March Empties | 2017

Hey everyone! Another month has passed and it's time for me to share all of my used up products for the month of March!

Face

Aloe Vera Scented Cleansing Wipes (25 count) - These do not have a brand name but I purchased 4 packs of these in different scents from Michaels. These retail for $1.50/pack and these are extremely affordable. I stocked-up when they had a sale and I managed to get all 4 packs for under $5. I use these on my face as well as for removing swatches.

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleaner (45 ml) - This is great for all skin types and it is marketed as a revitalizing anti-oxidant facial cleanser. It really enjoy the scent of it and I love that it has a pump. Foaming cleansers are pretty much my favourite and I also love that you can see how much product you have left instead of guessing. This is a great face wash all around and it came in the Try Us, Love Us! On-the-Glow Essentials that I featured in my Black Friday Haul.

Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion (30 ml) - This was in the $4 bin at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale that I attended a few months back however, it isn't my favourite makeup remover and I would not purchase it again for a few reasons. First off, my face felt very greasy when cleansing my face and I would even do a double cleanse but, it wouldn't even break down the mascara underneath my eyes. It would just stay there and I was still removing far too much makeup with a wipe after double cleansing my face.

Estee Lauder New Dimension Sculpt + Glow Mask (15 ml/.5 oz) - This was another product that was purchased at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale for $4 and I found this on the counter randomly. I don’t know if someone had forgot to take it with them or if they changed their mind last minute, but that worked out well for me because I ended up purchasing the last one! This mask retails for $94 CAD for the full size which is 5 ml/.17 oz. I really do like the packaging which is a sliver top and a metallic blue container. The directions I find to be strange because it says to apply generously over your face and after 5 minutes, take a tissue to remove the excess. I never followed that because I think that it is a waste of product! I did like the scent and it isn’t overly strong. When it is on your face, you no longer smell it and my skin absorbs all of the product therefore, I don’t need to wipe away any extra product. It is a thick consistency and the product is white in colour in-case anyone is wondering. I wouldn’t purchase the full size because it is quite expensive and I much prefer the Water Sleeping Mask by LaNeige that I featured in my February Empties post!

Burt’s Bees Sunscreen with Hemp Seed Oil (85 ml/3 fl oz) - I honestly have had this product for much longer than I should and it’s actually embarrassing that I still had it tucked away in my drawer! I managed to use up about half of the tube and it wasn’t my favourite sunscreen. I wouldn’t repurchase it because if you don’t rub it in all the way, you will definitely have a white cast on your face and/or body. It only has an SPF of 15 and I definitely like to use something higher such as 50 or 60 on my face.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (8 count) - I have been using these for years and you have probably seen these in many of my past Empties posts. I repurchase them all the time and I always try to have a box in my cupboard as back-up because I can’t be without them!

Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens (100 sheets & Limited Edition) - I have super oily skin in general, and need to carry blotting papers with me at all times. I really enjoyed using these and they lasted me a long time! I have two other packs of Boscia blotting papers that I have as back-ups.

Hands

Origins Hand Lotion in Spearmint & Lemon (30 ml) - This was another item that was purchased at the Estee Lauder Warehouse Sale and it came in a trio. This scent honestly reminded me of spearmint gum which overpowered the lemon scent. The consistency of this hand lotion was not thick enough for my liking and it was rather liquid-y. It didn’t do much for my hands and I would not repurchase it. 

Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte (259 ml) - This is a great Fall scent to have in the house and all of my family members loved this scent! I definitely repurchase it again next season! 

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Vanilla Bean Noel (259 ml - x2) - I love vanilla scents in general and this was a great one! This soap came out around the holidays hence the Winter themed label. I would definitely repurchase this in a heart beat!

Bath & Body Works Scentportable in Honolulu Sun - This is a great scent for Spring going into summer and it reminds me of the hot summer sun! I even went through the hand soap in this scent awhile back! 

