Thursday 29 October 2015

Creative Thinking & Free Therapy

One year ago I bought a townhouse to live in with my two children.  Ending a ten year relationship was incredibly difficult, but I have been blessed with a wonderful man who made sure that I was best prepared to start this next chapter of my life. Being a single parent again has taken some adjusting, and sometimes we need to be a little more creative when it comes to unexpected costs.  Here is the baseline for this post.  The washer and dryer in my townhouse work....but they don't work great.  To dry one load of laundry takes approximately 90-120 minutes.  Sometimes that doesn't even work! Strata rules keep me from hanging laundry outside and I can see my hydro bills climbing from the extended periods (non-energy star) of running. Often my stairwell looks like a mini laundromat, but it has worked for the temporary time being.

I have made the decision to replace the machines which not only increases the value of my home, but should reduce my monthly utility bills by installing energy efficient appliances.  The only downside is finding the money to replace them.  Insert creative thinking!!

First Idea
I have been labelled in the past as a "mini hoarder".  I'm not terrible, but I do hold onto some things a little longer than necessary.  Clothes that I hope will one day fit again, clothes that I may end up gaining weight and need again, shoes I may need even though I am physically unable to wear high heels (doctor orders).  You know the drill.  I cleared out my clothes and posted them all on a local buy and sell site.  The response was fantastic!  I had priced it all inexpensive as I kept the thought in mind that I wanted it out of my house.  I started a jar and put any money earned into the jar.
Second Idea
I love baking.  I find it theraputic and relaxing.  It's a great way to relieve stress.  I like thinking up new concoctions and what the end result will be.  With a lot of prompting from my family, I offered my gingersnap cookies for sale at $5/dozen.  Word got out and within two weeks I had made and sold 42 dozen cookies!
Third Idea
This one is a continuation of the second idea.  The cookies were such a hit that I was approached by a few people for cakes and cupcakes.  It's been a lot of fun trying out new tastes and techniques, especially at a time when so many people have a wide range of dietary restrictions.  I've baked sugar free, dairy free, gluten free, and sometimes at midnight.....sanity free!

As of last count, I have saved $1500.00.  I can't wait until the day I walk in and pay cash for my new appliances.  I don't care that I have to count out all of those $5 and $10 bills, I get to walk out of there with no more debt than when I walked in.  The plan is to paint the walls as well as replace shelving above the appliances.  I found a shelving unit that I felt would be perfect, and my extremely talented father has already completed building it.  As soon as a good sale is on for the appliances, the renovation will commence. Stay tuned for the before and after pictures!

This post was simply to tell you to think "outside of the box".  We all have different talents...the trick is to find out what yours is and sharing it with someone whose talents differ from yours.  Need some electrical work done?  Perhaps you know of a guy who is one but you can't really afford to hire him.  Maybe he likes home baking?  Maybe he needs his house cleaned?  Maybe he would like family photos taken?  In older times, people traded for time and products.  Find something you love and use it to get the things you need.  Little by little you will achieve your goals.  Just be patient and keep the faith.

Until next time....

BzzAgent Product Review - Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara

I don't wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis.  Actually, all that I do wear is eyeliner and mascara.  I think is is mainly because I am a slug in the morning and don't have enough time or energy for anything more!  In addition, I have very sensitive skin and tend to react to a lot of different products. That being said, as I only purchase two different items, I tend to choose higher end "better quality" products.  When I was notified that I had been selected to review Covergirl's new LashBlast line of mascara, I was intrigued but not very optimistic that it would meet or exceed my current brand of mascara.
There are four different types of mascara in the new LashBlast line.  This means "a blast for every lash!"  I chose Covergirl's LashBlast Fusion mascara to review.  This mascara claims to make your eyelashes look fuller and longer, maximizing the lashes you were born with.  I was happily surprised when I received my package and the handy $2 off coupons for me to share with others.

