TOMOSON TIMES: Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask

As I mentioned before, Valentia Skin Care was kind enough to send me their Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask for free through Tomoson to review (as well as two other exciting products)!

Valentia describes their Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask as a powerful 3 in 1 rejuvenation treatment that is meant to aid in erasing the signs of aging. This mask floods your skin cells with moisture, detoxes everyday cellular wear and tear, as well as increases collagen production, for nourished, clear, and firm skin.
Here's a rundown of the some of the ingredients and their benefits (found on the side of the box):
Japanese Green Tea: Contains catechins, which are potent anti-oxidants that provides anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant effects
Aloe Vera: Moisturizes the skin and fights aging by improving skin's natural firmness
Silk Protein Amino Acid Blend: Increase moisture content and aid in the production of collagen and elastin to decrease the appearance of visible lines
Organic Rosehip oil: Locks in moisture, hydrates the skin and keeps it soft and supple through the use of essential fatty acids
Botanical Hyaluronic Acid: penetrates deep into the skin to secure moisture, support skin elasticity and structure and plump the skin from within 
Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil: aids in reducing lines, diminishes sunspots, and evens out and firms skin
This product is also cruelty free, alcohol free and paraben free. It is also 98% organic.

As you can see in the photo above, the mask is a bright orange color which somehow makes it more appealing and fun to use. There is a definite scent to this product. It's a nice cross between citrus/fruity and mint? Personally it is not an offensive fragrance. The consistency of this cream is like a gel. When I put it on my face, I feel as though I'm smoothing a protective lacquer over it. The mask is really cooling, and actually might have a normal tingly effect. I did not experience this tingling, but my mother did. After 15-30 minutes, the mask dries down tacky but not uncomfortably. Definitely use a nice washcloth to help remove the product like the box suggests. (I must admit, I am sometimes lazy and will just use my hands.) With this mask a cloth will easily remove the mask without having to rub at your face excessively. While I cannot comment on how effective this product is for anti-aging, I have noticed that my skin has definitely felt a bit softer and more hydrated since I started using this product. I do think this will be a wonderful product for my mother, who has dryer skin, as well as sunspots on her face. Overall, I really enjoy using this product and am looking forward to trying more products in the Valentia Skincare line! 
*I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. I am not being paid for this review nor will I receive any monetary compensation if anyone should purchase the product through the link used in this review.*

TOMOSON TIMES: Killer Pursuit (An Allison McNeil Thriller) by Jeff Gunhus

Killer Pursuit is an excellent read! It is packed with action and I had no trouble following the story, despite not having read the first in the series. You can tell that Jeff Gunhus definitely did his research for this novel. It felt very realistic to me, but it was not dry as other novels I have read in this genre.
Killer Pursuit has the twists that we all crave in a thriller without going over the top. The point of view bounces between characters during each chapter, which is great because it allows us to help piece the mystery together. At the beginning, I felt a little disjointed by this only because I was not used to that style of narration. But for this genre, it really works!
Allison McNeil is a wonderful and strong female character. She's no pushover, and is incredibly intelligent. Allison is naturally the most well-developed character in this book, which I don't mind, because she is the heroine and the one we root for. The story itself is steadily paced with some nice surprising plot twists thrown in. I was very intrigued by the mystery, as well as impressed by the descriptive details and imagery of the crimes.

Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it if you enjoy thrillers!

*I received an advanced arc for free from the author in exchange for an honest review*

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. 

TOMOSON TIMES: Valentia True Glow Eye Cream

Valentia Skin Care was generous enough to send me their True Glow Eye Cream as well as their Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask (a review will be up soon) for free through Tomoson to review!

Valentia describes their True Glow Eye Cream as a corrective eye treatment that is formulated with Vitamin C, Astaxanthin and Organic oil. The product is meant to correct dark circles as well as reduce puffiness.
Here's a rundown of the some of the ingredients and their benefits (found on the side of the box):
Astanxanthin: an antioxidant that increases moisture levels, smooths fine lines and wrinkles as well as restores elasticity to your skin.
Resistem: Natural plant stem cells that repair and protect your skin from stress related aging.
Vitamin C: Meant to leave your skin visibly brighter and smoother
Organic Rosehip oil: provides intense hydration to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Arnica: An anti-inflammatory agent that is key to the restorative process  
This product is also cruelty free, alcohol free and paraben free. It is also 98% organic.

As you can see in the photo above, the cream is ever so slightly peach toned. It has a very slight scent to it...almost like citrus. It's neither offensive or irritating. The cream seeps in very quickly and is not sticky at all. One pump is all you need for application to both eyes. It is gentle and does not burn if I accidentally apply too close to the rims of my eyes. I really enjoy using this product every night. The skin around my eyes always feels dry because I tend to rub them too often. This really soothes that and adds a bit of a cooling effect for me. While I cannot yet comment on how effective this product is when it comes to my dark circles, I have noticed that I have less puffiness when I wake up in the morning. Overall, this product is a win for me, and I highly recommend it giving it a try if you have not found your holy grail eye cream yet!

*I received this product for free in exchange for an honest review. I am not being paid for this review nor will I receive any monetary compensation if anyone should purchase the product through the link used in this review.*

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!!

TOMOSON TIMES: The Torment of Rachel Ames Review

Through the site Tomoson, I was able to receive an advanced reader copy of The Torment of Rachel Ames for free from its author, Jeff Gunhus.
Here's the official summary from its Goodreads page:
"Suffering from writer’s block, novelist Rachel Ames escapes to a lake cabin to calm her mind and regain a sense of herself. The location is perfect. Isolated. Beautiful. Inspiring. It even comes with a good-looking landlord who shows an interest in her. But she can’t shake the sense that something terrible has followed her to the lake, something just beyond her consciousness, something out on the edge where the sounds of a raging fire and sirens linger whenever she slows down to listen. Determined to make the cabin work, she tries to settle in and give her new life a chance. But when strange things begin to happen around her, she wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. As the darkness that’s followed her manifests itself in inexplicable ways, her concept of reality is stretched thin and she realizes nothing at the lake is what it seems. As she fights to survive with her sanity intact, she understands too late that the location she’s chosen for herself is far from perfect."

This novella definitely packs a bit of a punch by its end. The twist is something you don't really see coming. In fact, the end is what makes me want to go back and comb through the story for hints that I missed or disregarded. Halfway through reading this book, I was just so bewildered by all the strange events that were happening. Was Rachel Ames in a perpetual state of drunken delusion? Was she going crazy? Or were these insane things actually happening to her?! As Rachel's unease increased over the course of the story, I began to feel just as anxious. Gunhus definitely has a knack for the creepy, especially because there is real emotional depth layered along side the madness.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you're looking for something short and creepy. Best of all, if you're an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow this book for free!

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.