Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Specialist Voxbox

Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Specialist

Hi Savvys!

I was so surprised to have received the Vichy Liftactiv Collagen Specialist VoxBox complimentary for review. I am getting into a more comprehensive skincare routine and am always looking for new products to try.

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I’ve noticed a trend recently about collagen products, which helps firm up aging skin. I was curious to see what this could do for my skin since my skin is still pretty firm and fine line free.

Upon opening the container, I found that it was really strong smelling. It was actually kind of off putting because I am not used to products that are so strong. I’ve used other Vichy products before and have noticed that in general, they do tend to be strong smelling, but this was really uncomfortable.

The packing is pretty and they do have really good ingredients, like vitamin c, is made without parabens and is hypoallergenic. I used this for 3 days and did notice that my skin felt immediately firmer and plumper.

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Overall, I do not think I would purchase this product because of the smell. I’m sure I can find similar products that is less stress on my nostrils. Hope you guys found this review helpful.

See below link for my video!

Now set forth and be Savvy!

Garlic Dill Pickles

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Hi Savvys!

Being savvy often means that I’m so stubborn that I need to make everything as closest to scratch as possible.  This also means that I can be creative and add/remove ingredients to suit my taste buds.  These pickles are my dream come true!  These are sour, bold in garlic flavour and fresh from the dill.  I re-used an old bulk pickle jar to pickle these, but you can choose to use 2 1L mason jars for the recipe below.

You can increase/decrease the ratio of spices below, but keep the sugar, salt, water and vinegar the same!

Now set forth and be savvy!

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 5-8 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tsp peppercorn
  • ¼ cup packed dillweed with stems
  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 12 pickling cucumbers

Directions

For the jar:

To prepare your jar, I just wash with hot water and soap and leave to completely dry before using it.

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For the brine:

Bring the water, salt, sugar, garlic and peppercorn to a boil and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, turn it off the heat and add the vinegar, mix and set aside.

Slice the cucumbers with a mandolin so it’s to your desired thickness. I like to cut mine so it’s about 3/16  inch thick.  You can cut it into wedges or even leave whole depending on how you like your pickles.

Place the dill weed and the cucumbers into your cleaned jar.  Pour the brine mixture into the jar until all of the cucumbers are submerged.

Now the pickles are ready to sit in the fridge.  Let it marinate for minimum 1 week, but the longer you wait the better they taste.  I’ve kept my pickles for as long as 6 months and they’ve been fine.

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Baked Vegan Samosas

Baked Vegan Samosas

Hi Savvys!

Every year for New Year’s eve, my family hosts a party with lots of food, games and family.  I’ve gotten into the tradition of helping to make most of the appetizers with my sisters.  Since moving to Toronto, I now like to prep a lot of the appetizers before arriving to Montreal, and freezing them until we’re ready to bake them.

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These samosas are wrapped in phyllo dough and filled with lots of spices and veggies.  The recipes calls for lots of pantry staples and veggies that you usually already have on hand.  These are my take on samosas, and have become a family favourite.

I hope your family enjoys them as much as my own!

Enjoy, set forth, and be savvy!

Recipe makes 24-30 samosas

Prep Time: 60 minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients

Samosas

  • 6 small potatos (or large potatos), cubed (yields about 4 cups of potatoes)
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 tbsp oil of your choice (try not to use coconut oil)
  • ½ tsp coriander seed
  • ½ tsp mustard seed
  • ½ tsp cumin seed
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • ¼ tsp hot chilli powder
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup frozen green peas
  • ½ cup frozen corn
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Hand full of cilantro, chopped
  • 1 package of phyllo dough

Directions:

Preparing the veggies:

Peel and cut the potatoes into bite sized pieces about ½ inch cubes.  Set aside in a large bowl.

Grate the ginger, mince the garlic and dice the onion and set aside in another bowl.

Preparing the filling:

Heat the oil on medium high in a frying pan (large enough to fit all of the potatoes in).  Fry the coriander, mustard and cumin seeds in the oil until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Add the bowl of ginger, garlic and onions and fry till fragrant, about 2-5 minutes.

Now add the potatoes and cook for about 4 minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients except for the frozen green peas, corn, cilantro and phyllo dough.  Cook for another 7 minutes until the potatoes are tender.  You may need to add a bit more water to prevent the filling from sticking to the pan.

Add the frozen green peas, corn and cilantro and stir until heated through.

Set aside to cool and prepare your working area for the phyllo dough.

Assembly:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Unroll and lay out the phyllo sheets onto a baking sheet and place a damp cloth on top to prevent drying.

Prepare another baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Take a single sheet of phyllo dough, and cut it in half lengthwise so that you have 2 pieces for 2 samosas.

Now take 1 of the halves and place a tbsp of filling in the top left corner, and fold the sheet in half again lengthwise so that you’ve created a little pocket for the filling.  Now fold the filling side down so it creates a triangle – continue to fold the filling into a triangle shape and place on a the baking sheet with the seam side down.

Continue to make the samosas by making 2 with 1 sheet of phyllo dough.

Bake the samosas for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

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Covergirl Exhibitionist Mascara Review

COVERGIRL Exhibitionist Mascara Review

Hi Savvys!

I’m so happy to have received Influenster’s Covergirl Exhibitionist VoxBox.  With Covergirl’s new success of becoming cruelty free, it sends a signal to other beauty companies that as consumers, this is what we want!  We don’t want our products tested on animals while we still want the same quality expected from these large companies.

With the launch of this VoxBox to help socialize Covergirl’s new cruelty free status, the products for review include the Exhibitionist mascara, liquid eyeliner and lipstick.

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The mascara: there’s been so much hype about this Exhibitionist Mascara that I had developed high hopes for it.  I decided not to curl my lashes before apply it because I wanted to see how it would hold up to my straight and stubby lashes.  I was a bit disappointed because it didn’t make my lashes look any thicker than how they usually look.  I was impressed however that it was able to curl my lashes and make it look slightly different.

The liquid eyeliner: you definitely need to have a steady hand if you are not used to liquid liners.  It had been a few years since the last time I tried liquid liners and I must say I loved it.  It went on smoothly and dried pretty quickly.  I really helped completed my look along with my mascara for an overall finished look.

The lipstick: I LOVE this lipstick!  It glides on smoothly and is such a luscious shade of red.  I will definitely be wearing this shade in the future.

Hope you guys found this review helpful.  As someone who doesn’t wear makeup often, it was very helpful to have received all 3 products to help me complete my look for any  occasion.  I do have to say I will definitely be thinking about applying this more in my daily routine!

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See below link for my video!

Now set forth and be Savvy!