Reviews

    UrbanStems

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    a month ago

    I have used UrbanStems for about 4 years - purchasing as gifts for others or for myself - and always had different experiences with them. PROS The deliveries arrived on time (or even earlier), the arrangements are in good condition, no damages, no spoilage, etc. When sending as gifts, the recipient would always text me right away and compliment on how beautiful the arrangements are. CONS When I did run into some issues, it mainly had to do with the condition of the flowers. Here are two experiences that I remember: (1) The arrangement had some buds/flowers in awful condition (I remember one of them was moldy!); and (2) The arrangement arrived in decent condition, but after prepping it and putting it in water, it wouldn't look so fresh the following day. I do contact customer service, and their reps are so responsive to my concerns. They would either offer credit or a replacement; if I asked for replacements which I then received almost 1-2 days later with no issue. RECENT EXPERIENCE I noticed something different from my most recent purchase in July VS one of my orders from July 2023: they're using a different shipping courier! In the past they've always used FedEx, but now they ship with OnTrac. Normally I am okay with OnTrac, but they usually deliver towards the end of the business day in my area (around 4pm-5pm). This was much later than I was used to (FedEx delivery would always be around 12pm-2pm), so I was a bit concerned and worried about the condition of the arrangement by the time it is delivered especially since it was during the summer heatwave. Fortunately, the arrangement arrived in great condition without any issues (I think that damp foamy-sponge wrapped around the base of the stems definitely helped!). But I am definitely going to keep a close eye when I purchase again in the future! PERSONAL TIP Try to place your order (or schedule the shipping/delivery) at least 1-3 business days before you need it. For example, if you need it on the 5th, check to see if you can schedule the delivery between the 1st and 3rd in case you need additional time to contact customer service if you come across any issues. But honestly the earlier the better... it's less stressful that way LOL Of course, don't forget to take into consideration the popular holidays (Mother's Day and Christmas are the two big ones!) and weekends, but that is the general timeline I follow when ordering flowers online! P.S. If you like to have your flowers delivered exactly on someone's special day, I recommend supporting your local florist as they may offer local delivery!

    Clevr Blends

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    a month ago

    I am super picky about my turmeric. I have tried many drinks and it would be too turmericky, ginger-y, sweet, bitter... I can go on. But I was determined to find the perfect turmeric drink! I've known about Clevr Blends for a while but have never tried their beverages. I finally got the chance to taste their Golden SuperLatte and I L-O-V-E it! It is perfectly spiced without overpowering the turmeric. It is sweet and creamy but without being too sugary. Now for the benefits: I have PCOS and my inflammation symptoms come and go. I noticed that since adding this turmeric drink to my menu, the pain and my symptoms have reduced a lot (I still experience them but they are not as painful/bad as when I didn't have turmeric).* This has been on subscription for a year now, and I don't think I will ever find another turmeric drink that hits the spot like this one! *Please note that this varies for every person! This is my own personal experience with the drink :)

    Steamery Stockholm

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    a month ago

    I do have a steamer but it not as great and I would always have to use it upright or else the water would spill everywhere if I try to rotate - whether intentionally or by accident! I first tried out this product while I was staying at a hotel, and I fell in love! It was so easy to use and it just looks so chic and minimal - perfect if you like the "aesthetic" look :) Sure I took the free toiletries and I splurged on room service, but using that steamer stood out from my trip. Am I being dramatic? Maybe but who cares LOL As soon as I got home, I went online and bought their Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer in Sage. I still have yet to try it out as an iron, but I have been utilizing the steamer part for touch-ups!

    Tony's Chocolonely

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    a month ago

    I bought the Great Big Chocolate Eggs from Thrive Market. It has a variety of flavors: Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Caramel Sea Salt, Hazelnut, and Almond Sea Salt. I love the mission behind the brand, and they are absolutely delicious! It was perfectly sweet for my taste and it hit the right spot whenever I craved something sweet to eat. This was the first time I tried out this brand, and the chocolate eggs actually were great previews on how I think the classic chocolate bars would taste like! I am definitely going to repurchase!

    Wellah

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    5 months ago

    Purchased through a Thingtesting offer

    I purchased two flavors but only tried one so far - Watermelon. I have been drinking this a few times a week, but I never used this as a replacement for good ol' plain water. The first few times, I prepped in a typical large cup. It tasted nice but the watermelon taste just seemed a little artificial for me... it reminds me of the watermelon Jolly Rancher candies! It's not a super bad thing but, for me, it was a bit too sweet. Then, I went with a completely different direction: to hopefully dilute the sweetness, I poured one scoop into a much larger reusable water bottle + shook to mix, and then I poured into a separate glass with ice cubes. It was more tolerable, so I will most likely prepare my drinks like this moving forward! In the end, I am not sure how I feel about this mix. It is a tasty way to make water fun and get some essential nutrients and vitamins in, but the Watermelon flavor is holding me back from repurchasing. I also purchased the Strawberry Kiwi flavor but waiting to finish Watermelon before I start on that :)