The next morning I carefully set aside my current mascara and opened up my Covergirl LashBlast Fusion mascara.  The container fits comfortably in the hand and opens with ease.  The bristles on the wand were different from other mascaras I have tried in the past.  These bristles were quite short but there were way more bristles than others.  With just a few strokes I had ample mascara on my lashes, making it economical and fast.  I reviewed my results in the mirror and saw this....
I was born with fairly dark lashes but I have never had such great results!  It felt like each and every lash was successfully covered and lengthened to it's maximum.  With just one application I had achieved better results than my other, more expensive, boutique mascara.  I figured that there would be no way this mascara would last all day.
I was wrong!  This mascara provided all day coverage with zero flaking, running or other messes. There was no need for touch ups or re-applying.  I have continued using this product and can open and honestly tell you that I have had steady, continued success.  This mascara also easily transforms your look from day to night with an additional swipe of the wand.

This mascara has now taken the place of my boutique mascara.  It delivers the same or better results at a fraction of the cost.  I have yet to try the other three types in the Covergirl LashBlast line (Volume, Clump Crusher, Full Lash Bloom) but intend to try them all in the future.  Easily available at many retailers (I personally found them in Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Walmart, and Save On Foods), this product retails for approximately $9.99.  I also appreciate that the Covergirl brand regularly goes on sale or offers coupons to their consumers.  This makes it an economical choice for a wide range of consumers.
I highly recommend going out and trying this product. I was one of those "high end" makeup consumers and I can honestly say that I prefer this mascara over the others.  Thank you BzzAgent for choosing me to review the Covergirl LashBlast Fusion mascara and discovering this hidden gem!

I received this product and coupons from BzzAgent and Covergirl for purpose of review #GotitFree



Tuesday 1 September 2015

Well that was ten minutes of my life well spent!

I've been a little MIA lately and I've made a promise to myself to be a little more consistent with my posts.  After all, there are so many great savings, creative projects, and delicious recipes that are waiting to be shared!  Case in point - Clairol Nice n Easy Root Touch up.

I've been lucky enough to be a "BzzAgent' for the past few years.  Based on your profile, demographics, and lifestyle, there are various "campaigns" that you qualify for.  This means that they will send you new products to sample, review, and provide your honest feedback. Seems simple right?  It is!  Betcha you are wondering why you haven't signed up yet, right?  Me too!

Clairol Nice n Easy Root Touch up addresses a common problem for many people that colour their hair.  It feels so good when you have your hair coloured and is such a boost to your confidence.  Unfortunately, after a few weeks you start to notice your roots beginning to show.....especially if they are grey!  There's no way you have the time or the budget to go back to the salon so soon, but those grey roots make you want to wear a toque....in the summer. ;)



The Clairol Root Touch up kit contains everything you will need, from disposable gloves to mixing bowl.  Instructions are easy to follow and the mess is minimum.  I appreciated the fact that the scent wasn't overpowering.  As a long time sufferer of sensitive skin, I find that strong scented hair colours tend to make my skin react in rash.  The Clairol kits are available in 21 different shades which makes it much simpler to match with your current hair colour.

Now, the best part.  The colour has to sit and soak for ten minutes!  Ten!  That's it!  That's less time between commercial breaks on your favorite reality tv show!  Like many other people out there, this single mom never seems to have enough time to do ANYTHING.  Clairol Nice n Easy Root Touch up eliminates all of your excuses.  They state that the colour will last approximately three weeks and will gradually fade/wash out.

I found the product to be very user friendly and the result was super shiny, smooth grey-free hair.  The colour blended nicely with my natural colour and I received lots of compliments on how shiny and healthy my hair looked.  As a consumer, I like the fact that the Clairol line of products are reasonably priced and regularly go on sale or provide coupons.  BzzAgent provided me with a handful of $2 off coupons with my touch up kit and I happily shared them with friends and family.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience with Clairol Nice n Easy Root Touch up and I thank BzzAgent for providing me with the opportunity to test.  Please note that I was given a sample and coupons from BzzAgent for purpose of reviewing. #GotItFree #Clairol #BzzAgent
<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/clairolRoot.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=9322789924&Campaign=3077039775&Uid=1125862&token=bfeaadf60d868094aa7e67b864f85d48" alt=""/>



Friday 3 April 2015

Advanced Screening Passes to Disneynature Monkey Kingdom

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Disneynature's "Monkey Kingdom" Advanced Screening Passes Giveaway


heck out this great opportunity through a fellow blogger.  Please check out her site and take your chances at passes to what looks like another top quality Disney movie.  At 20yrs old, my daughter will STILL cuddle up beside me on the couch to watch a Disney movie.


