Rodan + Fields Foaming Sunless Tan

SUMMER IN A BOTTLE!

If you are anything like me, you are beyond ready for some sun and a little color on your skin.  This new mama has spent WAY too long cooped up inside and my complexion is blindingly light.  Even when I do spend time outside, I am always very careful to apply sunscreen and avoid excessive sun exposure, though.  I have seen the effects of skin cancer first hand, and trust me, a beautiful bronze is not worth it.  That is why I was super excited to take part in a little Facebook contest that my friend, Megan, was hosting.  She was giving away a free bottle of Rodan + Fields to the friend who posted a picture proving that they needed it the most.  Of course, I won that one hands down!  ;)

Having a 10-month-old means that I have little time to spend taking care of myself, but the magic of this sunless tan is that it is super easy to apply and dries fast.  I even applied a second coat 15 minutes after the first with no problems.  As you can tell in the photo above, these 2 applications made a significant difference in my complexion and gave me a very natural glow without the orange of typical self tanners.  The color looked amazing that night, but I had even better color payoff when I woke up the next morning.  Here are some tricks that I have learned along the way that made my application easier.

STEP 1

Exfoliate Your Skin

I took a warm shower using an exfoliating body scrub all over.  Then I shaved my legs and made sure to dry off very well.

STEP 2

Moisturize Dry Patches

I have heard many people say that you can avoid sunless tan settling on your dry areas or areas that tend to absorb the tanner most like elbows, knees, fingers, wrists, and toes by applying a thin coat of lotion on just those areas.  I gave this a shot and it worked wonderfully.

STEP 3

Apply Sunless Tan

I opted to use a sunless tanning mitt, but I this is optional.  Rodan + Fields Foaming Sunless Tan gives subtle color that can be washed off of your hands if you are sure to do so directly after applying your tan.  I used 2 pumps per bottom half of each leg and 3 pumps per each top half.  After spreading all over my legs, I used the extra to lightly go over my feet.  I used about 2 pumps on each arms, 3 pumps on my back and stomach, and one pump for my shoulders.  I then took what was left on my mitt for my face and neck.  After that, I applied the excess to the back of my hands and my wrists.  Make sure to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!

Step 4

Allow to Dry

It took all of about 15 minutes for each application to dry.  

Step 5

Repeat Steps 3 & 4

Repeat application until you have reached your desired color. I would suggest only doing 2 applications at a time, though.  Your color will develop a little overnight.

I rinsed my skin the next morning as I applied this tanner late at night after my little one went to bed.  What I loved most was that it gave a bronze glow and was not streaky or orange.  I probably haven't attempted a sunless tanner on myself since I was a teenager and I did not have issues with color settling in places it shouldn't.  I found the process to be super easy and I am still admiring my sun-kissed looking skin days later.  At only $28, I highly recommend this product.  The color is very easy to control and build so that you get your best glow.  

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MEGAN'S PAGE AND PURCHASE YOUR OWN FOAMING SUNLESS TAN HERE.

Monthly Shave Club Subscription Comparisons

So, if you have ever used social media, I am sure that you have heard of monthly subscription services for your razors.  I have very sensitive skin and have been on the hunt for a great razor, so I decided to shop around for the best and write a little blog post to get back in the swing of blogging!

I purchased 3 different razors and will be reviewing them for you here.  Please note that I paid for all of these products myself and my opinions are my own.  My absolute favorite choice (which I will explain below) is All Girl Shave Club.  It is the only subscription that I kept.

The 3 companies I tested are Dollar Shave Club, Harrys, and All Girl Shave Club. I will start with the basics and give you a few details on the services.  There is a lot of information on the sites, but I will hit the key points, starting with just the facts.

Dollar Shave Club

www.dollarshaveclub.com

• Offers 2, 4, and 6 blade cartridges
• All Starter sets come with 6 razor blades and products
• $3, $6, or $9 options for monthly subscriptions
• $5 for the first month
• Ad ons available
• Can sign up for every other month
• Offers promo codes on occasion
• I BELIEVE that you get 4 cartridges per month.  The site was not clear and I cancelled prior to my second month.
• Referrals- Once a friend signs up and pays full price for a box, you get $5 credit per referral

Harrys

www.harrys.com

• Free trial to start- Pay $3 shipping
• Ongoing shipments- 8 cartridges (basic blades), $1.87 each or $15 (the math comes out to $14.96, so I am not sure what the actual charge will be.  Both were listed on the site)
• 5 blade cartridges
• Shop for products without a subscription
• Most people choose to receive blades every 2, 3, or 5 months.  
• I did not see any information on a referral system

All Girl Shave Club

http://allgirlshaveclub.refr.cc/jacintab

• Referral system- Friends get 10% off and you get a $5 reward paid to your PayPal for every friend who signs up using your link.  
• You can easily skip months or cancel
• Billed every other month
• Will soon be offering First Shave Kits for young girls that includes a booklet on building confidence. 
• Gift Boxes available
• Shave butters and other products available as parts of kits or can be purchased separately
• 3 blade razors have 3 subscription kit options ranging from $10-$30
• 5 blade razors have 3 subscription kit options ranging from $15-$36.  These blades offer a bikini trimmer on top.

My Thoughts

Dollar Shave Club

This was my second favorite of the 3 razors that I tried.  I did not nick myself, the razor provided a close shave, and the handle was very sturdy.  I also thought it was a neat touch to send a little booklet with fun things to read to keep in your bathroom.  What I did not like about the razor is that it was heavy and not as easy to hold as some of the others I have tried.  In fact, it felt a little awkward to me.  I am wondering if it is because they are designed with men in mind and my hands are just too small.  The products seem to be created for men as well.  I received 3 sample size products to try and of course they all had a manly scent.  This would not be a problem for men, I am sure, but I did not feel like they catered at all to my needs.  I also had difficulty shaving my knees and ankles with ease.

