Review: Mineral Fusion SPF 16 Brightening Eye Cream for Under Eye Darkness!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Mineral Fusion SPF 16 Brightening Eye Cream won Mary's heart!

Since I have been beauty blogging, I have reviewed quite a few eye creams.  Some of those products worked better than others for smoothing out fine creases and moisturizing while providing a nice base before concealer and eye makeup.  However, I have never found one that did such a sensational job as Mineral Fusion’s SPF 16 Brightening Eye Cream.

This all-natural eye cream is a rich textured, white cream with light reflecting mica and zinc oxide for mineral SPF protection along with rose hip oil and avocado for hydrating the delicate skin in this area as well as firm it in its 100% vegan formula.  What you don’t have to worry about in this cream is any parabens, artificial color, talc, fragrance or gluten that might cause you sensitivity or pose a risk to health.

The first few days, I did not notice any real change from this cream.  It did smooth and moisturize just like the others and made it easy to apply my other eye cosmetics, but nothing exceptional that made it stand out. Then, something happened a couple of days later that really impressed me. 

On the fourth day of using this eye cream, I saw a dramatic change in how it lightened my under eye darkness.  Don’t get me wrong, but I still have some darkness in a small section at the corner of each eye. Nonetheless, most of the remaining darkness is greatly improved in color.  I have never seen anything do such and amazing job on my allergic shiners than this eye cream for whitening those dark circles.  If this cream did so much in just four days, I can only imagine how great my eyes are going to look with continued use.

Trust me on this, I have year round allergies that make dark circles an everyday occurrence.  Yet, this $24.99 eye cream did things that some pricier ones could not to turn this problem around.

With all sincerity, if you live with an under eye darkness problem, Mineral Fusion SPF 16 Brightening Eye Cream needs to be in your beauty bag.  After trying this product, I am confident that you will be thanking for turning you onto its awesome lightening power.

You can find it at Mineral Fusion or Whole Foods Markets, but do pick it up!  I love, love, love this eye cream and so will YOU!

*Disclaimer:  Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Smart Summer Beauty While Having Fun in the Sun Calls for Dorfman Pacific’s Scala Collezione LC484 Hat! (Review)

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Scala Collezione LC484 Hats

Now that Summer is finally here, I love soaking up the sun every chance I get.  In order to save my hair from turning brittle from strong sun, I always like to wear a hat when spending some time outdoors.  

With the Scala Collezione Hat by Dorfman Pacific that arrived, I can look stylish while being protected with not only a flattering 2-1/2 inch brim but built-in UPF 50+ (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) to protect from those damaging rays.  The model that I got was LC484 in natural, a light beige.  It is made of cotton material and comes in 25 colors with a drawstring inside to pull for adjusting to the fit the head, which was a nice feature.  

Something else I liked about this particular hat was that it could survive being stuffed in your tote without looking all wrinkled when you pulled it out again.  This way you can keep it stuffed somewhere in your car, tote, or wherever and have it ready when you plan to be outdoors.

This Scala Collezione Hat LC484 retails for $35.  If you like a slightly larger brim, there is the LC399 that might please you even more. 

If you’re planning on spending time outdoors, don’t take any needless chances with your beauty and health.  Do protect yourself with SPF and check out Pacific Dorfman’s Scala Collezione Hats.  

*Disclaimer: Free product was provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.* 

Pack A Hat From Cappelli Straworld Offers Portable Sun Protection (Review)

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Cappelli Straworld Pack a Hat with Zippered Totes

Summer will be here in a matter of weeks.  If you’re intending on safely enjoying the sun and those outdoor jaunts to the beach, park, garden, or wherever the mood takes you, then it is always a good idea to protect yourself.  

When I know that I will be spending a lot of time in that hot sun, I like to wear my straw hat that has a wide brim and decorated with an attractive, ornate ribbon.  However, packing my pretty hat requires knowing ahead that I will need it.

Other times when it becomes a last minute decision to do something outdoors and you find yourself hatless, then it’s great to have what I received on hand in the car to save your head and hair from burning.  A prime example is this Pack A Hat from Cappelli Straworld that comes in a small striped, zippered bag with a foldable, matching pre-treated cloth hat with a wide brim and UPF 50 sun protection.  

You may look a bit wrinkled at first when you pull it out, but when your head is at stake and you're suffering in the hot sun, this hat will be your new best friend.

To find out more about Pack A Hat and where to buy, do check out their website.

Pack A Hat retails for $25 and is available in twelve shades.

