Register on PINCHme.com to Sample New Products in Exchange for Your Honest Feedback! #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for PINCHme. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

If you're a regular blog reader, chances are you've read your share of product reviews.  You may have thought how fun it would be to have the opportunity to test new products and provide feedback about your experience, thus directly affecting how such products will be improved in the future.  Now you have that chance through PINCHme, a site that allows you to receive product samples and provide feedback through a brief survey.

PINCHme seems like the perfect thing for those who do not have time to maintain a blog.  It is also great for current bloggers who would like to try new products, such as a lipstick or a new nail color, but do not necessarily want to dedicate a whole blog post to that one product.  If either of these sound like you, stop by www.PINCHme.com to register.  The batch of samples renews monthly.  Be sure to stop by PINCHme.com on Tuesday, December 10th at noon EST to checkout the newest batch of samples.

Review: Clientele Elastology Thermal Pumpkin Facial Scrub

Clientele is a leader in clinically proven, anti-aging skin care and they offered to let me try their Thermal Pumpkin Facial Scrub. Clientele was awarded U.S. and International patents on the Sacred Lotus Seed Extract, which was proven by UCLA Scientists to defy aging and the extract lives 1,200 years, due to the presence of the first protein repair enzyme ever discovered. Clientele’s founder, Dr. Pat Riley, combines the skin beautifying Lotus with the most advanced ingredients, stressing a natural approach to nourishing the skin inside and out. She continues to be on the forefront of age-defying nutritional and skin care formulations used by celebrities, doctors, and women who want highly effective products that produce visible results.

The Clientele Thermal Pumpkin Scrub is a scrub and wash in one. Water activates the thermal properties of the delicious blend of Pumpkin Enzymes, Honey, Apple, and Cinnamon. It contains powerful antioxidants and natural Jojoba exfoliates, rather than synthetic plastic beads, so it leaves the skin naturally smoother and softer than most facial scrubs I’ve used. Pumpkin enzymes have actually been shown to exfoliate as well as alpha hydroxyl acids, but are for more gentle. The unique “heating” of the scrub adds a new degree of exfoliation and relaxation that I’ve never experienced and the smell is delectable enough to eat. Both my husband and I love this scrub, and that’s really saying something for him because he doesn’t usually use products like this. He shaves his head and said it’s been much smoother since using this scrub. We both very enthusiastically recommend it.

Readers of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires can get a free sample of Clientele Thermal Pumpkin Scrub, just pay shipping, by visiting www.clientelebeauty.com or by calling Clientele Direct at 1-800-327-4660. Just use the coupon code “GLAM” at checkout. Clientele products are also available at select Nordstrom stores.

Thank you to Clientele for sending us a sample product free of charge to base this review upon.

Review: Carpet CPR & Leather CPR Cleaners

Our household is abundant with young children and pets, so I am always welcoming the chance to try new cleaning products. Although the CPR line started with Leather CPR, a leather cleaner and conditioner, it has expanded far beyond leather care products and now includes Carpet CPR, Granite CPR, Glove CPR, Equine CPR, and Motorcycle CPR. The products I was able to try were the Carpet CPR and the Leather CPR.

The funny (or not so funny) thing about my house is that, whenever I have a new cleaning product to try, magically the perfect cleaning opportunity always arises at the right time. One of our cats had been feeling unwell after eating some Easter grass and was throwing up repeatedly. He was nice enough not to exclude our beige area rug from the number of places where he got sick. The vomit was also tinged with blood.

This is what the soiled area on the rug looked like after we blotted off any excess liquid . . .

This is what the area looked like after we sprayed the Carpet CPR on the stain . . .

I was very pleased at the results. We did not have to do any scrubbing. We only needed to blot off any excess cleaner. The stain disappeared all on its own.

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Next, I tried the Leather CPR, which works on any kind of non-porous leather. This product is effective on outerwear, footwear, upholstery, baseball gloves, and much more. Leather CPR comes in a variety of sizes and container types to suit your needs.

I do have several leather bags I could have used this product on, but I decided that my husband's shoes might benefit the most from a little cleaning and conditioning. This product was extremely easy to use. All I had to do was apply the Leather CPR with a clean sponge. Then I let it sit for a few minutes. When I returned, most of the conditioner had been absorbed by the leather. I only need to go over it again with the sponge to make sure all the dirt and salt came off. Then I used a clean cloth to wipe off the little cleaner that was left on the surface of the leather.

This is what the shoes looked like while coated with a little dirt, salt, and scuff marks . . .

And this is what they looked like after being treated with Leather CPR . . .

The conditioner did not remove the scuff marks, but the shoes look a hundred times better than they did pre-Leather CPR. I could not get over how quick and easy the whole process was either.

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If you would like a chance to try Leather CPR, Granite CPR, or Carpet CPR, just follow this link to sign up for a free sample, which is actually a full-size product. You can also order all available CPR products right on LeatherCPR.com . For a limited time, you will receive Free Shipping of your order of $50 or more within the continental U.S. In addition to the Leather CPR website, you can also find this line of products at Walmart, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, True Value, and your local bedding and bath stores.

Thank you to CPR Leather for sending us product samples free of charge to base this review upon. The review was written as part of a campaign for the Family Review Network.

Review: Picture Gift Bags (Coupon Code for Free Sample)

If you like to dabble in photography, I have found a product that will allow you to use your photos to put a smile on someone else's face. Picture Gift Bags allows you to put your photos or original artwork onto gift bags to make you gifts even more special.

The general concept is similar to premade digital scrapbooking templates. You simply visit the Picture Gift Bags website, go to the gift bags tab, select the bag size, select the occasion and the desired layout, and then upload your photo or artwork. Some layouts even allow you to add personalized text to your bag. The bags range from $6.49 to $7.95. Once you've placed your order, your picture and any custom text will be printed on the bag you have selected, which will be shipped directly to your home or place of business.

Here are some examples of the results . . .

The bags arrive flat as shown below. You simply pop them into a rectangular prism and lock the bags into place at the bottom of the bag. Some of the bags came with the handles already attached, while some of the bags just had them tucked inside. It was easy to attach the handles. I only needed to thread the ends through the prepunched holes from the outside. Once through, the ends securely stay in place like a toggle clasp on a necklace or bracelet.

These gift bags are more like thin cardboard gift boxes. When they first pop open, they do not keep a perfectly rectangular shape, but once they are stuffed with goodies and tissue paper, they hold their shape well. If well-cared for, these bags would make a nice keepsake for the recipient.

I submitted high resolution photos to use on these sample gift bags. The quality of the photos printed on the bag were very good, but not excellent. They were definitely good enough for gift-giving. It appears as if my photos may have been enhanced, at least to increase the contrast, but I cannot be positive.

One thing I have to note is that the large size bag is shipped in an envelope that is not rigid. I had problems with my first set of sample bags being creased. You can see one of the major creases on the large bag in my first photo. When my samples were resent, I only received medium and small bags and they came in a rigid cardboard mailer. It may be a risk to order a large bag until Picture Gift Bags has solved this problem.

If you'd like to receive a free sample of a picture gift bag, you can do so by visiting PictureGiftBags.com or PictureGiftMart.com and using Promo Code: FREE11PCGM at checkout. This coupon code is good for a medium sized picture bag only and is valid through July 31st, 2010.

Thank you to Picture Gift Bags for sending us product information along with sample gift bags free of charge to base this review upon.