beauty products Archives - Whitney Nic James

#WNJBeauty | OZNaturals Facial Serum Review

October 31, 2016 by Whitney 8 Comments

A few months ago I was approached to try a new facial serum from OZNaturals. Since I’ve become a fan of facial serums and oils this year, I was excited to try their Vitamin C serum. For about a month 1/2 I incorporated the product into my skin care regimen, day and night. Read ahead for my full OZNaturals review!

Purchase, HERE

What’s in the product?

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Green Tea
Witch Hazel
Jojoba Oil

What’s NOT in the product?

Potentially harmful synthetic chemicals
Petrochemicals
Parabens
Phthalates
Sulfates

Check out this beauty review on the OZ Naturals Vitamin C facial serum. #wnjbeauty

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Pros?

Several natural ingredients
Easy to apply
Small bottle (easy to store/travel with)
No harsh smell

Cons?

Slight sticky after serum drys
Subtle improvements; nothing drastic

What was my experience with the product?

I used the serum after washing (and toning) my face and neck. The serum is a clear lightweight liquid that easily dissolved into my skin. While my face was smooth after applying, I noticed my skin was a little sticky after it dried. I wasn’t a fan of that aspect, but it wasn’t bad enough for me to stop using it. After using the product for about 3 weeks, I did notice a slight difference in my skin as far as it’s brightness. It wasn’t as noticeable or drastic as other serums I’ve tried, but I was pleased with the subtule positive improvemnt.

Would I purchase this product? Why or why not?

I might. I didn’t like the sticky after effect, but again it wasn’t unbearable. While it wouldn’t be my “go to” facial serum, I would use it as a backup. Becuase the bottle is small enough to fit just about anywhere, I might even pack it with me while traveling.

So tell me, have you used the OZNaturals Vitamin C Serum, or any other OZNatural product? Do you use facial serums? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and be sure to leave your comments below. I love reading and responding! Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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* Special thanks to OZNaturals for collaborating with me on this post. All opinions are my own. *

WNJ Beauty | 4 Carol’s Daughter Products Perfect for Fall and Winter

October 13, 2016 by Whitney 6 Comments

I’ve been a fan of Carol’s Daughter products for a while now. Late last year my good friend and I won a $100 Carol’s Daughter giveaway. So of course, I went crazy! I ordered my favorite items, as well as some other items I’d been wanting to try. After that experience I kept using my favorites and added 2 new products to the mix; the Mimosa Hair Honey and the Acai Foaming Face Wash. I’ve been using those 2 products, along with the others below, for months now and I couldn’t be happier. The products can be used year-round, but I find that I use them more during the fall and winter months. That said, here are 4 Carol’s Daughter Products to try during the fall and winter seasons!

Related: 11 Ways to Pamper Yourself at Home

1. Mimosa Hair Honey | Without weighing your hair down, the Mimosa Hair Honey is the perfect product for any style and any hair type. It keeps your hair looking healthy and shiny and it’s great for everyday use. I use the product to help smooth my edges, as well as to moisturize my scalp. It also smells really good!

2. Acai Clarifying Foaming Face Wash | I’ve never been a fan of foaming face cleansers until I tried this one. The foam is soothing, revitalizing, non-drying and a little bit goes a long way. After using the product my face feels super soft and refreshed. I used to think foam cleansers left your face dry, but that’s not the case with this product.

4 must have @carolsdaughter products for fall and winter. #wnjbeauty

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3. Almond Cookie Body Butter | The smell of the Almond Cookie Body Butter is simply divine! The scent is very warm and sweet and includes Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and other natural ingredients. My mother and sister love this product just as much as I do and we all agree that it’s perfect for all skin types. If you’re looking for a good smelling product that helps nourish your skin naturally, give it a try!

4. Body Jelly | You may remember this product from my Summer Beauty Must Haves post. I literally cannot go a day without using my Body Jelly. Right after I shower, while I’m still damp, I lather up. Afterwards, my skin looks and feels SO good. The product melts into your skin and leaves you with such an amazing glow. This product helps repair dry and itchy skin without leaving you oily and greasy.

So tell me, have you ever used these, or any other, Carol’s Daughter products? If so, which ones? Let me know!

I love Carol’s Daughter products and I especially love that the products work well for men too. My husband uses the Almond Cookie Body Butter and Body Jelly just as much as I do! As always, thanks for reading and be sure to let me know some of your favorite fall and winter beauty products. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJBeauty | 11 Ways to Pamper Yourself at Home + a Giveaway

July 28, 2016 by Whitney 16 Comments

Taking a vacation sounds amazing, doesn’t it?! Feeling the sand between your toes, lounging poolside and luxuriating for hours at the spa sounds simply divine. But the truth is sometimes, for whatever reason, we just can’t slip away from “real life” to enjoy an actual vacation. In that case, pull out your robe and slippers and treat yourself! Here are 11 simple ways to pamper yourself at home.

