February MyGlam Bag

My entry for the February MyGlam Bag Photo Contest

Sorry for the late review on this.  I had a nice review all typed out, and guess what?  I lost it before I was able to publish it.  I hope this whipped together review suffices!

A bit about MyGlam:

(Taken from MyGlam's Facebook Page) MyGlam is a community for discovering and sharing the best beauty and style products for you through video. We were co-founded by Michelle Phan, the #1 beauty personality on YouTube.      

What was in February's Bag:

The bag itself - Very adorable (as you can see) silky pink fabric with black hearts.  Some other Glammies complained about the quality of it, but mine's holding up well!  It looks really pretty and I am currently using it to begin organizing/storing stuff in my hair goodies basket.  All of my MyGlam bags, for now, will be repurposed for that, so I'm loving them! 

Ghirardelli Chocolate - Yum yum!  This stuff was a sweet surprise from MyGlam this month.  I never buy chocolate, unless it's for cooking or a special occasion, so this was a nice surprise.  I was a sweetie and shared it with my husband.  I took the Milk Chocolate piece and gave him the Dark Chocolate piece.  We both though it was very good!  I've never had this brand of chocolate before, but I have a sneaking suspicion it will be on my "special occasion" gift list in the future.  Thanks Glam Girls! Value - $0.75

NuMe $100 Gift Certificate - A lot of ladies thought this was bogus.  And to be honest, I didn't use it.  I used a coupon code from another website for NuMe.  However, if it weren't for MyGlam I wouldn't have ever heard of NuMe.  I ordered a Vintage Flat Iron, 25-13mm Reverse Curling Wand, Flat Iron Comb, Thermal Protectant, Shine Spray and thermal case for $89.  The regular price on this package is well over $400.  I'm very happy with my NuMe purchase.  I will review that at a later time.  I do think the coupon is a nice deal if you weren't looking to spend a little more (you could have gotten a mini flat iron for less than $30 with this coupon).  All in all, a nice coupon.  I have to agree with the other Glammies though... and to stop calling these coupons "gift cards" when we have to spend money to use them.  Value - $100

Premier Dead Sea Moisture Complex & Cinderella Mask - These little packets came in a pink sachet together.  As a sidenote, I'm hanging on to these little sachets as well to repurpose them for my jewelry when I travel.  It should keep things a little more organized in my bag.  On to the goodies!  The packets that came in the bag were really quite small.  They weren't much bigger than a magazine sample, so that kind of stinks.  It would have been nice to get a LITTLE bit more, but I'm not going to let that bring me down.  I have not used the Cinderella Mask yet, so I will edit this review once I have done so to let you know how I like it.  The Moisture Complex was lovely.  I used it sparingly on my face for probably 2 weeks and it really helped my poor, dry skin recover from some days out off-roading with the boys.  I actually added the moisture complex to my wish list because I enjoyed it so much.  I would definitely recommend it!  You can get a full size of the Premier Dead Sea Moisture Complex on Amazon.com for a highly reduced price compared to the one on their website.  As far as ingredients go and whether or not it's vegan or paraben-free... I have no idea.  I'm not that picky when it comes to my skincare (admittedly a bad habit I need to break), so if these things are important to you, you can easily find the ingredient lists on either Amazon or at http://www.premierdeadsea.com/.  Value:  $5.99

X-Out Shine Control - My oh my!  Who would have ever thought a little tube of something could cause so much drama?  Apparently, Guthy Renker, the company who makes X-Out used recycled packaging from another skincare line and slapped a new label on it.  The products are totally different and the issue has been addressed by Guthy Renker as well as MyGlam and also many other YouTubers.  The product X-Out, is in fact a different product than the one under the label.  Anyway, I tried it and I don't mind it.  I am not sure if it's made any real difference on my skin (I'm not really prone to acne as it is).  I did feel a slight tingle on my skin when I used it, so I assume that's the "magic" in the tube doing it's oil-slick elimination duty.  It feels like a nice product and smells okay (sort of like the clean, alcohol smell of topical acne medication).  The tube was what I would consider a generous sample size, so I'm happy about being able to continue using it for a little while to see if it becomes a MUST in my arsenal.  If you're prone to acne, I would give this a try.  It's made by the same people as ProActiv and a lot of folks have had success with that brand in their battle against the bumps.  Value: $2.00