Hair

Tresemme 24 Hour Body Shampoo (1.17 L) - I am honestly so relived to have finished this bottle because I really do not like this shampoo. I feel like it did absolutely nothing for my hair and it took me forever to finish this huge bottle! I have gone through another one of these in the past that I featured in my November Empties a few years ago, and I will never purchase it again nor will I ever recommend it to someone. Tresemme makes much better products other than this shampoo that you can check out in-stores.

Vitamins/Beverages

President’s Choice Chocolatey Chai Herbal Tea (20 tea bags) - This was such a great tea from the grocery store! I love chai tea in general and this did not disappoint! You can taste both the chai flavour as well as the chocolate notes and I drank this tea black!

Emergen-C Effervescent Powder in Lemon-Lime (30 packets) - This is by far my favourite flavour of Emergen-C and if you aren’t familiar with this product, it has 1,000 mg of Vitamin C in one packet. It is a great source of electrolytes and antioxidants. I take this regularly in the fall as well as the winter time and for that reason, I am convinced this is why I was able to fight off my cold!

diem B12 Methylcobalamin (1000 mcg - 100 tablets) - I honestly found these in my medicine cabinet and started taking them because I felt like my B12 intake was low. These are super easy to take as you take a single tablet once a day and you dissolve it underneath your tongue. Of course, you should always consult with a doctor if you are unsure of any medication before taking it.

Other

Johnson’s 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (532 ml) - I bought this on sale instead of the usual baby shampoo that I buy from Johnson’s. It worked just as well but I prefer the yellow coloured formula better because that is just my personal preference. They both equally as good in my honest opinion though.

Oral B Healthy Clean Medium Toothbrush - I purchased mine from Wal-Mart and green is my favourite colour therefore I was drawn to this particular one! They did not have any soft bristle toothbrushes from Oral B and that’s why I had to purchase a medium bristle toothbrush instead. Oral B is my favourite brand when it comes to toothbrushes and this one did not disappoint!

Samples/Promo

Face

Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner (8 ml) - This was a deluxe sample from Sephora that I added to my cart in exchange for 100 of my points as it was one of their perks you could redeem points for, and I wanted to try it because of the mattifying properties that really could be beneficial for my oily skin. I also wanted to try a product from the Sunday Riley brand in general because I’ve heard nothing but good things, especially from her oils. This claims to: absorb oil, clarifies and minimizes the appearance of pores. It transforms from a cooling gel to a water toner the face which is pretty interesting. I love using my Rose Water to tone my face at night and with this toner from Sunday Riley, I felt as though I had to use more product than I normally would. I was originally applying it onto a cotton round and I felt that it was absorbing a lot of the product. I then used my fingers to apply the toner directly onto my face and I found that it was better but you have to be careful or the product will shoot across the room (as it did happen to me!) I used two pumps at night and I found that it absorbed quickly into the skin.

Also, I like that there is a green tint to the product and that it didn’t dry out my skin. It reduced the oils on my face and if you’re wondering, I used this product at night before my skincare routine. I’m not sold on purchasing the full sized version (130 ml) yet because I have another bottle of toner that I want to finish-up first. Another point I want to mention is that the second ingredient on the list is alcohol which can really dry out your skin and/or irritate it. Be cautious of that, and I have also heard of people who said the gold trim on the packaging was flaking off getting all over their face.

Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream (1 ml) - I already went through an entire deluxe sample of this that I featured in my December Empties post. I still think that it is a standard eye cream that does what it is supposed to do. It hasn’t exceeded my expectations and I’m still on the hunt for the best eye cream on the market!

Clinique Pep-Start Quick Cleansing Swipes Pop-Ups (2) - I really love the concept of these and they were be absolutely perfect to travel with! They won’t take up much room in your suitcase, you won’t have to worry about them drying out because they are individually packed and they do a decent job at removing your makeup. You basically just push up the middle part which contains the cloth and the liquid absorbs into it as you push it up. You take it out, unravel it and it is ready to use on your face. This can seem somewhat gimmicky and the price is rather steep at $13 CAD for only 9 pods which works out to about $1.44 per makeup wipe. They do remind me of cleaning cloths for your house and they aren’t thick enough if my opinion. I would not purchase them unless they reduced the price and made the cloths for heavy-duty as well as soft for using on the face.

