Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights Review

by Lisa on January 27th, 2012

ShaToBu

 

There’s just no getting around the fact that shapewear is so unsexy. I feel kinda sad for the poor model above. She’s working it, but it’s still shapewear.

Anyhoo… I was recently sent a pair of ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights to review. I wasn’t excited about reviewing these tights because I have plenty of pairs of tights and almost all of them are shapewear tights. Don’t get me wrong – I love shapewear tights, I just wasn’t looking for another pair!

When I finally decided to wear these last week I took them out of the package and started trying to get my body into them without REALLY knowing what I was putting on. BIG mistake. It took me 10 minutes to get into the tights and at the end of it I was nearly sweating and a little bit out of breath. Until I got them on I felt like I was stuffing myself into a casing that was 10x too small. {Not the best way to start a Monday morning!}

Only after they were on did I read the packaging to learn that ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights are “Get Fit” tights. What this means is that the tights are constructed with muscle toning resistance bands. If you look closely at the image above, you’ll notice parts of the tights that are darker than the rest of the tights. This is where the resistance bands are located. They pretty much cover your entire midriff straight down to your knees, hence why it took me so long to get into the tights. The bands are tight and firm, and putting the tights on took quite a bit of effort!

Throughout the day it was clear to me that I had resistance bands wrapped around my legs. There were times when I was walking around at work that I actually felt like I was exercising, which was a little surreal. As for the color of the tights, I received a jet black pair to try, and they are a great opaque black.

I’m not going to try to tell you that you’re going to get SO SLIM wearing ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights because that would be absurd. Having worn them now twice, I do think there is something to the resistance bands and at the very least I can believe that you would burn a few extra calories just by wearing the tights and going about your normal routine. The resistance is light, but it’s there. There are even resistance bands that wrap around your bottom! You have to pull them up specifically into place or you’re going to feel really awkward! They do give a great boost to the old posterior!

Because of the extra strength of the tights due to the resistance bands, I 100% believe these tights do a better job than most other shapewear tights I’ve tried of sucking everything in and making you appear trimmer. I never felt uncomfortable, but I definitely felt trimmer, tucked in, and all smoothed out.

My only complaint – and it’s a relatively small one – is that the resistance bands weight down the tights in a weird way. Not that I felt droopy or anything, but anytime I used the restroom I had to be certain to pull the tights all the way up again – starting below my knee – because the fabric seemed to fall quite a bit.

Would I spend $38 to buy these tights myself? Heck yeah! In fact, I’m going to go one step further.

I fully intend on investing in this sexy garment to wear under my wedding dress in July! This is the ShāToBu Seamless High Waist Shaper and I think it’ll give me the exact support I want under my gown. This shaper is pricier at $68, but if it makes me look as trim as the tights do then they’ll be worth the cost!

 

Disclosure: I was provided with one free pair of ShāToBu High Waist Shaping Tights to review. Honesty is the best policy, therefore all opinions above are my own.

Megan’s StyleMint Review

by Megan on January 25th, 2012

As we all have previously mentioned, Lisa rocks and allowed us the opportunity to try out different shopping clubs. Thanks Lisa! My club this month? StyleMint.

What is StyleMint you ask? Well, it’s similar to the other shopping clubs in that it’s a membership site but for T-shirts. I LOVE t-shirts! Seriously, they are my drug of choice. So of course I was head over heels and just had to check them out! And they are designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson. They’ve come a long way from being little Michelle, haven’t they!

As with any membership club, you register and take your style quiz. It’s $29.99 a month, but you don’t pay until your first purchase. And, because I love you, I’m totally going to share this email they sent me AFTER my first purchase (of course they would, right?!).

15% off PLUS free shipping when you use the code MEMBER15. It only applies to new members on their first purchases. Enjoy!

For the first time I actually agreed with my style choices. When I signed up for ShoeDazzle they wanted me too try 5 inch heels. I am clumsy. That wasn’t correct. However, this is right on the money.

