*Review* Eye Depuffer from Erzulie Cosmetics (5 stars)

ErzulieCosmetics.Etsy.com - All Natural Mineral Cosmetics and Holistic Skincare (New England, United States)

Photo Credit: Erzulie Cosmetics

Product: "Eye Depuffer Balm Soothe (TM) All Natural Helps Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles Proven Highly Effective"
Order Date: January 31, 2011
My Total: $5.00 + $2.00 s&h

I have always had a problem with under-eye puffiness and shadows - my high school roommate used to tell me my "bags had bags." I have been on the lookout for different solutions for years and what I tried either didn't work or I didn't have the patience for - masks, lotions, cucumber slices, etc.

When I was full-on into my Etsy craze, I realized this was the perfect place to look for what might finally be the solution to my puffiness and dark circles! Imagine my surprise when my search yielded almost no results (still true) - search for anything on Etsy and you usually have to slowly wade through the massive number of products you're given, but that was not the case here.

When looking for a specific item, I like to find all the results that appeal to me and then methodically cancel them out until I'm down till one. This time, the choice was pretty much made for me. There were three sellers who had eye depuffers and while the photos for the other two were nicer - and therefore attracted me more - I'll admit that one of the main reasons I decided to try Erzulie first was because hers was significantly cheaper than the competition's.

Applying my depuffer balm!

Verdict

It works! That is, of course, as it should be, but so many times products like these do not work as advertised, so it was a wonderfully nice surprise.

I noticed a definite visible reduction in puffiness within ~6 weeks of regular application and now use it every night before I go to sleep. It also lessens the shadows under my eyes, but I would say that was secondary - does not have any color in it so there is no masking or covering up that goes on; I think the lessening of shadows is more of a side effect from the reduced puffiness.

For those people who wear makeup often (I do only about once every other month), they should stick to applying it before bed at night. I used this once in the morning and followed with an under-eye cover-up - it ended up looking odd and not drying smoothly, looking a little grainy/spotty.

+ PROS + works wonderfully: reduces puffiness, slightly reduces dark circles / shadows; has a lovely scent that is very calming and soothing as you go to sleep; easy to apply; very affordable and lasts a long time; great during the day for a refreshing pick-me up

-- CONS -- don't use with under-eye makeup

= BOTTOM LINE = Would recommend to everyone. When mine runs out I'll be buying another!

Shop Information

Opened: September 15, 2008
Items Currently for Sale: 311
Total Sales: 6,191
Feedback: 4,325 - 100% positive (4,277 positive, 44 neutral, 4 negative)

Links:
* ErzulieCosmetics - Etsy Shop
* Progress in Health and Erzulie - website
* Blog
* Facebook Page
* @naturalcosmetic - Twitter
* progressinhealth Channel - YouTube


NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed myself and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

*Review* redstarINK - paper goods: simple, bold, modern, eco-friendly (4.5)

Etsy Shop redstarINK - Designer Marcie Hicks (San Diego, CA)

I first shopped with redstarINK in September 2010 when I bought Marcie's DIY calendar in brown and blue, pictured below (it's also available in black and red). I am a HUGE lover of all things organizing-related - The Container Store is extremely dangerous for me and I try to stay clear as much as possible - so when I stumbled across her Shop I felt like I'd stumbled into heaven!

All of the items are eco-friendly and I love the simplicity of her designs. Everything is clean and bold and simple - just great! Shop categories: calendars, journals, notebooks, photo album, prints, box of notes, single notes, tiny notes, wine tags, SALE.

Info from her profile and website: Marcie is a graphic designer and artist. She designs, prints, and puts together all of the products herself. Everything is handmade and she uses as much recycled materials as possible. Items listed are usually ready to ship.

Review

What I Bought

As mentioned above, I bought the DIY calendar in brown and blue. Item arrived quickly after purchase. What I love about this is that it is not time specific, so the weeks/dates are not numbered and you fill in that info yourself. The two page spread shows a box for every day of the week with 14 lines, each with a circle at the beginning so that you can check off items as you go. There is also a blank, unlined "Notes" box in the upper right-hand corner of each week. Click on the photos to see more pictures. I emailed Marcie with a suggestion for her next calendars and she replied promptly and positively.

Phone pic of my own REDSTAR ink
DIY calendar (well-used!)

+ PROS + wonderful product, great quality, very good finishing, professional-looking, shipped quickly, great customer service

-- CONS -- only con was the price, which for me (on an AmeriCorps VISTA stipend) was pretty steep: $29.25 including shipping - lasts a long time, so evens out, but is all printed from template and compared to some other calendars it is pricey

= VERDICT = Will definitely buy from again (including this product)! The entire buying experience was a positive one and I continue to use the item daily. Items that I'm in love with and am considering buying in the future: new left brain / right brain notebook, orders notebook, DIY bills calendar or 2011 bills calendar, set of 8 greetings from ____ cards (different cities and states), list notebook, long list notebook, SALE eco notebook (many of these items are pictured below - check them out!).