  

 

Harry's

This was my least favorite subscription.  I actually did not purchase online, but I picked up the razor at Target.  It is the same razor that is featured on the website and even came with a code to use when signing up for a subscription online.  They had 3 color options in store: blue, green, or orange.  Again, I believe this product is geared toward men and was found in the men's aisle.  I have nothing at all against men's razors- I actually prefer them- but that is only because I had never found a woman's razor that would give me a close shave.  I paid $9.99 for the razor and 2 blades.  

What I liked about the razor is that it lies flat on the skin (which can be a con for some), is available in stores, has a comfortable handle, I had zero nicks, and it did an excellent job on my knees and ankles.  What I did not like was that hair got easily trapped in the razor.  It was VERY difficult to remove once it was trapped.  The razor also dulled after doing the bottom halves of my legs.  I felt like I needed to switch blades before I even finished my legs.  After shaving, I only felt semi-smooth (maybe a 6 out of a 10).  I returned this razor to Target after one use. I had to return to Target to get pictures for this post since I forgot to do so while I still had it at home. 

  

All Girl Shave Club

This was by far my FAVORITE subscriptions for multiple reasons.  There is not a single thing that I dislike about this razor or the company! There are so many buying options that there is something for everyone.  Well... Maybe not for men, but come on.  They have enough options of their own elsewhere!  ;)  

I don't even know where to begin, so this may be all over the place.  After using the Whipped Shave Butter and 5 blade razor, I had the smoothest legs that I have EVER had.  There was not a single bump of irritation either, which is HUGE in my book.  And let's talk about this Shave Butter.  It deserves a paragraph of its own!

This Shave Butter smells Ah-Mazing!!!  I chose the scent Flirt Mermaid and oh my goodness!  I want it in a body spray, my shampoo, a bath bomb, my car air freshener, my laundry detergent, you name it!  I am in LOVE!  The butter comes in a very generous size container (4 oz jar) and has a very light, easily spread consistency.  I really do think it, coupled with the razor, is the reason for my smooth shave and lack of bumps.  I also loved that my legs were super soft and moisturized after my shave without having to use a lotion or moisturizer.  This is saying a lot in these winter months.  I chose a subscription that will include a tub of this magic in each shipment.  Right now I am just torn between keeping the scent I love, or trying something new.  The good thing is I can add on extra tubs if I like. 

Okay, so now lets talk about the razor itself.  It has a very pretty handle and is very easy to hold.  I was able to easily glide over my knees and ankles without any nicks or irritation.  The handle was the perfect combination of lightweight and sturdy.  The 5 blade option was perfect for me. I have very thick hair on my legs and it is winter and I am a new mom, so my legs don't get the attention they deserve at times.  This razor handled the coarseness with no problems.  Hair did not get trapped in the razor and easily came out with a simple rinse under the faucet after I was finished.  

Even better, my initial box also included a beautiful pouch that I use to store my extra cartridges and shave products.  I will certainly be keeping this subscription, upgrading my packing, and buying gift boxes for my friends.  This is a subscription that needs to be shared!  I highly, highly recommend it.

P.S. The customer service is amazing!

 

XOXO,

Jacinta 

RocksBox- Free Month on Me!

I am SO in love with my latest subscription discovery.  It is a jewelry rental subscription that features brands like Kendra Scott, Kate Spade, Perry Street, House of Harlow 1960, etc.  I am very obsessed with the Kendra Scott pieces.  Read on if you want to learn how I ended up with $131 in free jewelry in my first month alone, without spending a dime!

The subscription costs $21 per month and each month you get $21 in credits to use towards the purchase of the jewelry from your boxes.  Your first month can be FREE when you sign up using the promo code JACINTABFF4.  They will charge your account, but the money is then refunded.  This is to make sure that your card or PayPal account is active as they will be sending you valuable pieces to try!

You will create a wishlist of your favorite pieces.  I was even given a $5 credit just for building my list.  They use your wishlist to pick the items that are sent to you, and they try their hardest to send you pieces from your top 10 list.  You will receive 3 pieces at a time to try and wear.  Decide what you like to keep (you will be charged for what you keep) or send back all 3 pieces and they will send you 3 new pieces to try.  You can do this as often as you wish throughout the month.  If you would like to keep your pieces for longer than a month, that is okay too, you will just be charged $21 per month as usual.  Don't forget, your $21 in credits expire each month and then you get a new $21 credit once you are charged again.  If you decide to keep all 3 pieces in a set, you will receive a $10 credit towards your purchase as well.

I really loved my first Rocksbox featuring Kendra Scott and Perry Street.  The earrings were my favorite, but they were a bit heavy for me and I decided to return the entire set in hopes of getting a piece I would absolutely fall in love with the second time around.  This time, I left feedback and requested a specific piece that I was dying for.  I was extremely thrilled that they had the piece in stock and sent me a set that I absolutely loved. I seriously could not decide on a piece to keep, so I encouraged a few friends to sign up and was able to keep all 3 pieces worth $195 for only $54!  Keep in mind that at this point I had not paid a penny as I used a referral code from a friend.

So how did I earn my credits?

$21- The monthly shine credit that members receive
$100- I referred 4 friends to the site
$5- I added 30 items to my wishlist (that was fun!)
$5- Non buyers credit credit (I honestly have no idea what this is.  It showed up and I am not complaining!)
$10- Credit for buying all 3 pieces

Be sure to give it a shot using the FREE month promo code JACINTABFF4.  What's there to lose?  Your style will thank you!