I’m very laid back. I like to be comfortable. I am also not a fan of anything too tight or revealing. So of course I was thrilled to be offered the Hudson shirt as one of my choices.

StyleMint

I love how soft the shirt is. It’s made of 50% pima cotton, 50% micro modal and comes in mushroom/ivory (featured above) and charcoal/black. However, the mushroom/ivory is currently only available in a size 5, while the black/charcoal is available in all.

Make sure you check the size chart!

Size                                                           Bust         Waist              Hips

Our Size Bust Waist Hips
1 XS-S (2/4) 35 27 37
2 S-M (6/8) 36 28 38
3 M-L (8/10) 37 29 39
4 L-XL (10/12) 38 30 40
5 XL (12/14) 39 31 41

 

I usually wear a small or x-small in tops, so I took a chance and ordered a 1. I was nervous it would be too snug, but was pleasantly surprised. It fit wonderfully.

Here’s my thoughts on the shirt:

Positives

  • Super comfortable
  • I’m very modest and don’t like things low-cut. This wasn’t too bad at all. Granted, I did wear a tank under it, but still.

Negatives

  • Remember, this is just a negative for me, so it may not bother you one bit, but it’s shorter in the front, longer in the back. I get very self-conscience and kept tugging at it. So then I put on a cami and felt much better.
  • $29.99 is a little much in my opinion for a t-shirt.

All in all I LOVED the shirt. It would look adorable with a pair of skinny jeans and boots. Or heels. The possibilities are endless!

I totally recommend signing up and checking out StyleMint. You will fall madly in love! Oh, and don’t forget to use the code MEMBER15 for 15% off!

Beauty Reviewed: Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water

by Lisa on January 25th, 2012

klorane_soothingeyemakeupremover

 

I am always on the lookout for a great eye make-up remover. I have SUPER sensitive eyes, so most removers don’t work. They’ll either sting my eyes or they’re way too oily.  When I received a generous sample of Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water in one of my recent Birchbox shipments I was excited to give it a try.

The first thing I noticed about the product is that it’s blue, which I liked. That shouldn’t be a selling point, but I was amused. :) I’m not sure there’s much one can say about eye make-up remover, but I think this product works great. It gets off all of my eye make-up without any scrubbing or the need to keep going over my eyes. I wear a moderate amount of eye make-up and it always comes off easily.

The Klorane hasn’t bothered my sensitive eyes at all. Apparently the pH formula of the Klorane is similar to that of tears, which helps explain why it’s great for sensitive eyes. Also, I think the product is moisturizing! I haven’t needed to apply moisturizer after using the remover because my skin feels great!

If it tells you anything, the Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water is the first product I’ve purchased after sampling the product from Birchbox. {I’m happy that I still have the sample size for when I travel, too!} I really love it and can see myself remaining loyal to this makeup remover for years.

The only downside is this makeup remover is not particularly cheap. The 3.38 fl oz. bottle seems to cost $9 everywhere {this is what I purchased} and the 6.76 fl oz. bottle is $16. You can buy it directly from Birchbox, but I also found it at Drugstore.com.

Beauty Reviewed: Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

by Shaina on January 18th, 2012

Well, this review turned out to be approximately 4 minutes longer than I think it probably should be.  When I watched it after recording it, it was so incredibly long that I sped up the section where I take the mask off to avoid you hearing me remind you 80 more times to make sure you apply it in a thick layer.  Feel free to enjoy cartoon-speed Shaina!

In short:  the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask kicks some serious skin booty.  Yes, it’s kinda painful and difficult to peel off.  Yes, it can rip your hair out by the roots.  But you know what else?  It unclogs all sorts of nasties from your skin.  And that, as Martha Stewart would say, is a good thing.

You can find the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask at Sephora for $34.

Beauty Reviewed: Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion

by Lisa on January 11th, 2012

Lubriderm Daily Moisture Skin Lotion

For years I have been a very loyal user of Aveeno lotion. When I find a product I like and that works I tend to stick with it.