Nuface by Carol Cole Prep-N-Glow (1 Dual-sided Cloth) - This claims to ‘cleanse + exfoliate + hydrate’ which I would agree with. It did a great job at removing my makeup and the other side is for exfoliating. It is oil-free, alcohol-free and paraben-free. This did make my face feel very clean but the only downside is the price. It is $25 CAD for 20 cloths on Sephora’s web site. I find that to be rather steep and I usually don’t pay more than $6-$8 at the most on a pack of face wipes. I would only purchase them when they are having their VIB sale because that is a lot of money to spend on something that you use only once and then throw away.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster (1 ml) - This claims to be an ultra-light formula and it is best to apply it before your serum/moisturizer. This is a gel-like consistency and there is a fragrance that I can’t quite pinpoint. However, I am not sold on it and I would not purchase this product in a larger size because I feel like it didn’t do anything to my skin that another moisturizer already doesn’t do.

Benefit Pore-fessional (0.15 ml) - This product was actually featured in my Project Pan Round 4 and Project Pan Round 5. I have gone through a whole tube of this and then a deluxe sample of this. It is that good and it made me realize how much that I missed using it! I will definitely purchase another tube of this once I use up my other primers. It helps minimize the appearance of your pores and it also smoothes your skin. 

Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer (1.5 ml) - This is a really concept and it allows you to turn your favourite cream lipstick into a matte lipstick just by applying this product onto your lips. It won’t work with glosses, lacquers or balms so keep that in mind. Instead of finding your favourite shade of lipstick in a matte finish, this product does the work for you!

Dr. Brant 3-D Lip PLUMPfix Matte Lip Perfecting Serum (0.25 g) - There are two different lip plumpers: one for the AM (plump & prime) and another one for the PM (nourish & restore.) There is definitely a slight tingling sensation for the AM side (not for the PM one though,) and you want to let the product completely absorb into your lips. It absorbs rather quickly and the AM side had a rosy pink tint to the product that isn’t very noticeable. I wouldn’t purchase this product because I feel that it is gimmicky and it doesn’t do much for my lips in-general. It doesn’t plump them enough to my liking.

Lancome Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Powder & Foundation In One All Day Wear in #555 Suede (40 mg) - This is available in 25 different shades and it claims to work with all skin tones. You can use it as a powder or a foundation. You can build-up the coverage to your liking to make it full coverage or you can sheer it out. This can be applied either wet or dry. This was a nicely packaged sample as it came with a makeup sponge to apply the product and you can write the name of your shade on the packaging along with the store as well as the name of your Beauty Advisor (if applicable.)

Hair

Nubi Hair Boosting Hair Serum - This was given to me at a show and it smells great. It contains marula oil and it does not leave the hair greasy. However, it isn’t my favourite hair oil to use and I will be sticking to the one that I am currently using.

Teeth

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel (1) & Desensitizing Gel (1) - I have really been enjoying using this system to whiten my teeth and I can tell a difference! I have an entire blog post dedicated to Smile Brilliant that you can check out!

Fragrance

Chloe Eau De Parfum - This scent is described as ‘a sublime powdery rose, feminine, natural, sexy & chic.’ The notes include: peony, rose, honey and cedar wood. My friend actually tried out the sample and liked it so much that she bought the larger sized bottle. This scent works better on her body chemistry that it does on mine. It smells matronly on me and be advised that a little bit of this fragrance does go a long way as it is on the heavy side. It takes a while for the scent to die down and not be nearly as strong as when you first applied it. 

Supplements/Vitamins & Miscellaneous

Platinum Naturals Extra Gentle Easy Iron Minerals (3 pack - 2 capsules in each) - These were sent out to me in exchange for my review and to be honest, I have had a difficult time taking iron pills in the past because they have been hard on my stomach. These were gentle on my stomach, they did not constipate me and were easy to swallow. I usually took these when I would eat my lunch and you take one capsule daily. These have many great ingredients and they are vegetarian. I would definitely consider purchasing these in the future!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY

Berrz

FTC: This blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own. Anything that falls under the samples/promo category were not purchased by myself and/or was a sample. Some links are affiliate. 