Items: eco-friendly paper goods - notebooks, calendars, cards, tags
Price Range: $4, $8, $12, $15-$30

Opened: July 27, 2009
Items for Sale: 88
Total Sales: 881
Feedback: 100% positive (479 positive, 1 neutral, no negative)

Links:
* REDSTARink - Etsy Shop
* Marcie - Etsy Profile
* Professional website
* Video - very cool video on her website showing a notebook being put together
* REDSTAR ink blog
* Facebook Page
* @redstarink - Twitter

Images from Etsy Shop redstarINK

NOTE: I purchased the item reviewed and am expressing my own uninfluenced opinions.

Item Find: Inspirational Print for Women, Girls

A Perfect Way to Celebrate Women's History Month!

I don't remember how I first found this print from Valentina Ramos's Etsy Shop, but I have had it bookmarked forever. I absolutely love it - I love the artist's style and design, and I *love* the quote and the spirit behind it.

Another wonderful thing about this print is that it's also available in flat card form at a terrific price - 6 cards in three different colors (green, orange, blue) for only $6.50 + $2.00 s&h (envelopes not included). (See photo below)

One of the things I wish more artists would do is sell their work in note card and flat card form - it's such a great way of reaching a wider audience, providing an affordable way for people to access your work, AND it's functional, which is always a great way for a buyer to justify the purchase to themselves. Off my little soap box now and back to Valentina and her gorgeous prints ...

Valentina Ramos is a graphic designer based in Miami, Florida and she describes her work as original, inspirational, and uplifting artwork - wonderfully accurate description. Her Etsy Shop valentinadesign sells original artwork, prints, digital and printables, great personalized items for kids, and a 2011 wall calendar. She also has a very cool blog that uses her own work throughout the theme - I'm green with jealousy about how absolutely fantastic and cool it looks ;-). See full list of links below.

Items: prints and original artwork (graphics and ink)
Price Range: lowest is $6, most are between $15-$22, originals are $55-$450

Opened: May 9, 2006
Items for Sale: 121
Total Sales: 2161
Feedback: 100% positive (968 positive, 3 neutral)

Links:
* valentinadesign - Etsy Shop
* Valentina Ramos - professional website
* personal shop - buy fabrics, iPhone cases, pillows, napkins, place mats, and more!
* feeling inspired - blog
* Valentina Ramos Art - Facebook Page
* @valendesign - Twitter

All images from Etsy Shop valentinadesign and Valentina Ramos's Facebook Page

Shop Feature: Ingrid's Art

Funky Whimsical Drawing and Painting (California, USA)

Don't remember how I discovered this Etsy Shop (ingridsart), but I absolutely love the work! "Funky" seems a perfect description, but there is also something delicately beautiful about Ingrid Padilla's work. Her art is very detailed, which is what I think adds to - or creates - this impression. In her Etsy profile, she describes herself as a self-taught artist and says that "the unexpected is what I hope to achieve in my art always."

When looking at the small previews of Ingrid's work, they look like tiny machines and I at first thought that the added details were gears and mechanical parts. When you actually look at a listing however, they seem to instead be some type of other-worldly planet surfaces. Just love it!

Much of her work is abstract, but she also has a fabulous line of Whimsical Letters, which would make an ideal birthday gift. They come in two sizes: 8.5x11 for $20 and 11x14 sizes for $35. Some other Shop categories include Heart Prints, Funky lil Monster Prints, and Originals on Paper and on Canvas. The canvas work is very different from the rest of her body of work.

What I would love to see would be a series of note cards - that would be something I could not resist. A series based on the heart prints would be lovely, and there could also be flat note card sets with the different letters, so it could serve as personalized stationery.

Items: paint and ink drawings - prints and originals
Price Range: $10-$12 (a few); $20-$35 (definitely the majority); goes up to $250

Experience: N/A
Verdict: The letter prints would be a perfect gift for yourself or someone else; the monster prints would be great for a kids' room; hope to see some of the prints in note card form in the future

Opened: February 20, 2007
Items for Sale: 149
Total Sales: 81
Feedback: 100% positive (37 positive, none negative or neutral)

Links:
* ingridsart - Etsy Shop
* mosaicwhimsy - Ingrid's other Etsy Shop featuring Mosaic Whimsy Originals
* Ingrid Padilla Art - Facebook Page
* Flickr photostream
* Profile on Blue Canvas

  

   

All photos taken from Etsy Shop Ingrid's Art