ONE (1) lucky winner (Canada only) will receive 2 passes for the prescreening in Vancouver/Burnaby area onSaturday, April 11th at 10:00am, SilverCity Metropolis in Burnaby. Contest ends April 7th, 2015 at 11:59pm EST. One entrant per household. Void where prohibited by law. Enter to win using the form below. Good luck!

http://jennieyuen.blogspot.ca/2015/0...y-kingdom.html

Monday 16 March 2015

Thank Heaven for 711 - Making Fridays Extra Special!

For me, Fridays are already pretty great.  Not only is it the last day of my work week, but it's also the one day a week we are able to wear jeans to work (casual Fridays). Nothing makes for a comfortable work day like stretch jeans and moccasins!  Recently I discovered one more way to make Fridays even better........enter the 711 smartphone app!

711 has started a new marketing tool that appeals to the new technical revolution and draw more customers through their doors.  Consumers are invited to download the app for free and a variety of special deals and promotions become available for purchase.  Here is an example of what it looks like:
A variety of ever changing options are available......from reduced prices of hot coffee to super sizing your slurpee for a fraction of the cost.  It's a great incentive to bring people through it's doors.  There is a barcode on the home page of the app that the cashier will scan with your purchase.  Once the cashier hits the subtotal, the cash register will automatically deduct any sales or specials currently available on your smartphone app.

The best part of this application though (in my opinion), is something they call "Freebie Fridays".  Every Friday, 711 will offer a limited quantity of a selected item for FREE.  There is a limit of one per customer (in order for more people to enjoy). This "freebie" changes on a weekly basis.  I have seen a variety of items from a free coffee to a fresh baked cookie or chocolate bar.  This past Friday, it was a free bottle of Jones soda 355ml (any flavour).
Jones Pineapple Cream Soda 355ml
As you can tell, my teenage son thought this was a great deal and it was already half gone before I could snap a photo! I was responsible for the bottle deposit and environmental levy's, but the $2.09 price of the soda was deducted at the till.  It's a fun, free way to start the day and to try to guess what it will be each week.  My daughter gets a ride to work with me on Fridays and we now refer to the day as "Freebie Friday" and make sure we allow enough time to stop by.

On a side note, 711 also celebrates holiday spirit with this smartphone app.  During December, they offer "Twelve days of Christmas freebies".  Each day for twelve consecutive days, they offer a limited quantity of different items for free.

It seems that this free smartphone app is the gift that keeps giving!  I hope this post makes your Fridays just a little bit brighter like it did ours.




Thursday 12 March 2015

Indulging your Sweet Tooth Without Breaking the Bank

You should never EVER go to the store when you are hungry.  I know this, I live this, and yet there are times when I find myself listening to my inner sugar monster rather than my common sense.  This happened last night when I popped into the local Walmart to buy eggs on my way home from work.

With the greatest of intentions, I made a beeline for the eggs.  While I was there, I grabbed a carton of Tropicana orange juice that I had an FPC for (Free Product Coupon).  BUT, then I thought I would just take a quick peek at the cleaning supplies because Walmart has been clearing out a bunch of items recently due to discontinue and package change.  In the end I'm glad I did because there were some fantastic deals to be had!  The down side?  I had to walk past a section that just happened to have sour jube jubes in eyesight.  Sigh......I really really like sour jube jubes.  Before I could think about my expanding waistline, into my buggy they went (In hindsight, I should never have grabbed a buggy to pick up eggs...it gave me far too much carrying space!)