Smile Brilliant: Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
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September Empties | 2016

Hey everyone! Welcome back to another Empties post! I used up more products than I thought I did this month so let's dive right into it!

Face

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips For The Face (8 count) - I really like to use these on my nose specifically. They are my favourite pore strips that Biore makes. They are wider and are more effective in my opinion. They are my favourite pore strips at the moment and I highly recommend that you check these out at your local drugstore!

The Face Shop Blackhead Out Charcoal Nose Strip - You get one single-use nose strip in the package and I do like these more than the Biore Charcoal Nose Strips, but the Deep Cleansing Pore Strips from Biore are my current favourite! This gets the job done but I feel like you can get a box of 8 pore strips from Biore much cheaper than buying one of these nose strips at The Face Shop for $1 a piece.

Rue Beaute Hello Sunshine Make Up Wipes (25 count) - I only bought these because of the packaging to be very honest with you. I had asked the sales associate about these wipes when I was in the store and she knew absolutely nothing about them because she had never used them. I picked them up because they were only $3.99 USD. There is a weird smell to the makeup wipes and there were other patterns on the packaging of the other make up wipes they carried in the store, but I don’t know if they are all the same wipes inside. If I ever buy these again, I will only use them for removing swatches on my hands and arms. 

The Face Shop Face Mask with Rice Extract - As you know, I have been on a sheet mask kick lately and have been buying a lot of my friends sheet masks as well. These three sheet masks: Rice, Lotus and Lingzhi Mushroom are all designed with air pockets within the sheet to bring natural moisture and nourishment to the skin. This particular sheet mask has brightening properties when applied to the face. They use a Natural Squeeze-and-Extraction Process that you can read more about on the back of the packaging of the face mask.

The Face Shop Face Mask with Lotus Flower Extract - As you can probably tell, I enjoy trying face masks that are different and have unique ingredients in them. That is why I picked up this Lotus sheet mask rather than a honey or avocado one. This sheet mask is a hydrating one. It did not smell too strong like I imagined that it would and was very pleasant to use.

The Face Shop Face Mask with Lingzhi Mushroom Extract - This is a firming sheet mask and it is meant to improve the resilience of sagging skin. They use an Oriental Herb Extracting Process which is explained on the back of the packaging. 

Teeth

Colgate Total Toothpaste in Clean Mint - You have seen this product before and know that it is a paste that doesn’t do anything outstanding to my teeth. It is a very standard toothpaste.

Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste - Again, you know the drill with this toothpaste: it is a gel and it is a basic toothpaste that doesn’t particularly stand-out to me.

Body

Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Body Cream in Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin - This is the old packaging and I do like this scent in small doses, but I feel that it was hard for me to finish this tube. The smell is quite strong and at times it can be overpowering. You can only really wear it in the fall and for part of winter. I will not be repurchasing this scent unfortunately. 

Soaps

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in London - This has to be one of my all-time favourite Bath & Body Works scents and it is in the top 5 for sure. It smells incredible and is described as, 'Golden Shortbread, Candied Bing Cherries & Toasted Almonds.' This scent is very comforting, reminds me of the holidays and good times in general. I was sad to finish this soap and was using it when just foam was coming out. I need to repurchase this ASAP! I also love the design on the bottle.

Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Oh Snap! Jolly Gingerbread - You have definitely seen this before and it is not the last you will see of this scent! It is a staple in my household that everyone enjoy using and smelling this delicious gingerbread scent!

Bath & Body Works Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Boardwalk Vanilla Cone - You have seen this multiple times in the past and this is another popular hand soap in my household. This is the old packing and formula as they have changed it to a green formula and have re-done the design on the bottle.