*Disclaimer: Free products were provided to facilitate this review--not my opinion.*

Simplify Summer Beauty: Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream With Broad Spectrum SPF 40 (Medium) Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

If you ask me, I think one of the most amazing products you can put on your face is a BB Cream.  Such a multi-tasking product can hydrate, conceal, protect, and serve as makeup to saves you time, but also is a great choice to add to your summer beauty ritual.

Thanks to iFabbo, I had the opportunity to try Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 40 in Medium.  

The first thing you will notice is how this citrus scented product will even out your skin tone and do wonders to improve the texture of your complexion.  It does come out a bit thick so you only need a little to do your face.  The feel of this cream is lightweight against your skin with reliable light to nearly medium coverage, depending on how much you apply.

This cream needs a few minutes to adjust once on your skin before you notice how it adapts to match your coloring.  Being light but not fair, I had concerns about what the medium shade would look like; however, this suited my coloring without any problems.  In fact, I think light would have been too pale for me.  Therefore, I suggest you may want one shade darker than normal in this line.

With their peptides, vitamin C, plant stem cells, and SPF 40 broad spectrum sun protection, this BB Cream really did benefit my skin from anti-aging because it didn't seem to settle into any creases, insured the face protection from sun damage being a sunblock, and gave me a better-looking complexion the more I used it. 

As far as staying power, I thought this cream held up nicely without turning greasy either.  The gorgeous soft matte finish won't disappoint you.

Unlike a tinted moisturizer, I also want to point out that  this BB Cream is wonderfully pigmented.  Some people may feel they need more coverage if they have lots of skin issues and apply their foundation on top, but I thought the coverage smoothed and perfected my complexion just fine alone.  I intend on replacing my normal foundation with this one for summer. 

The 1.5 oz. Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 40 retails for $39 at ULTA.  If you haven't tried a BB Cream yet, you definitely need to look into one.  I honestly believe you'll love what this can do for you!

Beauty Forte Mineral Sunscreen and Mineral Whitening Review + Giveaway!--Ends June 4, 2012

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Beauty Forte Mineral Sunscreen and Mineral Whitening

When I was approached to review Beauty Forte's Mineral Sunscreen and Mineral Whitening, I was not hesitant because I believe in taking precautions when it comes to the sun to prevent skin cancer and dark, shriveled skin like a prune.  The idea of avoiding chemicals always appeals to me if I can do the same thing in a healthier way. 

Instead of any lotion or spray, this company's products come in a powder form with an attached sponge.  This is a fantastic idea to look fresher and yet with a bit of coloring compared to other forms.  Their line is waterproof so you need not worry about melting away that protection because they do adhere nicely when outside for a few hours.  Furthermore, these sunscreens are hypo-allergenic without any talc, parabens, oils, phthalates, preservatives, synthetic colorants, petroleum byproduct or any artificial additives or unnecessary fillers that often come in commercial sunscreens to cause sensitive individuals a problem.

I found their Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30 gave my face a beautiful appearance once I got it out of the jar with velvety coverage with the vitamins E and A enriched formula that matched my skin tone perfectly.   I was happy with the look and didn't have to wear makeup except for some gloss.  And yet, I was outdoor ready with natural sunscreen defense with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection.  It was wonderful being protected without any greasiness or caking when I tested going shopping.

The Mineral Whitening in Light has SPF 25.  This form of their sunscreen gives your complexion a light sheen as it coats to your skin and hides imperfections in the process.  Your face gains a beam of softness from this form of their pearly powder sunscreen.  This product stayed on nicely as well when I tried it on another day while running errands.

Both Beauty Forte's sunscreens were gentle and perfect for the amount of time I was in the sun.  The only criticism I have is with their containers to get the product out.  Before attempting to apply their sunscreens, you need to remove the inner seal and then give it brisk shaking and some hard taps.  The powder can be a little stubborn to get out, but you need to keep working at it. 

However, I did run into a problem with Mineral Whitening.  Regardless of how I kept working at it, the powder would not filter through the holes to the sponge.  The solution I had was to get a clean makeup brush and dust  on from the bottom of the container, which worked nicely.

For protection and beautiful coverage without harmful chemicals, I think you can't go wrong. Do check their website for these products. 

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received were free products to facilitate this review.*

Thanks to Beauty Forte, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the continental United States wins both the Beauty Forte 8.5 g. Natural Mineral Sunscreen and a 4 g. Mineral Whitening Light for a total value of ($68

Both Are Mandatory to Enter:

1. You must follow me on Google Friends Connect before any of your entries will count.  If you already follow, then INCLUDE your ***EMAIL*** with name in a comment!