NYX Roll-On Shimmer "Salmon" - This is probably my absolute FAVORITE part of February's bag.  The roll on shimmer reminds me of a high end shimmery mineral eyeshadow pigment.  There is a lot of color in it, in this case, a nude-peachy shade.  The glitter/shimmer is very fine and iridescent and not scratchy at all.    I use it by rolling a bunch out of the tube on to the back of my hand and picking up the pigment with a brush or my fingers, then patting it on to my eyelids.  I decided to do a look with it using it on my lid and a darker matte brown in my crease to make a retro, neutral, smokeyish (that's a word, right?) eye look.  I topped it off with a winged cateye liner and some mascara and it looked very pretty and romantic.  Definitely not "over the top" like you'd expect from a shimmery eye shadow.  I'm normally not a fan of shimmer, but this one's definitely a keeper.  I hope they don't stop making it any time soon, because when I run out, I want more.  LOTS MORE.  Value:  $4.50

Freeman Goji Berry Hydration Mask - If you could pick a cloud out of the sky and turn it into a wonderful smelling ooey-gooey mess, you would call it Freeman Goji Berry Hydration Mask.  This is a drug store brand, but don't let that fool you.  Upon opening the packet (which was a generous size "travel sample") I was greeted with the sweet smell of the mask.  It smells almost like high-end hair conditioner.  The kind that makes you sit around like a freak all day, sniffing your hair.  I love it!  I applied it after a day out in the Jeep (and dirt.  And sun.  And ugh.) And my face felt SO soft after washing it off and patting it dry.  Just apply to damp skin on face and neck, sit for 5-10 minutes and gently wash away the residue.  This is definitely going to be a regular in my bathroom cabinet.  As soon as I can find it at one of my local Wally-Worlds.  Value - $1.99

The Verdict:

All in all, I'm pretty happy with February's MyGlam bag. I paid $10 flat (including shipping) and got over $15 in physical product as well as a $100 coupon. I don't expect the world from these beauty sample companies. The only thing I ask is that they are a level above the typical samples you'd get in your order from Sephora or other beauty supply place. This bag has fulfilled that expectation and I love it. Stay tuned for my NuMe review coming up soon!

Salomon Women's XA PRO 3D ULTRA 2 Trail Runner - Aluminum/Detroit/Purple Iris

Photo credit: Amazon.com

Taken from Amazon.com's description:

From the Manufacturer

Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Driven by a passion for skiing and design innovation, Francois Salomon and his son George designed and perfected much of the first modern ski equipment. During the following 60 years, Salomon's commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in boots, skis and apparel and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for hiking, adventure racing, mountaineering and trail running. Through performance-driven design, Salomon enhances mountain sports by converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility.

Product Description

The Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra running shoe will take you from the track to the trail to bushwacking with unparalleled stability. Breathable mesh upper features SensifitTM thermoplastic urethane overlays to secure insteps and lock heels in place. Polyester linings wick moisture away from feet. Contoured Ortholite insole enhances comfort and controls odor with an antimicrobial treatment. Kevlar Quickfit lacing system takes just one pull for a precise fit. Lace pocket hides lacing away for safety. Protective toe and heel caps guard against bumps and abrasion, Newly formulated EVA midsole delivers enhanced durability and cushioning for all-day comfort on the run. 3D Advanced Chassis technology utilizes a nylon flex control plate for protection and stability in three dimensions. Running Contagrip rubber outsole delivers optimal performance on mixed terrain even at high speeds. Wt. 12.0 oz.      