Caffeine

President’s Choice The Great Canadian Maple Flavoured Coffee (12 single serve coffee pods) - I purchased this at The Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS) and it is such a great coffee! It really makes the entire kitchen smell incredible and when opening up the front door, this is the first thing that you smell! I used this in my Keurig machine and just so you know, the pods are 100% compostable. Another great use for the pods after you use them is to take out the leftover coffee grinds and put them on your plants or flowers!

Teavana Caramel Chai Rooibos Tea - I purchased this tea and the Oprah Chai at the same time when Teavana was having 75% off select teas. I also tweeted about this. My mom loved this loose leaf tea more than the Oprah Chai. 

Teavana Oprah Chai Black Tea - This was my personal favourite and I remember being in Michigan when this tea was making it’s debut and people were going crazy for it! I love chai teas in general and this has a nice flavour to it. There is a bold infusion with a little spice to it! 

Other

Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies with Biotin (80 count) - I feature these all the time and you already know how much that I love these gummies. They are a staple for me and you won’t find me without these!

Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Shampoo in Calming Lavender - I use this shampoo to deep clean my makeup brushes and I have been using this for years. I alternate between this one and the yellow one. I try to stock-up when they go on sale.

Bath & Body Works Scentportable Fragrance Refill in Island Margarita - I love this scent in general and it smells amazing in my car! I have received many compliments from friends and family members that enter my car! 

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - I have a blog post where I cut open this sponge and show you what it inside of it. I have been using this sponge for 8-9 months and it held up through many washes and through lots of use! It is a great sponge to use to apply creams, liquids and powders. I would definitely recommend that you check it out as it gets the job done and is not as expensive as the beauty blender. I purchased mine at Wal-Mart and you can try looking at CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rexall or Shoppers Drug Mart depending on where you live. 

Samples/Promo

Pure Silk Rich & Luxurious Shave Cream in Raspberry Mist - It claims to be moisturizing with aloe. I would agree with that statement but it claims to be a rust-proof can and I would have to disagree with that. The part that connects the can to the nozzle did rust around the perimeter and created a ring of rust inside the cap. Other than that, I do like the actual product inside (it was a thicker white formula that came out of the nozzle,) and the scent was incredible! I received this as a sample at CVS when I was in The States.

The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalizing Sleeping Cream (2 samples) - I received both of these in-store as samples and I had read some negative reviews on the web site about the scent of this product and that it irritated people’s skin. I was slightly hesitant to try it out but I am glad that I did because I have absolutely no complaints about the smell and this product worked wonders on my skin! It made it very soft the next day and more radiant. There was absolutely no irritation to my skin. There are 3 Precious Seed Oils inside from around the world and there are also 7 Powerful Essential Oils.  

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches (1 pair) - I received this in the Skin Saver 4-Piece Kit from Peter Thomas Roth as a bonus item. I had no idea that these were included inside until I opened up the box and read the little text at the bottom of the box. I had heard many people raving about these lately and was excited to try them out! They are definitely luxurious because they “are infused with pure 24K Gold and Colloidal Gold to help lift and firm the appearance of the delicate eye area in just 10 minutes.” 

I do not have much puffiness under my eye area and I do not have many wrinkles or Crow’s Feet. I did feel a cooling sensation and my under-eye area felt refreshed as well as more awake but, I can’t justify spending that kind of money on the full sized product for a problem that I do not have. Maybe in the future but right now, it is not practical for me to go out and purchase this.

The Face Shop Brightening & Soothing 3-Step Programming Kit (2 kits) - I had mentioned that I would let you know how I liked this 3-Step Mask Kit in another blog post and I am here to let you know my thoughts! First of all, let’s talk about the obvious: THE PACKAGING! I absolutely hate how wide it is and how much space it takes up in a drawer. Now, I thought that the 3 steps were going to be inconvenient and time consuming but I was wrong. The 3 steps are very easy to follow and doesn’t take up much time at all. You first go in with a jumbo cotton swab that is soaked with Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) to exfoliate and clean the skin. You just simply pat or wipe it on your face from the centre out and make sure to focus on your problem areas but don’t go too close to your eye or mouth area. 