2. Go to Beauty Forte and tell me something else you learned from their site in another comment.


Extra Entries:

(Provide proof once with email when doing each form of entry and number the rest):

Tweet Protect & Beautify! #Win #BeautyForte #MineralSunscreens #Giveaway @Nuts4Stuff http://bit.ly/LbbNH5  Ends 6/04 (can be done daily)--1 extra entry per day in another comment

Share Beauty Forte on your Facebook Wall--5 extra entries to leave in five separate comments (show me the proof) 

Go to Beauty Forte's Blog and tell me something you learned--2 extra entries to leave in two separate comments

"Like" Nuts 4 Stuff on Facebook--3 extra entries (leave three separate comments)

Add @Nuts4Stuff to Your Twitter and tell me so in your comment with your Twitter id--3 extra entries to leave in three separate comments

Subscribe to the Nuts 4 Stuff blog by email--3 extra entries (must confirm) to leave in three separate comments

Subscribe to Nuts 4 Stuff in a reader--3 extra entries (Orange button in my sidebar) to leave in three separate comments

List this giveaway on any giveaway site just leave a link to this post wherever you share it--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where with proof in one of them)

Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link to the post--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where with proof in one of them)

Grab my Nuts 4 Stuff button and paste it in your sidebar--5 extra entries (leave five separate comments and tell me where you left it with proof in one of them)

Add Nuts 4 Stuff to your blogroll  (using my URL) with a link back to me (comment where you left it for 2 more extra entries to leave in two separate comments)

Enter another Nuts 4 Stuff giveaway (enter as many as you want, however, only 1 extra entry will count) and tell me which one in a comment--1 extra entry

Enter the Balance Bar Father's Day BARE Hug Gift Set Giveaway--1 extra entry   

Leave a separate comment for each entry.  Be sure you include your email address inside your comment so I can contact you if you win.   This giveaway is only open to residents of the continental United States. No PO Boxes just USA-based street addresses.

***Any entries that contain a link or website address for redirecting readers to your site to sell your products will be deleted when found.  I am giving you a chance to win, not advertise for free.*** Do follow the rules because I check entries.   Be alert that if you attempt to enter using multiple identities will be grounds for disqualification. 

This giveaway ends June 4, 2012 at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time. The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF100+ Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF100+

You can never be too cautious when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun.  Skin cancer is on the rise.  Therefore, your best option is to act defensively and make it a habit to use a broad spectrum sunblock that blocks both the damaging uva and uvb rays like Neutrogena's UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with helioplex.

This formula is waterproof and sweatproof while being oil free and non-comedogenic, which helps keep your skin clear from the possibility of breakouts.

Furthermore, this particular product has the American Cancer Society seal that provides a consumer with an extra bit of assurance that this sunblock meets this rigid guidelines for sun safety.

This sunblock comes in a 3.0 tube for about $10-12 depending where you shop.  I noticed the smell is pleasant and the creamy consistency is just right without being too runny or thick for spreading. 

Best of all, I liked that it left skin feeling cleaner than some sunscreens that I had used previously without that greasy or stickiness that comes with the territory.  

In my opinion, Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ is one of the top contenders for sun protection!   

MyBody Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield Moisturizer Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

MyBody Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield Moisturizer

As the weather becomes hotter, I like to go lighter when it comes to cosmetics instead of clogging up my pores with heavier formulations.  One of the best ways to simplify your upcoming summer beauty routine is through a dual purpose tinted moisturizer with built in sun protection like MyBody's Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield with an SPF of 30.

MyBody is an exciting line of medical-grade skin care that can address a variety of skin problems that I have been testing lately. 

Protect & Serve comes in one shade, which I had worried about since I have light skin until I had used it and found a nice glow.  What I have been discovering is this product provides enough sheer tinted coverage that hides imperfections with just enough color to smooth out your skin tone while keeping your face clean and guarded from the sun. 

You can use this oil-free product alone or as a makeup primer if heavier coverage is what you're after.  Seriously though, I think you'll be satisfied enough with using this tinted moisturizer alone unless you suffer from a severe skin problem.

In a formula with vitamin D3, lycopenes, titanium oxide and zinc oxide among other beneficial ingredients, this silicone-based moisturizer glides on while keeping skin nourished and vigorously protected from UVA and UVB as it beautifies the complexion at the same!

Personally, I am impressed with Protect & Serve Tinted Sun Shield and this company.  This is the third product that I tried from MyBody and I definitely will be looking into more of their line!  If you also value the look of your skin, then I highly recommend checking out this product.

They even have a helpful online tool to help you determine the best skin care solutions for you.

*Disclaimer:  This is my own honest opinion.  No money was exchanged.  All I received was a free product to facilitate this review.*