My Take

I got these bad girls for Christmas this year from my hubby.  I did ask for them after reading through a ton of reviews for sneakers in the price range I wanted to pay.  They came from Amazon.com, not Salomon's website ( http://www.salomon.com/us/ ).  Mind you, I'm rather uncomfortable with buying shoes online.  I really prefer to try them on in the store and see which I like the best.  Sizes and widths vary so much, depending on the materials used and which country is manufacturing them.  

I decided to chance it, since the reviews on Amazon were all good.  I put them on on Christmas Day and haven't taken them off since.  The colors in the photograph are very true to life.  I figured the grey color would mask the dust and dirt I would be trekking through with them.  I decided on this trail running shoe because I am not quite ready to make the investment in expensive hiking boots, but wanted something more durable and comfortable than my street sneakers for hiking rough terrain.  These sneakers are lightweight and breathable and very comfortable.  My feet used to hurt so badly on my daily walks, but since using these, I haven't had a problem.

There are certain features of this shoe that deserve a spotlight.  One feature about this shoe that I absolutely love are the laces.  My shoelaces are ALWAYS unraveling themselves.  These are high test, no tie laces.  They are weaved through the eyelets of the shoe out of the box.  Slip the shoe on, pull the laces tight, use the plastic sliding piece to keep them in place and tuck the remaining laces into the pocket on the tongue.  Admittedly, it took me a few minutes before I understood how they worked, but they are really very reliable, stay in place and you don't have to worry about tripping on loose shoelaces, whether you're running or hiking.  Another nice feature of this shoe is the hard toe.  I'm not really sure what the material is, but it's saved my toes a few times when I've tripped on a rock on the trail.  The breathable material is also great.  On my first "big" hike with them, I decided it would be a smart idea to rinse the mud off of my shoes in a running stream.  My entire foot was wet.  I knew I'd be in for a whole day of chafing and blisters after that.  Not so.  The shoe literally absorbed the water PAST the insole and the outside fabric of the shoe dried in no time.  I was comfortable for the rest of the hike.  When I got home, I dried them out according to some tips I found on a trail running website and they didn't stick and dried out beautifully.  

I've worn these on a few rough hikes now and they are holding up well.  The orthopedic insoles are very comfortable to walk on all day.  My only complaint might be that they've either stretched out a bit or my feet have gotten thinner.  They don't offer a lot of ankle support, so if you're into climbing and rocky terrain, you'll have to take care about making sure of where you step.  I like them because they're lightweight and cool for the hotter temperatures (a must with where I live) and for the other features I mentioned above.  I would highly recommend these to someone looking for trail running/hiking shoes in the $90.00 - $150.00 range.  The prices vary depending on size and color.

First Things First.

The title of my blog is "Things Megz Likes," so with that being said, I will seldom post about something I really don't like.  I would rather not give any attention to something I dislike, as it isn't worth the publicity to me.  An exception might be if an item is a part of a package.  I will give my honest opinion about all items in a package.  I'm not into ranting, unless something is really awful and possibly dangerous.  I figure there are probably more people out there voicing their dissatisfaction with something than singing the praises of something, so I'd like to focus on that with this blog.  With that being said, I hope you will enjoy my reviews.  I'm not getting anything free for doing these.  I'm not paid by anyone.  This is just a little hobby I'd like to pursue for myself to occupy some time.

Oh look, another blog!

I admit, I am infamous for starting blogs and not keeping up with them.  In an effort to spare my Facebook family and friends my gracious praise of products that I love, I've decided to start a blog for it.  I will mostly be reviewing health and beauty items.  Occasionally, some clothing pieces may make an appearance.  I am not a "guru," professional makeup person, professional nutritionist or anything like that.  I am just your average 30 year old female who enjoys telling the world about amazing products I find.  I hope you enjoy this blog and maybe learn something new or find some information on a product or service you'd like to try.  Stay tuned for some reviews about MyGlam, Salomon Trail Running shoes, NuMe Hair tools and more.  Please leave comments, I appreciate any feedback you might have!