Secondly, you go in with the Soothing Serum after step 1 aka the peeling agent has completely soaked into the skin. You just apply an even layer to the skin again, making sure to apply from the centre out. The last step is to apply the sheet mask that has moisturizing properties to it as there is both aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. It will then help your face look more radiant and healthy. I agree with it and even those these two kits were included with my order at no additional cost because it was part of a promotional offer, I really enjoyed using it and would purchase them with my own money in the future! 

Clif Organic Trail Mix Bar in Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter - I received this as promo when I was outside in the GTA. I do like to eat Clif bars in general and my favourite kind is the Chocolate Chip one and I also like the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut bar. These particular bars are: Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten Free and a great source of Fibre. It tastes great and is 190 calories if you eat the entire bar. I do want to try the Clif Organic Trail Mix bar in Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond next! 

Dove Dry Spray 48 Hour Protection Anti-Perspirant in Cool Essentials - I have quite a few things to say about this dry spray. First off: it failed to deliver and I found myself reapplying this product 2-3 times a day. I really don’t sweat a lot under my armpits but I felt the need to refresh myself because during the hot summer days, it is much needed! It certainly did not last for 48 hours and not even for 8 hours! I do like this smell and I would not use this product again. I did shake it before I used it every time and it was very convenient to throw into my bag or purse. It is good for sharing and great if you are on set and can use it on your different actors or models for the time being. I do like Dove deodorants in general but this one I did not like. Luckily for me, I did not purchase this product because it was part of a promo.

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Gel & Desensitizing Gel - As you most likely already saw, I do have an entire blog post dedicated to Smile Brilliant along with my results and the process. If you are interested, feel free to read it and if you are reading this before October 7th, 2016, make sure to enter my contest that I have in collaboration with Smile Brilliant! I really like the idea they have of each person having custom whitening trays designed for them in order for each person to have a unique experience when whitening their teeth. I also love that they included a desensitizing gel because most whitening products do not come with one and that can leave my teeth feeling very sensitive the next day to hot & cold foods. I have no sensitivity the next day after using the Desensitizing Gel! My teeth also became much whiter after using their Teeth Whitening Gel. Check out my blog post if you don’t believe me!

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. This blog post is not sponsored but some links are affiliate links. 

Smile Brilliant - Use code beautybyberrz for 5% off your entire order
Third Love - Use code BRABLEMS for 15% off your next order
Uber - Get your first ride FREE using promo code: amandab9033ue

Shop Hope's Online - Get 15% off your first purchase
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Coastal Scents - Get $5 off your next online purchase
Ebates Canada - Get cash back on your online purchases
Ebates (Everywhere else in the world) - Get cash back on your online purchases
Hautelook - A flash sale web site you don't want to miss out on! 

Smile Brilliant | How I Brightened My Smile in 5 Days |

Hey everyone! As an avid coffee drinker, I am definitely always on the look-out for great whitening products and I think I have finally found what I have been searching for all along! Smile Brilliant had contacted me that the perfect time when I had been researching other methods of whitening my teeth. They offer an easy at-home teeth whitening system that is very convenient to use! 

After 5 whitening treatments!

It is delivered to your home, no appointment is necessary and it will save you some money rather than having a professional whitening done at a dental office. I have definitely seen a difference in the colour of my teeth after only two whitening treatments!

In the past, I have tried white strips, whitening pens and trays that came in a boxed kit that didn’t fit my mouth properly because it was a ‘one size fit all’ type of deal. What is great about Smile Brilliant is that they offer a Tray Creation Kit that lets you take impressions of your upper and lower teeth. It is very easy to do and they walk you through all of the steps. 

The first and most important step is to brush and floss your teeth very well to ensure that they are as clean as they can be before you create your moulds. You then go into your kit and combine the Catalyst Paste and the Base Paste together by folding them in half for 60 seconds or less. 

