Before and After - Limelight by Alcone - One Drop Wonder and Sotoks

This is an interim review of Limelight by Alcone One Drop Wonder (Pomifera oil / Hedge Balls) and Sotoks. I do not sell Limelight by Alcone. I purchased these products form my sister-in-law. I could not find an honest review anywhere about these products. Limelight by Alcone Beauty Guides are not allowed to say anything negative about the company or the products. Since the company is rather new and not too well known, there just simply are not enough reviews. So I decided to test out the products on myself. I'm not a makeup artist or beauty guru or influencer. I'm just a regular person with sensitive skin and rosacea.

So, I have been using these products two times a day for a week now. I applied the One Drop Wonder to the right side of my face and neck and chest. And I applied Sotoks to the left side. 

My mind is weak to the power of suggestion. I would swear to you, that there is a difference. I really think the neck wrinkles are improving with the One Drop Wonder, and I think the blemishes are improving with Sotoks. Rosacea seems to be exactly the same. I love how the products feel. They don't have horrible odors; they don't sting; they don't make my face more red. No bad side effects. 

But the proof is in the pictures. After one week, there is absolutely no difference. I look exactly the same. In fact I look a bit greasier from these serums.

Check it out... You can see each and every flaw is identical. I'm going to keep going because one week is not really long enough. So I'll post results again soon.

Before and After one week of use

To see the 3 week results of my testing, you can view this blog here.

To see a view of my final opinion on One Drop Wonder and Sotoks, check out this youtube video.



Follow my blog or my YouTube Channel for more skincare and makeup reviews of Limelight by Alcone products and Rosacea skin care ideas.

Yes, You Can Wash your Longchamp in the Washing Machine

Okay, I'm not going to lie, I was very worried. But the bag had seen its best days and without a wash it would never make it outside again.  The front had a giant water mark on it from a spot treating experiment gone wrong. And the bottom was filthy. Since spot treating didn't work for me, I had no choice.  It had to go into the washer.

So I did the unthinkable. I sprayed my bag down with Oxyclean, rubbed some powder on it, and tossed it into the washer inside a laundry bag.  I threw in about a cup of Oxyclean and some bed sheets. Loaded it up with Tide, set the washer to delicate, and pressed start. Then I held my breath.   Well actually, I went online to order some makeup. Suddenly I realized I couldn't hear the machine anymore. So I ran upstairs to see what had transpired.


And you know what....

It's better than ever.   One small black dot didn't come out, but the rest is perfect.

Perfect Pair - Costco Triple Creme Brie & Bota Box Redvolution

You know how people talk about how well wine and cheese go together and you get it, but not quite.  Well, if you try these two together you will experience bliss.  And it's a bargain too.  $15 for Bota Box RedVolution and $7 for a pound of Brie.  What an experience.

Concerns about Signing up with Limelight by Alcone

Summertime with your Kids - Prepare Now, Relax Later

Shelin Graziela CC BY-SA 2.0

Summer is quickly approaching. With the kids home, you may find yourself too busy running around, preparing meals, and chauffeuring them to and fro that you don't get a chance to enjoy yourself. Summer days can be long, busy, and not quite the relaxing vacation you deserve. Luckily there are a few things you can do to prepare now, so things run smoothly later. These items should head off most complications and allow you to relax and enjoy summertime.

10.  Frozen foods are your friends

"Grocery Store Frozen Food Aisle" by Colin Knowles  CC by 2.0

It's hot outside and there's so much to do. The last thing you want is to be stuck in the kitchen. Make sure to stock up on frozen foods for fast easy dinners that don't heat up the house. Keep some frozen rolls on hand for burger buns. Frozen fish and veggies make a delicious healthy dinner. Head over to Trader Joe's and stock up for some great meals.

9.  Stockpile Snacks  

When your kids get invited to a last minute event, have some snacks available for them to take along. Make sure to stash them away so the kids don't eat them.

8.  Don't forget the Googles

Never mind that you never wore them yourself. Your kids cannot survive without them. You can go ahead and pick up the big pack at Costco. Eventually your kids will need some new ones, so stock up to avoid a last minute run to the store.

7.  Sunscreen Stick

Face it, your kid isn't going to use regular sunscreen without you. Make sure to buy one of these sticks because your kids is much more likely to use it if you aren't around.  They may not get the full coverage that you would like, but it's something.  Pick your battles. 

6.  Jergen's Natural Glow

Don't be pasty. It's quick and easy to look like you have a healthy tan. It's affordable and it doesn't make you orange. Here's the amazon link, because you must get it now.

5.  Anti-Itch Cream

This cream is amazing. I discovered it in a pharmacy in Stokkel, Belgium. Mix equal parts Hydrocortisone cream, Benadryl cream and Lidocaine cream. It provides complete lasting relief from mosquito bites. Sometimes just one application is enough to make the bite entirely disappear.

4.  Stocked Beach Bag

Keep it ready for your kids last minute events - towel, sunscreen, goggles, pool toys, hair-ties. Just grab a suit, some snacks and they are out the door.

3. Stock your Trunk

It's time to check your trunk and prepare it for Summer. Don't forget a cooler (excellent for running errands), spare towel, beach blanket, sunscreen, first aid kit, bug spray.  I love this bag for my trunk.  And the collapsable cooler fits perfectly.

2.  Prep your Bikes

If your bike has been in storage all winter, it's time to get it prepared for the season.  Don't wait for the last moment only to find a flat tire; check out your bikes in advance. Pump up those tires and make sure you don't need new inner tubes. Tighten your chain and inspect your brakes and safety gear.

1.  Prep your Car

Get your car ready for a road trip.  Go ahead get the oil change, vacuum and wash the car.  Dig out that roof-top carrier and bike rack so you can be ready for anything. 




These tips should keep you prepared for all the summer time hiccups that prevent you from relaxing and enjoying the summer. Enjoy!

Shelin Graziela CC BY-SA 2.0

The Best Bug Bite Anti-Itch Cream Ever - Belgian Secret

One of my favorite souvenirs from our 6 years in Belgium is the most useful. It's the Belgian Anti-Itch Cream. One day while walking to the metro, I stopped in the pharmacy in Stokkel to find something for my daughter's bug bites. Remember the old pharmacies where they actually mix medications, well they still do that in Belgium. Each pharmacy has it's own anti-itch cream. Well, we lucked out because this cream was incredible. It worked like a miracle cure. One application and all itching was gone.

CC Image courtesy of Sam Burnett on Flickr

Over the course of the years, I bought this miracle cream many more times. Luckily one time it had the ingredients on the label. So now that we are back living in the US, I can recreate it. And you can too. It's very easy and takes just three over-the-counter ingredients that you can find at any store. You can watch me make it here.

Belgian Anti-Itch Cream     

·       Lidocaine Cream

·       Hydrocortisone Cream

·       Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Cream)

·       Small Storage Container

1.  Place equal amounts of each of the three creams in the container. You may weigh or measure them out to be exact. But approximate amounts work just fine.

2.  Stir to combine all ingredients in the container.

To apply:  Use a small amount of compound mixture and rub into skin covering bite and the surrounding area, about 1 inch radius from bite.  Obviously do not use if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

I hope you have excellent results with the compound.  Enjoy your summer!