I almost made it to the till when I saw the Veggie Sticks.  My salty monster is almost as bad as my sweet one and I compensate by telling myself I'm eating vegetables rather than just potato chips. This was also the moment I realized I needed to get out of the store and go home for dinner!  Here is what I ended up with:

Sweet & Sensible Shopping (Tropicana orange juice not pictured)
The Breakdown:
Garden Veggie Straws - $2.97 - $0.50 Zweet (online coupon app) = $2.47
Sour Jube Jubes - $1.67
Large Eggs - $2.78
Finish Quantum Dishwasher Tabs 38 - $3.50 (Regular price $9.97)
Pledge Floor Cleaner - $2.00 (Regular Price $7.97)
Windex Touch ups - $1.00 (Regular Price $4.97) PLUS I had a $2.00 coupon making this item a money maker of $1.00!
Tropicana Orange Juice 2L - $3.47 - $3.47 FPC (Pepsi.ca held a promotion during Superbowl that if you spent $20.00 on their products at one time, they would mail you a coupon booklet worth $30.00. This is one of the coupons from that booklet)
Total Price with Taxes - $18.67
Minus Coupons & FPC - $12.70

Hold on.....it gets better!
MINUS - $7.00 Snap Saves (online couponing app) with the purchase of ANY Pledge Floor Cleaner (the one I paid $2.00 for which means they PAID me $5.00 to buy it!)

Grand Total:  $5.70

Granted, if I hadn't bought the treats then my total would have been even better (and healthier) at $1.01 but I'm happy with the numbers I achieved.  My kids were happy as well when I arrived home with treats for everyone!

Just another example of how being in the right place at the right time can pay off (or make you NOT pay!).  It can be very beneficial to take a few extra minutes to see what in-store sales and promotions may be on.  With five minutes out of my day, I was able to satisfy the sweet & salty monsters, the teenagers (creatures in themselves), and the dust bunnies hiding in the corners of my house.

I almost forgot to mention the icing on the cake.  The kids were so happy with the treats that my amazing daughter offered to give me a gel nail polish manicure!  Pampering in the comfort of my home by my favorite girl at the end of a long day.........priceless.

Until next time!



Friday 27 February 2015

The Love Affair Continues......Shoppers Drug Mart

The sun was shining and I needed to purchase some stamps for work, so I stopped in at my favorite Shoppers Drug Mart.  There's nothing better than being able to score a few great deals at the same time as completing your errands for work.  I quick stop at their postal station in the back of the store and I was free to pick up a few things.

Once again Shoppers had some great deals this week.  The deals are even better when you match them up with coupons!  I was able to get a few really great deals by using some coupons I had on hand as well as a few of the weekly coupons that are emailed to me by Shoppers.

Royale Tiger Towels Paper Towels - Regularly retailing for around $5.99, this week they were advertised for $3.99.  There is currently a contest running at www.royalepromotions.ca where you have an opportunity to win a variety of products.  There is also an "instant win" game you can play.  I was lucky enough to "win" during the instant win game and received a $3.00 Royale Tiger Towels coupon that was available to print.  You know what that means.......paper towel for $0.99!

U by Kotex Tampons - I have a picky daughter who will ONLY use this brand of feminine hygiene products.  The couponer in me cringes when I see other brands go for better deals, but that just makes my donations to the women's center even better.  Regularly priced at $5.99 for the 18pk, this week they were featured for $4.99.  One of my weekly emailed coupons was for $3.00 off ANY tampons!  I was able to pick up a box for $1.99!!

Pledge - This handy little cleaner is a pricey one, retailing at $7.49.  This week it was a great sale at $3.99 per can.  How happy was I to discover that my online couponing app "SnapSaves" had an offer of $4.00 rebate for one can of Pledge (limit of one per transaction)?  The put one penny IN my pocket before taxes!

