier looking glow and it evened out my complexion, and had a very light but decent coverage over any redness on my face.

This product smells to me a bit like baby wipes upon initial application, which I personally didn't mind, but it might be off-putting to some people more sensitive to scents. What I really loved most about this tinted sunscreen was how light it felt on my face. It didn't feel tacky or heavy, and dried down very quickly. I actually forgot I had it on at one point! Oz Naturals, like most sunscreens, recommends that this product be reapplied every two hours. This product retails for $21.99, which is pretty pricey in my opinion. However, it is a very good facial sunscreen that will mesh well with most skin types. I think if you haven't yet found your "holy grail" facial sunscreen, the Oz Naturals Sunscreen Moisturizer is worth trying out!

*This is not a paid post. I was sent the product for free to test and review. All opinions are my own.

BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: OxyRub Pain Relief Cream

Healthy Directions through Brandbacker provided me with an interesting product to test out and review. This is their OxyRub Pain Relief Cream, which is supposed to provide fast-acting relief for muscle and joint pain. I was actually really excited to test this, because in my family, we tend to have a lot of complaints about backaches and muscle pains! 

The OxyRub cream is actually very light and easy to spread out. It loses its sticky feeling rather quickly, and I feel safe putting it under my clothes, while with Bengay, I can definitely feel the tackiness and greasiness of the product for quite a while. What I'm actually most pleased (and surprised) about is that the cream does not have that super strong menthol smell that Bengay has. With Bengay, if I apply it before leaving my house, you can definitely smell that I have it on. It's not a secret. This cream actually smells slightly like a Ricola cough drop mixed with orange to me. It's definitely a pro in my book, because the scent of Bengay can sometimes be way too overpowering and gives me a headache. 
I had two other people besides myself test this product. My dad has severe shoulder pains, my uncle has reoccurring back pains, and I have slight carpal tunnel that tends to act up right before going to bed. It takes about two to three minutes for the cream to begin that pleasant "burning" feeling, that Bengay and other products like this have. The burn is not as strong as some of the more extra strength products, which is fine for me. My carpal tunnel ache was significantly relieved within thirty minutes. Similarly, my uncle found that his back pain had also dissipated enough to allow him to sleep. My dad didn't find the cream to be too effective for him. His shoulder pains are more severe than aches that stem from sore muscles or arthritis, so keep the type of pains you have in mind if you are considering purchasing this product.   
OxyRub Pain Relief Cream can be purchased for $19 on Amazon. Even though I really enjoyed this product and it worked for me, I'm not quite sure if I would pay that much, when I can purchase a similar cream for five dollars at the drug store. Maybe if I had an extra twenty dollars to spare, I wouldn't have to think twice. I think the consistency and smell of the product must be taken into account. If you absolutely HATE (like full-on, no going back loathing!) the way Bengay feels on your skin, and the way that the menthol scent completely overpowers everything, then this product is worth looking into. OxyRub dried and felt like a regular lotion at around thirty minutes. It's not greasy, sticky and there's a lesser chance that it would cling and stain your clothes.
Healthy Directions has provided our readers with a 20% discount code for first time purchases of OxyRub Cream.* This code is valid until 12/31/15. You can use the code SAVEOXY2 on Amazon which lowers the price to around $16. However, if you're on a tight budget (like me) and can deal with Bengay, then maybe stick with what you know!   



*This is not a paid post. I was sent the product for free to test and review. All opinions are my own. I also do not receive any compensation for any purchases of this product with the use of the promotional code! 

BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: Adovia Dead Sea Salt Scrub

Today, we're going to talk about a wonderful bath product that was sent to me for review by Adovia through Brandbacker.
When I opened this product, I was immediately entranced by the scent. If anyone is familiar with the Maja by Myrurgia powder, this body scrub smells just like it to me. (I personally love the scent because it brings back nostalgic memories of my grandma!) Anyway, the product is very interesting to look at. My picture can't even capture it properly!

It's fun to shake around!

It is essentially loose dead sea salt suspended in mixture of Aloe Vera, Avocado, Jojoba and Almond oil. As you exfoliate, the oils help replenish moisture and keep the scrub from being too abrasive, which is really nice. I love to use this as a foot scrub, since we are in sandal season! (Warning: If you are as clumsy as I am, please, please be careful when using this product in the tub. It WILL make your tub slippery.) This is a very unique scrub. I've been using the Ulta Coconut Cream Sugar Scrub, which is much thicker and not as separated. The application process for the Adovia scrub can be a bit tricky. The instructions suggest you use 1-2 teaspoons. Since the product is basically a two in one with both dead sea salt and moisturizing oils, you kind of need to get a good ratio of both elements of the product. However, this scrub definitely does its job. It helps smooth rough skin patches without actually harshly scraping the skin. The oils help balance out the nice grit of the salt. I'm really enjoying this product much more than I thought I would!
This body scrub can be purchased for around $16 on Amazon or on the Adovia website for $15.

BRANDBACKER ADVENTURES: Radha Beauty Argan Oil

I don't know about you, but the changing seasons tends to wreak havoc on my cuticles. They often end up dry and peel off at the edges, which stings especially fierce when using nail polish remover. Luckily, I was sent a sample of Radha Beauty's Argan Oil for free through Brandbacker.

This Argan Oil is a 100% organic and chemical-free oil that is supposed to moisturize your skin. It can be used on hair, skin, feet and nails. You can even put some of this stuff in your bathwater and have a nice luxurious soak!
Now, I'm very wary about putting things in my hair, because mine is very oily and it's just not pleasant to have that sensation tripled. However, if I put just a drop or two of this in my palms and distribute it evenly through my ends, I don't end up with lanky oily hair. It gives my ends some needed shine and a nice reprieve from frizz.
I love this oil for my cuticles. With the sudden weather change from freezing to sweltering, my skin is just confused and abused, and the damage is especially noticeable on my hands. This oil helps minimize the peeling on my fingers and also adds moisture to my nail beds. I'ved use this every night before bed, and after I've removed nail polish to revitalize my nails, and have noticed a huge difference. My cuticles are softer and my actual nails are less brittle and don't peel as often as before. I am really enjoying this product. I'm quite a newbie when it comes to oils and serums, but this really impressed me!