Step 3 is to take your putty that you have been folding in half (it should now be a solid blue with no white streaks,) and spread it evenly in the tray in under 30 seconds. After the putty has been evenly distributed, you can go onto the next step but I must mention that you should only do 1 tray at a time. Next, you want to make your upper impression first. Smile Brilliant does provide you with an extra set if needed but I personally, did not need to use it. 

Essentially, you want to push the tray up onto your teeth so that it goes straight up and all the teeth hit the putty at the same time. You want to push it up deep enough so that the putty flows over. You might want to have a timer handy because you want to leave the tray in your mouth for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or whenever the material becomes firm enough. Once you take the tray out, check that everything looks good and then repeat the same process on the lower teeth! It is advised that your impressions are left for 30 minutes and then rinse them under cool water. I left them overnight and then rinsed them in the morning. The last step is to mail them back to Smile Brilliant and they will email you letting you know that they have received your trays as well as when your custom trays have been shipped out to you. 

Once you receive your custom trays (mine fit perfectly and I was very impressed with them,) you will want to begin whitening your teeth right away! In your kit, you have both the Teeth Whitening Gel as well as The Desensitizing Gel. You will go in first with the Whitening Gel and follow the instructions. Each syringe gives you about 3-4 applications on both the upper and lower teeth but I can stretch it out and get 6 uses out of one syringe. Do not use too much gel or more than you need. The first time I used my trays, I left them in for 1 hour and 10 minutes and each time after that, I was able to keep in the trays for that same amount of time. It really depends on your level of sensitivity and what you are comfortable with. Make sure to rinse and dry your trays after this step. Also, brush your teeth with toothpaste after you have finished whitening your teeth.

After that is completed, it is time for the Desensitizing Gel to work its magic and you will wear the trays for 15-20 minutes. Like the previous step, you will want to apply an even amount of the gel to the part of the tray that actually hits the teeth. Once that time is up, you will spit out any remaining gel - DO NOT rinse your teeth with water and don’t eat or drink for at least 30 minutes. I personally like to whiten my teeth before I go to sleep. That is the ideal time for me but of course, it varies from person-to-person. 

I really love that they included the Desensitizing Gel because with other whitening products that I have used in the past, I noticed that my teeth became very sensitive in the morning and it was hard to eat or drink hot or cold items especially. Now, I do not have this problem whatsoever and I have a solution which is this fabulous gel!

I mentioned that I have used different forms of whitening in the past and my teeth were not very yellow to begin with, but even after two uses, I noticed that my teeth had become whiter. Now after 5 at-home whitening sessions, my teeth have never been whiter and I have been receiving a lot of compliments! I love to smile and show my pearly whites off to the world!  

(My teeth are actually this white in real life and I have not changed the exposure in this photo.)

Smile Brilliant was also generous enough to offer a GIVEAWAY for my readers that you are welcome to enter. You have two weeks to enter from today’s date and the last day to enter is on October 7th. There will be 1 winner that Smile Brilliant will contact directly. The winner will receive their very own Tray Creation Kit! It is an international giveaway! 

If you would like to purchase directly off Smile Brilliant’s web site, you can receive 5% off your entire order using the code beautybyberrz at checkout. The code is valid for one month.

To find out more about Smile Brilliant, feel free to check out their web site and you can even watch a great video to learn more about them! 

How my teeth looked like before using Smile Brilliant!

A close-up of my teeth before!

UPDATE: The only thing that I do not like is that some of the labels on the syringes are peeling off. I haven't done anything to cause this and it quite strange. Also, I have noticed this more in the Desensitizing Gels, a lot of product will squirt out at once and you really can't control it. You obviously can't put the product back into the syringe so you just have to spread it around your whitening tray(s). These are very minor things, but I still wanted to mention them in-case someone else experienced the same thing happening to them.

Until next time,

STAY CLASSY.

Berrz <3

P.S. The Tray Creation Kit was sent to me by Smile Brilliant but all opinions are my own and honest. If there is a domestic winner (living in the USA,) shipping will be free. If the winner is international, they will have to cover the cost of shipping & the cost of the impressions mailed back to their lab.

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