* See Also: 7 Signs You Need a Vacation

1. Pop a bag of popcorn and enjoy a marathon of your favorite TV show.

2. Create a relaxing playlist and listen to it throughout the day.

3. Read a good book or catch up on your magazine reading.

4. Light some candles and take a warm shower or bath.

5. Wear your PJ’s or sexy lingerie around the house.

6. Have a glass of wine or a warm cup of green tea.

11 simple ways to pamper yourself at home. #wnjinspired #selfcare

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7. Binge watch your favorite movies on Netflix.

8. Give yourself a face/body/hair treatment.

9. Put on a sleep mask and take a long nap.

10. Give yourself a manicure and pedicure.

11. Schedule an in-house massage.

To help get you get you ready for your very own at-home pampering session, I’m giving away a few of my favorite at-home pampering products! I love a good face mask and I use an exfoliating salt scrub at least once a week. Check out the giveaway instructions below!

* This giveaway is open to those who live in the United States.

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So tell me, what do you do to pamper yourself at home? Let me know!

I often share beauty/pampering products on Snapchat so if you’re following, I’m sure you’ve seen one of more of these giveaway items before. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to enter for your chance to win. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJBeauty | 6 Must Have Summer Beauty Products, Part I

May 27, 2016 by Whitney 10 Comments

Taking care of my skin – face and body – is something I don’t take lightly. Even as a young girl I understood the importance of skincare, thanks to my mother. Over the years skin care has remained a priority and I’ve found some products that work well with my (combination) skin. It’s been a lot of trial and error, but I think I have a good grasp on what works.

Related: Favorite Beauty Products + Beauty Secrets

Although most of my daily products stay the same, I often swap out and add in a few products here and there when the seasons change. I share a lot of my skincare favorites over on Snapchat, but in case you missed it here are 6 Must Have Summer Beauty Products that I’ve been using for the month of May (and some even longer).

The Body

1. Village Naturals Aches + Pains Muscle Relief | This body wash is perfect to use in the shower or bath after a long day. The eucalyptus tingles and awakens your skin, all while relaxing and de-stressing your muscles. You can literally feel your pores opening up and I’ll be the first to say, it feels AMAZING!

2. Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex Hand & Body Scrub | After purchasing curlBOX Body last year, I fell in love with this body scrub. I ended up going through the entire jar in a few months time and repurchased it earlier this year. It smells divine and really makes your skin silky smooth. I use this scrub on my elbows, the back of my neck and on my heels especially. It works wonders, trust me!

3. Carol’s Daughter Body Jelly | This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned this product; that’s because I love it so much. Once I get out of the shower, while I’m still damp, I rub the Body Jelly all over my body and pat it into my skin. Once the products soak in my skin is smooth as a baby’s bottom. No seriously, it’s that smooth. When I do my self-care pampering routine, I use this in conjunction with the Shea Moisture body scrub. It’s magical!

Related: Beauty Tips for Women in their 20’s & Beyond

6 summer beauty products, perfect to use all year! #wnjbeauty

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The Face

4. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser | I switched up my facial cleanser to this a few months back and I’ve been very pleased thus far. It’s an oil-free and hypoallergenic gentle cleanser that I use it day and night. It’s very lightweight and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry or irritated. I’ve also heard that it’s great for removing makeup as well.

5. Carol’s Daughter Acai Foaming Face Wash | Awhile back I won a Carol’s Daughter giveaway on Instagram, so I decided to give this face wash a try. This product helps control the oily areas on my face without stripping my skin and making it feel dry. And by the way, I’m not the only fan of this face wash. I caught my husband using it a few times as well, lol!

6. Biossance The Revitalizer | This product is probably one of the best I’ve used in years. After researching the product I agreed to accept the sample of The Revitalizer; I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s paraben and gluten free, hydrating, and vegan. I use this serum day and night, on my face and neck, and it’s given my skin such a healthy glow. Even my mother and little sister noticed!

Read also, Biossance Beauty Review.

So tell me, what are some of your must have summer beauty products? Have you used any of my favorites? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJBeauty | Typical Wash Day + Irresistible Me Flat Iron Review

November 26, 2015 by Whitney 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers celebrating! Hubs and I are in Delaware with his family and all I can think is, let’s eat! LOL. Before you go and enjoy the day with family and good food, I wanted to talk about my latest beauty product that I believe is a must have, especially for ladies with a short cut like mine. It’s the Diamond Flat Iron by Irresistible Me. I actually used this product to do my hair for today’s festivities. Check out my video review below!

As I’ve mentioned several times before on the blog, I’m a huge beauty product junkie. That includes hair products as well! Of course I was more than thrilled when Irresistible Me reached out in hopes that I’d review their product. At the time I’d just cut my hair short and was actually in the market for a new flat iron, so I said what not?!

