Finding Strength & Style with Garnier

Just like Jo, from the book Little Women, I have always felt that my hair is my one true beauty. It is long, it is thick, and it is unbelievably difficult to maintain. But the random comments that I get from both friends and strangers about how nice it looks and the satisfaction that I get when I'm having a good hair day keeps me motivated to keep my hair healthy and looking beautiful. To reach this goal, I am always looking to find just the right product that will help me keep my hair strong, smooth, healthy, and manageable while also keeping the sensitive skin of my scalp happy. It's hard to find a product that meets all these criteria, so when #Crowdtap and @GarnierUSA gave me an opportunity to try a couple of hair products to help strengthen my hair and a hairspray to help me tame my mane, I jumped at the chance.

Garnier claims that their Garnier Fructis Grow Strong fortifying shampoo and conditioner will make your hair healthier and 10X stronger than other shampoos and conditioners. I put this claim to the test and had mixed results. I really liked the shampoo. It seemed to do a satisfactory job cleaning my hair. The shampoo wasn't too heavy, it lathered well, and left my hair feeling clean after rinsing. I like how it made my hair feel, but it definitely needs a conditioner afterwards. I wasn't as impressed with the conditioner. It spread through my hair okay, but it rinsed out a little too clean, without leaving enough residue behind to help smooth and detangle my hair. Because of this, I had to add a leave-in conditioner to make my hair more manageable. Despite this, I haven't completely counted it out, because after using this combo twice, my hair does feel healthier. So, I would possibly consider purchasing a full-sized product to see what the effects of these products would be over time.

Having strong and healthy hair isn't always enough when it comes to styling your hair. Sometimes you need a little help to give your hair a special look, and getting the perfect hairstyle isn't always easy. It takes inspiration, coordination, and a way to keep it in place. That's where Garnier Fructis Sheer Set Ultra Strong Hold hairspray comes in. 

A nice little combination of two fishtail braids tied in a knot looks nice and simple, but getting it to stay in place can be a real pain in the neck. You can use a bunch of hairpins to get the look you want, but generally they wiggle out during the day and my hair is left looking wild and crazy.  I decided that this would be a great way to test my sample of Garnier Fructis Sheer Set Ultra Strong Hold hairspray. I styled my hair, sprayed it in place, and then went about my day. I noticed one thing immediately, my hair didn't look like it had been sprayed in place, and it didn't leave any sticky residue left behind. It ended up keeping my hair looking great all day long, and when I brushed it out before bed, it didn't feel like it had been sprayed. 

The next day, I tried another hairstyle. This time twists pulled back into a simple bun. I also got the rest of my hair damp and added some Garnier Fructis Sheer Set Ultra Strong Hold hairspray to see if it would help tame my crazy, wavy hair. I loved the result of this hairstyle and it helped keep my hair more manageable all day long.

The final test came on day three. I pulled my hair back into a pony tail, sprayed the top to reduce fly-aways, then braided my hair to keep it out the way. I liked this hair style just as much as the other two. By this time, I was definitely a fan of this new hairspray. I liked it's smell, it didn't leave a sticky residue behind, and I didn't have to wash my hair the next day before I could style it again. The Garnier Fructis Sheer Set Ultra Strong Hold hairspray has definitely become my go-to styling product.

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Garnier.**

AVEENO® ULTRA-CALMING® Skin Care: My Solution for Sensitive Skin

Having sensitive skin is no fun at all. You can't use everyday skincare products and you have to be careful what types of makeup you wear. After having three kids, and as I've gotten older, my skin's sensitivity has increased. This has made it hard for me to find products that will work for my skin that also fit into my average person budget. So, I teamed up with #Crowdtap and #Aveeno and gave two of the products from their ULTRA-CALMING® skin care line a try.