I was stopped by one of the lovely sales associates as I was shopping to direct my attention to a section in the store of clearance priced items. Wishing I had my coupons with me....I saw some amazing deals that I couldn't pass up!  Herbal Essence Shampoo with bonus Dry Shampoo retails for $5.49.  Shoppers clearance was $1.25 each when you purchase 2!  Honest!  $1.25!  Herbal Essence Conditioner (the big 500ml bottles) regularly $5.99 was on clearance for $1.12 each when you purchase 2!  So I purchased 2 bottles of shampoo, 2 bottles of conditioner, received two bottles of dry shampoo as a bonus, and paid $4.74! Before your jaw hits the ground.....wait....it gets better!  Another online couponing app, Checkout 51, currently has an offer for $2.00 rebate when you purchase one bottle of Herbal Essence Shampoo AND one bottle of Herbal Essence Conditioner!  There is a limit of one rebate per week.......BUT.....that means I purchased SIX bottles of hair products for a grand total of $2.74 before taxes!  That's $0.46 a bottle!

Last but not least is a regular deal at Shoppers and one I use often.  My email coupon was $0.49 for any Campbells soup.  Regularly priced at $2.29, I saved $1.80 by using this coupon. I use this soup in lots of recipes or simply with a grilled cheese sandwich.  I also bought a bag of Jelly Belly Valentine Jelly Beans (don't judge me, it was lunchtime and I was huuuungry!).  These were regularly priced at $4.99 but were on clearance for $1.00.  I have a weakness for gourmet jelly beans so in my opinion, it was $1.00 well spent!

To summarize, if I had bought all of these products at regular price, not taking advantage of sales or coupons, my total would have been $54.28.  By taking advantage of sale prices and still not using any coupons or discounts, I would have lowered my costs to an impressive $23.25.  With taking advantage of sales, coupons and discounts, my grand total today was $8.73.  That is a savings of 84% from regular price, and 62% off the sale price.

Happy Shopping!


Friday 20 February 2015

Shoppers Drug Mart - My loyalty you will forever have

My love affair with Shoppers Drug Mart began many years ago simply by chance.  It was a new store that had opened up in my town and it was convenient to fill my prescriptions there.  Due to some major health issues in my family, I tend to be at Shoppers a LOT.  On any given week, I will be in Shoppers Drug Mart for one reason or another 2-3 times.

What I never expected was the amazing customer service each and every time I walk through the doors.  I have never felt like a bother or inconvenience.  I have had specialty items brought in just for me and I have had phone calls at home to remind me or notify me of something they thought I should know.  They know and embrace the fact that I am a couponer......patiently sorting and entering each coupon or opening another till to keep lineups at a minimum.  I have had store clerks find me in the store to let me know of an item that may have just been put on clearance that I hadn't noticed!  They celebrate my savings and help me find the best ways to keep my family healthy and happy.  I cannot tell you enough how lucky I am to be a customer at their store.

Shortly after they opened, Shoppers Drug Mart introduce their Shoppers Optimum program.  With their store card, you receive 10 points for every dollar spent at their store (excluding gift certificates, tobacco, and gambling). You also accumulate points on your prescriptions!  Yeehaw!  Once you reach various levels of points, you can cash them in for store product (excluding the same restrictions).  Points redemption levels are as follows:

8,000 points = $10
22,000 points = $30
38,000 points = $60
50,000 points = $85
95,000 points = $170

Those points?  You can cash them in on almost anything.  Need milk and bread and it's still three days till payday?  No problem!  Need to buy the family stocking stuffers that seem to add up so quickly?  Done!  Does your daughter long for a special perfume that is out of your budget but you know exactly how she would react seeing it on her birthday?  Do it!  Even better, the store holds promotions over the year when they actually give you MORE than your points are normally worth!  (ex. at Christmas there will be a "bonus" redemption where your 50,000 points will be worth $100.00 instead of the usual $85.00)

Shoppers will also host a variety of sales that will give you the opportunity to accumulate your points faster. A regular occurrence is to receive 20x the points when you spend a minimum of $50.00 or more before taxes.  If you sign up online to monitor your Shoppers Optimum card, you will also get bonus points simply for signing up!

You can also opt in to have special offers emailed to you on a weekly basis.  These are limited to one per transaction, but you are able to do multiple transactions throughout the week.  Just remember to break them up into separate orders.

I had some great email coupon offers this week and I thought I would show how you can save money with just a little bit of time and only a couple of coupons.