The @IrresistibleMeO Diamond Flat Iron is a wash-day must have. #wnjbeauty

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I can honestly say I’m very pleased with the Diamond Flat Iron. My favorite feature is being able to set your own temperature. I don’t like using too much heat on my hair, so being able to set the iron temperature to the lowest setting is perfect for me. Here are all the features that impressed me:

– Multiple heat settings

– Does not cause hair to smell burnt

– Flat iron glides smoothly over the hair

– Easy to use & compact/easy to store

– Multiple heat settings

– Heats up quickly

– Easy to handle

So tell me, have you ever tried the Irresistible Me Diamond Flat Iron? What do you use to style you hair? Let me know!

Again, I wish you all a happy and fun-filled Thanksgiving! Until next time, be blessed and stay safe!

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#WNJBeauty | My Best Box Review & Video

October 14, 2015 by Whitney 4 Comments

It’s no secret that I’m on a quest to live a happy, healthy and GREAT life. Simply put, I’m on a journey to becoming my best self. So when I was approached to review products from My Best Box, I did some research on the company and products and was quite intrigued at what they had to offer. I decided to purchase and try the My Best Skin Box and I was pleasantry surprised at how satisfied I was with each item.

I’ve purchased and been sent several boxes over the years, but the My Best Box ($35) was literally a mega-box. There were 12 items included in the box and each item I’m able to use, or have used in the past. The (12) items in the My Best Skin Box included were:

BPA-Free Glass Juice/Smoothie Jar

Hypo-Allergenic Satin Silk Pillow Case

Alba Botanica Hawaiian 3-in-1 Clean Facial Towelettes

Exfoliating Facial Brush w/ Cap.

4 Premium Cotton Facial Towels

Eco Lips Mongo Kiss Vanilla Honey Lip Balm

Zesty Lemon Rooibos Tea

China Pai Mu Tan White Tea

Eos Hand Lotion

Check out the latest #wnjbeauty video review ft. @mybestbox!

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The My Best Box philosophy is, “Happiness is the highest form of health“. I appreciate that and 100% believe that with each box, costing a fraction of the cost of the quality products included in each box, their doing a great job promoting happiness and healthy living. Some of the boxes available are My Best Oils, My Best Kitchen, and My Best Body. I honestly can’t wait to try each box, especially the one filled with delicious and health cooking oils. How unique and convenient is that?!

So tell me, do you think you’d try the box I reviewed or the others mentioned? In what ways are you living your best and healthiest life? Let me know!

Enjoy the video and thanks for watching! Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJBeauty Review | The Revitalizer by Biossance

September 17, 2015 by Whitney 2 Comments

As I said in this post, I’ve always been a semi-beauty junkie. Always looking for new, safe and affordable beauty product to try, I was intrigued when the Biossance team reached out requesting I try and review on their new product. The Revitalizer is a moisturizing serum that’s to be used on a clean face (and neck area) day and night. Not only was the bottle pretty and made of glass, but it looked so fabulous sitting in my bathroom with my other beauty essentials. Hey, it’s all about the look sometimes, LOL! Check out my brief video, including a tutorial-type example of how to apply The Revitalizer below.

~ Other Good to Know Product Info ~

Can last for at least 2 1/2 – 3 months

(varied on usage)

Dermatologist Tested

Fragrance Free

Paraben Free

Gluten Free

Hydrating

Vegan

@biossance has struck gold with their new skin product, The Revitalizer! #Biossance

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Biossance really impressed me with The Revitalizer. I honestly have used this product day and night for a little over 3 weeks and I can tell such a difference in my skin. My face feels and looks very hydrated, it’s glowing, restored and the fact that it’s an all-in-one product (used on neck and chest area as well) has me hooked!

Biossance has found the key to moisturizing and hydrating your face with this safe, plant-derived and weightless product. Although the price point my be high for some ($58), it’s absolutely worth it. And if used correctly and sparingly, the product will last for months.

So tell me, have you tried the Biossance Revitalizer? What do you look for when shopping for beauty/skin products? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and watching! For more, be sure to subscribe to my channel. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my Self-Care Giveaway?

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Lifestyle | Self Care & Inspirational Giveaway

September 16, 2015 by Whitney 31 Comments

Before I jet off to enjoy my blog break, I must share my Self Care Giveaway with you! Yesterday I shared my plans for a well needed break and it seems like many of you think breaks are indeed necessary. In keeping with the self care theme, I figured it was only right that I share a few of my favorite things with you that keep me relaxed, organized and taken care of. Here’s what you can win, take a look!

Sephora Honey Mask (Nourishing & Balancing)
SpaLife Cocoa Butter & Vitamin E Hand Gloves
Baboo Spa Tea Tree Face Wipes
EOS Hand Lotion (Fresh Flowers Scent)
“Keep Calm” Bookmark
Blank Journal
Things to Do & Reminder List Packet (With Pencil)
2016 Hanging Wall Calendar from Easter Seals

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Great giveaway, right?! Be sure to enter, comment below and tell others about it as well. Again, I’ll officially be on “blog-cation” (blog vacation, lol) starting next Monday. So until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe….XO!