REVIEW: Honeywell Console Top FIll Cool Moisture Humidifier

I was super excited to be chosen as a reviewer for the Honeywell Console Top Fill Cool Moisture Humidifier. I have to thank Influenster and Honeywell for the free humidifier to review.

I have blogged before in 2010 HERE, and HERE, and again in 2014 HERE. So, I'm pretty serious about humidity. Living in the Deep South, you might think I get enough of it in the summer. I think that is why low humidity is such a problem in the winter. We are used to having soft moisture rich skin for most of the year. Then windy November comes calling and we shut the door and windows, turn on the heat, and dry out. So you can see why I would be excited about a multi-room humidifier. I normally have one in my bedroom, in my work space, and intermittently in the den.

Thanks to Influenster and Honeywell, it arrived today! I was shocked at the size- 14 inches deep and 22 inches wide! Where to put this big boy to even set it up. I decided on the foyer, which might seem strange, but with doors to my work space, the den and a hallway to the bedrooms... plus a large piece of furniture to put it on, I was set. The top fill feature is outstanding and the humidifier is well designed, though removing the center part each day to turn over the filter is messing and would be easier with a handle.

I read the instructions, how to clean it and added water... lots of water. I did not anticipate the amount of water this needed. One full tank filled the base. So I had to add more water. Then I went for more water for the other tank and that is when I heard the water pouring on the nice foyer carpet!

I knew there were these paddle things under the tanks, they were loose in the package and nothing was mentioned about them in the instructions. So, I thought they were supposed to be that way. Only after sopping up a quart of water could I stop and read the troubleshooting. It does mention that if the "water is leaking from the base" the possible cause is the "float id not installed properly". Well, if there was some instructions about installing the floats, I could have been saved from water pouring across and down my antique dresser onto my rug!

View of the floating paddle floats, I have no idea that these were supposed to be connected.

Suggestion number one:
Mention snapping the floats into place in the instructions- not just on the troubleshooting.

HUMIDITY- I held a humidity monitor over the air flow and it registered 77% coming out of the device. My den was at 48% before I turned it on. I will check again after it's been on a few hours.

SOUND- The high setting is loud, like running a box fan on medium. And, this is basically a fan and a wick, albeit a large one. It would work well if you like "white noise" with your humidity. It had white noise in spades.

WICK- I have never had a wick-based evaporative humidifier before.  So, I will need to replace the filter every 1-2 months. The filter costs about $14 on Amazon, not bad.

CLEANLINESS- I prefer a warm mist humidifier, since it boils the water and thus less germs, bacteria, etc. I have had cool misters before and the tended to mildew. They were a one year items and I hate disposable plastic appliances. There are instructions on how to clean the system with bleach in the instruction booklet.

So, first blush on the humidifier is about 50/50 on liking it. I'm still smarting over the water flow incident. Perhaps tomorrow I will like it better.
UPDATE: I have sat on this review for a week to use the humidifier. It works, there's no denying it. However, the size and the noise is a real drawback for me. And, one thing it have over my small bedroom humidifier, it doesn't have a nightlight to illuminate the room. Then again, that one is silent.

Review: Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

For starters, I'l like to thank Influenster and Sally Hansen for sending me this product, complimentary, for review!


If you enjoy testing products, you can join Influenster, too. Head over to influenster.com to join. If you are interested in purchasing Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, then just head to your local retailer- drugstore, grocery store, beauty store.

I found it in the Sally Hansen section, but it might be with the tanning type products.

With the housekeeping over... Let's talk about the product. This is considered leg makeup, not a self tanner. So, no self tanner smell, actually no smell at all- even when it warms up (unlike self tanners). This is a HUGE plus! Unlike self tanners, this washes off when you bathe, though it is water resistant- according to the packaging. In other words, you need soap to get it off.

Like make-up for your face, this adds some color and lightly blends out flaws. It will not cover a birthmark, nor completely cover spider veins. See video. However, this is not designed to obscure every flaw so you can have a close-up on your legs broadcast on and HDTV. It's designed to blend flaws seen from at least a few feet away.

Once applied, it does not wipe off. So, kiddies who hug your knees will not wipe it off. Overall, I would give this a thumbs up. It does hide flaws, it does offer some color to pale skin and it does not smell! Here is my before and after on the spider veins with the Airbrush Legs. I apologize for exposing you to my spider veins! By the way, when I told my sister about bring picked for the voxbox, she said she loved this product. So, it is sister approved, too.

Before

After

YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils- review

I am super excited to be chosen to review the newly remastered formula for the Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils. I am serious about eyelashes, so to try a new product is a real treat. My fave mascara is L'Oreal's, tried and true, Voluminous- love the fluff brush and the thinkness of the product. Tarte is running a close second.



So, how does YSL compare to my faves. Let's start out with the obvious- cost. L'Oreal is about $8.00, Tarte is about $20 and YSL is $32. However, sometimes price is not the whole story. You do often get what you pay for! And, I think this might be one of those cases, in that I feel like I need to use less mascara to get the desired long-length effect. This is furthered by the fact that there is less black marks on my nightly cleansing cloth, than with L'Oreal or Tarte. So, the more expensive could be the better value.

 

Image on the left, YSL, image in the right, Tarte. This is a straight-up, clean faced image with no lash curling, which I normally do. And, only upper lashes.
P.S. it is very hard to get this close-up with your cellphone.

   

On the functioning front, the mascara has very little clumping, even after reapplying to "push the limits" and maintains the same fullness that I feel that I normally get. So, good coverage, no clumps. On the Fullness front... well... clumping is in it's own way fullness. The lack of clumping makes a lack of fat lashes. So, this mascara is for those with lots lashes that need length. As I have an on again off again relationship with lash serums, the lack off fullness is fine for now... The lash serum and I are currently best friends.

YSL mascara has also added a fragrance. I am of two minds on this. Why do I need added fragrance in my mascara, would it conflict with any fragrance I want to wear and is this fragrance supposed to have a specific quality, in an aromatherapy way, that enhances the make-up application process. The answers for me are, not really, the fragrance doesn't last very long, and it doesn't seem to have an aromatherapy spin. It's a light, not unpleasant smell.

Final vote- Would I buy it on a reg basis? no, I'm very loyal to L'Oreal. Would I buy it as a splurge? Probably, I like the product and it feels like a splurge. Could a splurge become a habit? yep.


I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.