Coupon 1 - Get ANY Campbell's Soup and pay $0.49
I chose a can of Reduced Fat Cream of Chicken Soup as my family uses this all the time in recipes or to have on rainy nights with grilled cheese sandwiches
Regular Price - $2.29
My Price - $0.49
Savings - $1.80

Coupon 2 - Pay $1.30 when you buy ANY eggs
These coupons are great because they don't specify what type of eggs you must buy.  Ever wanted to know what free range organic eggs tasted like but couldn't afford it?  You can now! This time I chose Burnbrae Large Brown Eggs
Regular Price - $3.99
My Price - $1.30
Saved - $2.69

I also picked up a package of Chips Ahoy Ice Cream Flavors (Chocolate Chip Mint) cookies that were on sale for $1.99.  I snapped a picture of my receipt for my online couponing app "Checkout 51" that will reimburse me $1.25 for one package of those cookies this week.
Sale Price - $1.99
My Price - $0.74
Savings - $1.25

The total regular price of those three items had I not used any coupons would have been $8.27.  Using my coupons and taking advantage of on online coupon offer, my cost was $2.53.....saving me a total of $5.74 or 71%

Friday 6 February 2015

Feeling Fresh with $0.87 in my Pocket!

What a nice way to end my evening last night!  A spontaneous shop that actually put money IN my pocket!  After I picked my daughter up from work, we swung by Walmart to rent a movie from the Redbox machine.  I had a coupon for a free rental from completing a survey for them and with yesterday's announcement that they are pulling out of Canada on Feb 13th, I wanted to make sure it didn't go to waste.  We like to wander around Walmart and see what is new and exciting and it was also an opportunity for me to check out some prices before my weekend grocery shop.  I'm really glad we did!
For some reason, whether it is discontinued products, new packaging, making room, etc.....there are a lot of different things on clearance right now in my local Walmart.  The regular couponer will always suggest you to try to match up these clearance priced items with coupons available and really save yourself some money!  Here is what I purchased:

Now I will quickly explain costs, coupons and savings I managed to get.  Here are the prices and what coupons/savings I managed to get:

Dove Body Wash - Regular Price $3.47 ($3.88 after taxes) - $2.00 coupon I printed from Smartsource.ca - $2.00 online rebate from Checkout 51.  Final Price $(0.12)

Clear Men 2-in-1 Shampoo - Clearance Price $1.00 ($1.12 after taxes) -$2.00 online rebate Checkout 51.  Final Price $(0.88)

Pantene Heat Shield Shampoo - Clearance Price $1.00 ($1.12 after taxes) - $1.00 Proctor & Gamble coupon (newspaper insert)  Final Price $0.12

Speed Stick Gear Deoderant - Regular Price $4.96 ($5.55 after taxes) - Full Mail-in Rebate Offer from Red Plum newspaper insert (they will reimburse me by cheque for the cost of the deoderant PLUS all taxes) - $5.55 Final Price - FREE

Total Out of Pocket (or I guess in this case, IN my pocket!) - ($.88)

My mom will be thrilled to find out that she gets some more Dove Body Wash!  She loves it when I surprise her with items!



Why I coupon

There's a feeling you get when you managed to "score" a great deal.  It's like a rush of adrenaline...you against the register...that feeling of victory when it all goes as planned.  Now I am not one of those "extreme" couponers like you see on tv.  There's a number of reasons that I'm not, yet I truly believe that to each their own.  Here are my reasons for not extreme couponing in case you are curious:
1.  I don't have the time.  I probably spend an hour or two a week sorting through the flyer and seeing if I have access to coupons to match up with them.  I don't actively seek out additional coupons (trading, jumping in the recycling bin, etc) but that's just my choice.  My extra time is spent with my two kids and two dogs instead.
2. I don't have the room.  I have a lovely storage area set up in my basement.  There's shelving units and baskets and everything is organized and sorted.  This is so I can find it easily and I use it before it expires.  My general rule is that I try to make sure I will use it within six months.  Anything more than that and there is a strong possibility it will expire and will be wasted.
3.  I don't need it.  I know that I can track down coupons and get 40 tubes of Polident for free.....but I don't know ANYONE who could use it!  When you first start out couponing, the lure of "free" things is very strong and it is hard to resist not getting everything possible.  It's taken me couponing for a few years to settle into what I do now and what works best for my family.  That being said, if I come across a deal or freebie that I DO know someone will use (either someone I know or a local shelter) I will still pick it up.
I know I don't save as much money as a lot of other people out there and I am okay with that.  I track my savings out of curiosity and I can tell you that on average, I save between $4,000.00 - $5,000.00 every year.  I am also teaching my children how to shop smart and stretch their pennies without going into too much debt or living on ramen noodles!  I know that what I do improves the financial stability of my family as well as helps out additional family and friends.  Every year I donate at least once per year to the local women's center, the local SPCA, the Food Bank, and the local Community Christmas Care.
To be honest, one thing that is even better than that feeling of rush when you score a great deal, is the smiles and hugs you get in appreciation for helping others out.  Share the knowledge and the freebies, I promise you will feel amazing doing so.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