First I tried the AVEENO® ULTRA-CALMING® MAKEUP REMOVING WIPES. When I opened the package and removed a wipe, I noticed that the scent was nice, but not overbearing. As I cleaned my face, the wipe did an amazing job removing my makeup without drying out or irritating my skin. It didn't seem to leave any makeup residue behind, and I was impressed with how well makeup and dirt stuck to the wipe as I gently cleaned my face. Once I was done, my face felt clean, moist, and soothed, instead of irritated - like it usually does after using makeup removing products.

The next product that I tried was the AVEENO® ULTRA-CALMING® NOURISHING NIGHT CREAM. This night cream was exactly what I have been looking for. I had just finished sampling another night cream that had irritated my skin and clogged up my pores, so it wasn't hard for me to notice the benefits of this product. First of all, it has the same gentle, soothing smell that the makeup removing wipes have. When I put it on my face, it immediately soothed and freshened up my skin. It absorbed into my skin quickly, without feeling heavy. I then went to bed and waited to see what the results would be in the morning.

The next morning my skin was still happy with the AVEENO® ULTRA-CALMING® NOURISHING NIGHT CREAM. My skin felt amazing! It wasn't dry or irritated at all. I've been using this cream nightly for over a week now and my skin still loves it. My skin feels smoother, healthier, and looks less red and irritated all the time. I like being able to look in the mirror in the morning and be pleased with what I see. Thanks AVEENO® for making products for people like me!

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and AVEENO®.**

Johnsonville Grillers: Family Friendly Grilling

I have three little kids. They don't like traditional hamburgers, and they aren't old enough to enjoy a nice grilled steak, so sometimes it seems like too much work to pull out the grill to prepare our dinner. But with the help of #Crowdtap and a sample opportunity from #Johnsonville, I may have found the solution for a simple, yet delicious, grilled meal for our little family of five.

It all started out with a package of Swiss Cheese & Mushroom Johnsonville Grillers. My husband and I wanted to try them for ourselves, and our oldest son wanted to try them too, but my girls decided they wanted their standard hot dogs. So we fired up the grill, grilled the flavored pork patties and a few hot dogs, sliced some watermelon, and got read for a yummy dinner. But before I took my first bite and tried a Johnsonville Griller for the first time, I wanted to add some artistry to make our simple meal of meat look more like a healthy and balanced meal.

I started with the freshly cooked patties, added a bun, a few toppings, condiments, and a slice of watermelon, and here was the delicious result:

My son wasn't quite up for all the additions, so here was my solution to his desire to just see how the patty tasted:

We were all impressed with the final result of our Swiss Cheese & Mushroom patties. They were perfectly seasoned and we didn't need to add any additional seasoning to them at all. Their texture was different than I anticipated, more like a bratwurst than a hamburger, but their flavor was unique and delicious. I liked my meal all dressed up in it's sandwich form and my son enjoyed just his patty in all it's simplicity. My husband, who is rather particular when it comes to his meat, was also impressed and told me that he would like to try them again. 

So, the next time we are itching to fire up the grill for just our little family, we will definitely consider  having Johnsonville Grillers on the menu.

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Johnsonville.**

Garnier SkinActive Miracle Anti-Fatigue Products: Waking Up this Desert Girl's Skin

I grew up in the desert, and was used to the dry summer and winter air. But that was when I was young and my skin didn't know what it was missing. In my 20's I moved to the Midwest and lived there for seven years. My skin loved the humidity and it got used to having a lot more moisture in the air. Then I not only moved back to the high mountain desert climate of Utah, but I turned 30, had my third child, and my hormones decided that all of a sudden my skin was going to start looking its age. That's fine, my skin had been nice to me for quite a while, but now when I look in the mirror I feel like I've aged about five years in last two. I just don't want it to keep aging at this pace or else I'll look fifty before I'm forty. 

So, as I've become more aware of how my skin looks, I've also teamed up several times with #Crowdtap and #Garnier to try some of their skin care products. This time I got to try three products from their Garnier SkinActive Miracle Anti-Fatigue line. I used all three of these products in concert to see if they would help hydrate, nourish, and energize the skin on my face. The Wake-Up Hydra-Gel Moisturizer was my favorite product.