    Joydays

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    5 months ago

    I bought the variety pack because I wanted to try all three flavors - Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, and Double Chocolate. But, in the end, they were just okay. Unfortunately, the chocolate chips didn't taste at all like chocolate to me; I understand it is a dark chocolate, but I think the sweetness of the cookie itself overpowered the dark chocolate it just tasted like I was eating a plain cookie with a crunchy texture. The Double Chocolate cookies, I could taste chocolate, but the texture was reminiscent of a protein bar I honestly couldn't finish that box (I ended up sharing it with my mom, who liked it more). I think the Peanut Butter was the better one from the variety - it had a pretty good texture and the peanut butter taste was just right. I found myself eating this flavor more than the other two, and was more creative as I ate them: sometimes I would make an ice cream sandwich with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or I would chop up the cookies and sprinkle over vanilla Greek yogurt with sliced bananas and chopped pecans! Overall, I love that it is a woman-owned business, and their story and mission. I do like that they are a good alternative to your usual cookies especially if you're trying to be more aware of what you're eating. In the end, I probably wouldn't repurchase the other two flavors, except for the Peanut Butter cookies if I had room in my budget for snacks.

    ZitSticka

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    7 months ago

    ZitSticka was the brand I purchased from to try microdart patches for the first time. I have struggled with cystic and hormonal acne for years; while it has since improved a lot over the years, sometimes I will get that one cystic or hormonal breakout that is just so pesky and painful. I have tried the regular pimple patches, but I soon discovered that those work more effectively on whiteheads or pimples that are just coming up to the surface. Then I read about pimple patches with microdarts and I knew I had to try. The KILLA pimple patches have these tiny microdarts that are infused with targeted ingredients (like salicylic acid) to get rid of that deep pimple. Pro? Well they actually work! Within 2 days, the pimple patches not only reduced the size of that breakout but also minimized the pain. It didn't hurt at all; but it did feel weird because you can kind of feel the "darts" but it melts away as the day goes on. When you remove it, it ends up like your any other pimple patch. Cons? Well they're the reasons why I deducted two stars: 1) They're pricey! I understand that you don't need like a ton of patches to get rid of a pimple; like mentioned above, it took my only two days (aka two patches) to get rid of it. But, the pricing discouraged me from purchasing them again - the 4-pack is $14.00 USD, 8-pack is $25.00 USD, and the 20-pack is $57.00 USD! I first started out with the 8-pack and I finished them maybe within 6 months because my cystic / hormonal breakouts weren't as bad as before. But this one year, I had more breakouts that popped up so I decided to give in and purchase the 20-pack. Yes, they worked. Yes, that entire bag basically lasted me an entire year, but gosh my heart broke when I coughed up $57 LOL 2) The excessive packaging. Each patch is individually packaged in these plastic envelopes that really aren't needed when you think about it. Another beauty brand also sells micropoint patches, but the patches were all on one sheet so it wasn't as excessive. Then for each patch, they come with an individually wrapped "cleansing wipe" which basically contain alcohol and tea tree oil to clean, prep, and prime your skin to attach the patch. Honestly, those weren't needed; I have used other pimple patches before and I would just gently wipe the affected area with lukewarm water and pat dry with a cotton round. FINAL THOUGHTS In the end, did I end up repurchasing it? No. As much as I liked the idea of microdart patches and they did work for me, I could not justify spending that much and have that much waste. I have since switched to spot treatments and blemish-friendly gels, creams, or masks to help my skin out. It lasts me longer and some of the packaging is recyclable, biodegradable, or even reusable. I use this salicylic acid moisturizer that is just amazing! Like these microdart patches, my cystic/hormonal breakout basically went away in 2 days (or even overnight)... but that's another review ;)

    Beauty of Joseon

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    7 months ago

    I was influenced HAHA I bought this after seeing so many reviews from bloggers/influencers/creators, I just had to get my hands on it... I am so glad I did! This is a lightweight sunscreen that gives you a glow and doesn't leave any white cast. The formula is also so moisturizing! I did not experience any irritation, redness, breakouts, and it did not sting my eyes! Dear Beauty of Joseon, please release this product in a jumbo size. This is becoming my go-to sunscreen all year round. XOXO

    Nature of Things

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    7 months ago

    The Cleansing Body + Scalp Polish is one of my favorite haircare products! I use this once every other week (switching off with a clarifying shampoo that I use in between). What I love about this product is the gentle polish. Most of the time you think of coarser exfoliants that make it so difficult to massage and rinse thoroughly. My hair always looks and feels so clean and refreshed after using. It also has this spicy yet citrusy scent that is just so refreshing and pleasing to my nose. You can also use this as a body polish, but I only used it as a scalp polish so I can't say how it feels/works on my skin!

    Odele Beauty

    Nicole BLevel 3 19 Reviews

    7 months ago

    The Clarifying Shampoo is a lifesaver! I use it once every other week (I also use a scalp polish once a week in between). This has helped my oily scalp a lot. I noticed a difference even after the first use - my hair just looks so much cleaner and it just feels fresher. One bottle lasts me a couple of months because I use it at least twice a month (or three times a month if my hair needs extra care). It has a very light scent that is so subtle, for a second I thought there was no scent at all LOL This was perfect for me because I am becoming more sensitive to smells; this shampoo did not overwhelm my senses with fragrances.