BzzAgent Product Review - Secret Ooh-La-La-Lavender Clear Gel

A great way to learn about new products that come out on the market are through websites.  There are a number of different companies that allow consumers to become members and review different products and provide their feedback. This is referred to as "Word of Mouth" campaigns (WOM).   It is a great way for companies to know how their products will be received, areas needing improvement, and what works really well.  One of these WOM websites that I have been a member of for a number of years and had numerous great review opportunities is BzzAgent. Based on a number of surveys you complete online, there are various review campaigns that are matched with members that fit the criteria they are looking for.  Each campaign is different and members are matched based on a number of different variables.
https://www.bzzagent.com/index.jsp
Recently I was one of the lucky members chosen to review a new line of clear gel deoderant from Secret.  This meant that I was sent a stick of Secret Ooh-La-La Lavender Clear Gel to try for a month and report on how I felt about it.  I have been a big fan of Secret deoderants and regularly use that product line.  I have however, always been a "solid" type of girl, not interested in anything "gel" or new.  I'm not very adventurous when it comes to my deoderant and a solid stick,  Baby Powder scent has been found in my bathroom for the past decade!  Reading up on what Secret promised with this new gel (With Secret Outlast® Clear Gel all it takes is one twist and two swipes right out of the shower for 48 hour odour protection free of white marks) I was intrigued to see if what they claimed would actually happen.
First....the scent.  I'm not big on floral scented armpits so I was fairly leery when I opened up my Lavender scented gel.  Pleasantly surprised, I discovered a realistic, light floral scent that was quite nice.  I generally find floral scents to be quite strong, overpowering, and artificial scented.  This was not the case and I came one step closer to saying goodbye solid!
Second.....application.  Secret again delivered on their promise.  One quick twist and two swipes under each arm and I was ready to conquer the world!  The one slight down side at this step though, was that although Secret promised instant dryness, I found that it took a little longer than "instant" before I was nice and dry.  There were a few t-shirts that temporarily were wet.  Although I did experience the occasional wet shirt, it did dry completely clear with no white marks.
Third....did it last?  To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit of a paranoid person when it comes to potential body odour.  This means that I did not feel comfortable testing the full 48hr protection.  I can tell you that I only applied the deoderant once each morning and at no point did I feel the need to re-apply or that it was not working.  I can confidently say that Secret Clear Gel provides good, 24hr coverage from any embarassing odours.
Overall....Secret once again provides the consumer with a quality product.  Retailing at your local Walmart for approximately $2.49 - $3.49, you get good value for your money.  Even better, Proctor & Gamble (owners of Secret) also offer regular coupons to stretch those pennies even further!  In the end I think it is just a matter of personal preference.  Will I give up my solid stick Baby Powder deoderant for the new Lavender Clear Gel?  No.....but only because I LIKE the Baby Powder solid stick, not because of any failure of the clear gel.  If you haven't tried gel in a number of years like I hadn't, I highly recommend giving this new Secret Clear Gel a try.  You will not be disappointed and you will be ready to conquer the world....lavender armpits and all!
Secret Outlast<sup>®</sup> Clear Gel

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