I like how it is a light gel instead of a heavy cream. I applied it to my face first thing in the morning, right after I washed my face. It spread on smoothly, absorbed quickly, and was light enough that I could still wear a sunscreen over it, my face didn't get too oily during the day, and it didn't clog my pores - in my 30's and still worrying about acne :( . It wore well under make-up, and I feel that it met my expectations as a hydrating gel.

The Sleeping Cream, however, was a disappointment. It was too heavy, clogged my pores, and left my face feeling greasy when I woke up in the morning. It also had a fragrance that I didn't really care for. On the other hand, it did a really good job hydrating my skin and helped keep it feeling good all day long. So, yes, the product worked, but I personally just don't care for it.

The third product, the Eye Gel-Cream, is somewhere in the middle. It has smoothed and moisturized the skin under my eyes, but I'm not sure it has worked as well as I would have liked. I still wake up with my eyes a bit puffy and I haven't yet seen any difference in the shadows under my eyes. Overall though the three products, working together, have made a difference in the texture and feel of my skin.

It is hard to tell from these photos, but after nearly two weeks my skin is much softer and smoother. It stays hydrated all day long, and washing my face doesn't dry out my skin as much as it did before. I probably won't use the night cream again after my sample is used up, but I am seriously considering purchasing the morning gel to supplement my skin care routine.

Using what I've learned from these products, and by incorporating those techniques along with products that compliment my skin type, I am determined to keep nourishing and hydrating my skin both day and night. I assume that over time this routine will help maintain the elasticity of my skin. It should hopefully slow the rate at which my skin is aging and help my skin look and feel younger for many years to come.


**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and Garnier.**

Boost Your Oral Care Routine with ARM & HAMMER™

If you're anything like me, you're always looking for ways to avoid going to the dentist, or at least get as little work done when you do go. Who likes the sound of dental equipment or how it feels in your mouth? My most recent sampling from #Crowdtap ought to help me out with this problem and help reduce the amount of work that I'll need done at my next dental appointment.

My sampling included two ARM & HAMMER™ products: their Truly Radiant™ toothpaste and their 

Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Clean & Fresh Battery-Powered Toothbrush. I received a Spinbrush™ toothbrush and a full-sized toothpaste for myself, and a two travel-sized toothpastes to share with a couple of friends. 

The ARM & HAMMER™ Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Clean & Fresh Battery-Powered Toothbrush is amazing. I've used battery-powered toothbrushes once or twice in the past, but none of them worked as well as this one does. I like how the spinning head polishes my teeth and seems to help clean right down to my gum line. The other part of the brush head moves as well and does a really good job getting in-between my teeth - better than any other toothbrush I've ever used, both electric and manual. In addition to how well this brush cleans my teeth, I like how the toothbrush head can be replaced after it's been worn out and I can replace the batteries when they run down too. After just two weeks of using this toothbrush, I feel like my teeth are the cleanest they've been since my last visit to the dentist.

I have used baking soda as an additive to my toothpaste off and on for years. It seems to do a better job than toothpaste alone to get my teeth feeling nice and clean. The ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Toothpaste combines both the cleaning power of baking soda and the protection of a toothpaste into one product. I like how it leaves my teeth feeling clean for hours, not just for the few minutes after I brush my teeth. It also has a mild, minty taste that leaves a nice fresh aftertaste and helps me feel like my teeth are nice and clean. 

Using the ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Toothpaste in combination with the ARM & HAMMER™ Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Clean & Fresh Battery-Powered Toothbrush has helped my teeth feel clean, fresh, and radiant. These products are going to become a permanent part of my oral health routine. Thanks ARM & HAMMER™ for helping me keep my teeth healthy and clean!

**The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Product samples and program incentives were received as compensation for this product review. Product testing and review were performed in compliance with guidelines provided by Crowdtap and ARM & HAMMER™.**