With that being said, do you ever go to the store and wonder why things cost so much money? On one particular day a few months ago I was about to pick up some more Aveeno but I balked at the price tag. {It was about $10, I believe. Not that much money but sometimes I have these days when I am super cheap and then other days I could buy the store out. This day was a cheap day.} I started looking around for something less expensive when I spotted the Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion. It was only $5.99 or so, so I made it mine.

Even though I used Aveeno lotion for years and years and years, I am thoroughly smitten with the Lubriderm. When you put it on it feels like silk. And the smell. Oh, the smell is incredible. I don’t know how to explain it, but the smell of the shea butter is super calming. Putting on lotion each morning used to be a mundane chore, but now I actually kind of look forward to it.

Oh, and lest I forget, this lotion is also super hydrating. {This is perhaps the most important part? ;) } My skin gets super dry and itchy when the weather gets cold, but this lotion provides the perfect amount of moisture and I haven’t had any skin issues since I started using it.


Lubriderm Daily Moisture Shea + Enriching Cocoa Butter Skin Lotion
is easily one of my most favorite budget beauty finds!

Megan’s Francesca’s Collections Video Review and Vlog

by Megan on December 12th, 2011

I love me some Francesca’s Collections. Seriously. We have one in the mall near my home and I go there at least once a week and window shop. (Believe me, I could do some serious damage in there, but I’m trying so darn hard to be good)! So of course I was thrilled when given the opportunity to review some pretty awesome goodies!

I was given the Futuristic Dress, the Holiday Cheer tank, and the First Glimpse sweater. Check out my video review below!

 


The Futuristic Dress: I love this dress. I really, really do. I can see myself wearing this on numerous occassions. It’s comfortable and gives me a nice shape. Both of those things are a plus in my book! I normally wear a 6/8 and this dress is a M and fits like a M. Perfect.

Holiday Cheer Tank: Again, I love sparkle and this tank has just the right amount. It’s not too much and not too little. It also comes in black. Love.

First Glimpse sweater: This little number is on sale! It was originally $38.00, but is on sale now for $24.98. Totally doable in my opinion. Just wear something under it, unless you are way braver than me. :)

Right now Francesca’s Collections is offering free shipping on orders of $50 or more, their BOGO sale when you buy one piece of apparel you get your second piece for 50% off, and their BOGO sale on watches and jewelry. I want one of everything! And don’t forget that now through December 31st, save 30% off one regular-priced item – online only – with code FAB!

I’d love to see your Francesca’s finds!

 

Lisa’s Francesca’s Collections Review & Vlog

by Lisa on November 21st, 2011

Francesca’s Collections was nice enough to reach out recently and offer the gals of Fantabulously Frugal a few items to review. I’m a jewelry and accessories junkie, so I chose those items, though you will see some gorgeous clothes from Francesca’s in the coming weeks.

In the video above I review the following items:

Mixed Metals Necklace – $28 – My necklace is in coral, which doesn’t seem to be available online any longer. It is still available in turquoise though, which is just as gorgeous as the coral necklace. This necklace is such a high quality that it seems like it should sell for way more than $28. As I say in the video above, I can see wearing it with a T-shirt and jeans or something more formal. It’s beautiful!

Homegrown Earrings – $12 – Francesca’s Collections is so popular that items are constantly selling out, and that is the case with the Homegrown Earrings I reviewed. Like the necklace above, these earrings could easily have cost more than $12. They’re made of a high-quality metal and have a little bit of bling in the middle of the flower.

Foldover Double Buckle Tote – $48 – Francesca’s was nice enough to send over something that’s not even on their website yet … SNEAK PREVIEW! While I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward a red handbag, this one is super cute. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have even known it wasn’t real leather it’s that high of a quality. There are so many pockets on this tote, and it’s super trendy in that you can either wear it folded over, or carry it with the short handle. Also incredible? The lining of the tote. Love it!

 

These were the first items I’ve ever actually had from Francesca’s Collections and I am majorly impressed. As far as accessories go, everything I received was top notch. This is definitely going to become a can’t miss shopping destination of mine!