Teatox - Fresh Focus - Organic Green Tea with Ginseng

I got this for my birthday! (Thanks PB's parents!)

This is a green tea with orange peel, ginger root, applemint, rosemary, eucalyptus, guraná, and ginseng.

It is a medium, warm, yellow-brown colour when brewed.

The smell is a little spicy. It tastes like green tea, faintly of eucalyptus, and a little bitter.
But it is very nice!

Because of the guraná, best to keep this as a morning tea.

Price: 1/5 ($15.80 for 70g)
Rating: 5/5

Chiropractor

I know, I know, a lot of chiropractors are quacks. 
(If they claim that they can fix your asthma, run.) 

I went to one who came highly recommended, she was able to fix nerve pain in a friend of mine.

So I went in (skeptically) looking for help with my arm pain and maybe my scoliosis.

The sessions were not too intensive and they used the little vertebrae hammer than sports therapists use.

A day after each session, the parts of my back that were focused on ached a little, like a muscle ache.

When we started, I got this 'map' of how my spine, hips, shoulders, and ears were arranged.

And a month later I got this.

It looks a lot straighter now.

I know how this could easily be faked, you don't have to tell me.
But I have had no troubles with my arm since.
I feel good, my back feels good.

My spine still 'cracks' when I stretch.

Unless you get a good referral from a trusted friend, I wouldn't seek a chiropractor out. 
My chiropractor however is great.

NYX - Eyebrow Cake Powder - Blonde

Anything with the word 'cake' in it doesn't make me want to put it on my face.
So not a great start.

Cake face!

I have had this kit for almost 2 years, and it is still good.

Swatches! Darker powder on top. They are not very colour intensive.

There is a colourless wax to flatten stray brow hairs, a light powder and a dark powder, a brush and some sort of miniature bottle cleaner.

Doll's bottle brush.

I would have liked a pair of tweezers and/or a mirror like you get in other brow kits.
But for the price, it's a great quick fix!

Price: 5/5 ($6.00 for 2.65g)
Scent: 2.5/5 (none)
Effectiveness: 3.5/5

2016 

This was a pretty bad year for a lot of people.
I had a lot of people on my Facebook saying it was the worst.

For me, it had it's ups and downs.
We lost David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, and George Michael (four people I admired).

Less than a week left and death couldn't help itself!

I developed neuropathy in my dominant hand and contemplated a life of invisible pain.
And a bunch of things happening in the world that suck.

On the up side, I no longer have neuropathic pain, I feel stronger and happier, my babycat is still alive, I traveled, made some new friends, I found a new partner, and I have loved more (even more than 2015).

Yes, there is even more love in my heart.
For myself, my friends, my family, life itself.

I think 2017 will be a good year, not just for me but for many people.

My song choice to lead you into 2017 is to remind you say a flat 'no' to the bad and that you are worth so much more:

My bff better learn the words to this before 2017 is over!

Also, it's super catchy :)

Happy New Year!

Palmer's - Cocoa Butter Formula

I love how this smells! Cocoa butter smells really good to me.

I also appreciate how rich the formula is, but it doesn't just sit on the top of your skin, it soaks in well.

I can't really fault this product.

Price: 4/5 (RRP $9.99 for 400mL)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Oral B - 3D White Luxe - Glamorous White Mouthwash

I haven't really had a favourite mouthwash until I tried this one. The lack of alcohol means it doesn't burn and the taste isn't terrible.

Normally I avoid mint flavoured mouth care, given my allergy to toothpaste (I know, my body is a genius!), but this doesn't trigger the reaction.

As far as whitening goes, I do notice a difference in tooth shade after using this... not super dramatic, but enough to notice, so I'll say it works!

In keeping with my new "offering solutions", if you want a more dramatic whitening effect, try this!

Remember to let it dry before you close your mouth! (disclaimer: don't eat paint, don't really do this, I ain't taking you to the hospital)

Price: 3.5/5 (rrp $8.49 for 473 mL, which is ~31.5 uses)

Scent: 5/5 (minty fresh!)

Effectiveness: 4.5/5

Wen by Chaz Dean - Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner

I am not normally one for conditioners, given my weak, thin hair.... but this... THIS!

First, THE SMELL! Sooooooooo good! A lovely, delicate mint mellowed out by the nutty/herbal background.

It left my hair feeling so healthy and shiny, like a dog that eats all the eggs from the chicken coupe (but better smelling) :P

I even followed the suggestion of leaving some conditioner in as a product and my weak hairlings weren't weighed down by it!

Price: 2/5 (rrp $29.99 for 350mL)
Scent: 5/5 (I would eat it if I could, it is that good!)
Effectiveness: 5/5

Aromatherapy Associates - Shampoo with Rosemary and Ylang ylang

This beautifully floral/herb scented shampoo smells amazing! 

It lathers up terrifically and ... what can I say? It does what a shampoo is meant to do... clean hair in one wash (and you may think that sounds obvious, but some shampoos can't accomplish this)

Unfortunately I can't find this in any size other than travel/hotel size bottles (40mL)... prove me wrong, kids! Prove me wrong!

Price: 2.5/5 (you can get some small containers on eBay... sorry I can't give a rrp)
Scent: 5/5 (floral/herb, almost musk)
Effectiveness: 5/5

L'Occitane - Revitalizing Fresh Shampoo

This lovely, minty shampoo feels so fresh and cooling on the scalp! It contains peppermint, grapefruit, rosemary, thyme, lavender and sage oil; this shampoo lathers up into a wonderfully perfumed froth.

The only negative is the price (rrp $28.00 for 300mL) which is a bit more than I am happy paying.

Price: 1/5
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Simple - Clear Skin Oil Balancing Exfoliating Wash

This witch hazel face wash has a small amount for exfoliating beads, which is perfect for a daily, gentle scrub.

Since I started using it, I did notice a decrease in the amount of pimples I had, but not a complete fix. It didn't upset my delicate skin and it left my face feeling clean and refreshed.

The only thing I don't like is that this wash doesn't lather up much, but that is a personal preference.

Price: 4/5 (rrp $9.99)
Scent: 4/5 (witch hazel, fresh)
Effectiveness: 4/5

Selsun Blue Anti-dandruff Shampoo

A blue-toned shampoo containing selenium sulphide used to treat dandruff... this stuff is very effective.
So much so, I sometimes use it to treat my most stubborn eczema, just using it like a body wash.

It lathers up brilliantly and the only negative is you MUST remove all jewellery before use! It will tarnish your earrings. Also, if you colour your hair, you need to give a day or so each side of using this stuff.

Price: 4/5
Scent: 2.5/5 (no scent)
Effectiveness: 5/5