In this post I wanted to give in-depth reviews on a few of the products that were included in my #FrostyVoxBox from @Influenster.
Let's start off with the Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED serum. So here's the thing with this one: I like it, I do, and I want to love it but in all honesty I have no idea if it actually works. I like it because it goes on smoothly and feels light on my skin and not too gunky or greasy. When I looked in the mirror after applying the serum it did seem to reduce some of my deeper lines but that could have just been because the serum filled them in a bit. My issueis that even the description of the product states that lines will be less noticeable and visit in as little as two weeks. Well unfortunately for me, the small sample that I got in my Vox Box was only enough to last me a few days and that was stretching it. Obviously, that's not enough to give an honest review so this is the best I could do. I would definitely love to buy it and give it the shot it deserves though.
Next we have the Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea. As I mentioned before I am really not that into mint flavored beverages. As a huge tea drinker I have tried peppermint tea before and just did not like the taste of it at all. However, the name of this tea alone got me into the Christmas spirit so I brewed myself a cup, sat down next to the lit Christmas tree at night and watched Little Women. No lie - it instantly put me into the holiday spirit. The sweet mint flavor was subtly nostalgic, calming and relaxing, just as tea should be. I ran out and bought a box while it was still on the shelves and have been trying to make it last as long as possible. The refreshing flavor helps me to unwind on those nights that I really need it and takes me back to those warm and fuzzy feelings the holidays give you. Definitely a must-buy!
Last, but not least, the two Rimmel products I received. First was Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner. I normally reserve eyeliner for those special events or nights out that I need to step it up a bit not because I don't usually wear a lot of makeup but because I honestly cannot apply it for the life of me. Seriously, when I make an attempt it looks like a 2 year old trying to color inside the lines. Perhaps my hands aren't steady enough or perhaps I just wasn't using the right eyeliner. After trying the Scandaleyes I'm thinking it's the latter. It took me one easy swipe to apply it almost perfectly. The pencil, which applies more like a marker, glided on smoothly and left behind a drastic line that could be left as is or smudged into a more smokey look. Now I can finally wear eyeliner any time I feel like it and it doesn't take my multiple attempts to get a half-decent line. Plus, it lasted FOREVER which is perfect for a busy, messy mommy like me!
Second was Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Once again this is a solid product. The non-oily formula made it easy to sweep off any eye makeup and did not irritate my eyes which for me is a big deal due to the fact that I wear contacts. There is one downside to this makeup remover: No matter how hard I scrubbed it did not remove the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner which could either be viewed as a good OR a bad thing for the eyeliner?!? Either was I wasn't enough to really effect my opinion toward either product negatively and I will definitely be buying more Rimmel cosmetics in the future!
**I received all of the products I mentioned in this post complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes. However, as always, the opinions expressed above are 100% my own and I stand by them! :)
Sunday, February 8, 2015
#FrostyVoxBox - How it Helped me Through the Holidays
Right before the holiday season was in full effect, I was lucky enough to be chosen from Influenster to receive my second Vox Box. I was so excited to see what awesome products I'd be getting this time and let me tell you the #FrostyVoxBox didn't disappoint! I received 8 different products that were themed around helping me get ready for the holiday season and they all helped me do just that! Ok...I know this is what you've all been waiting for so here is a list of the goods (and a short review of each item):
-Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense ADVANCED Serum: So according to my Frosty Vox Box cheat sheet this serum is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles for younger looking skin in two weeks. I'll be providing my thoughts on this product in a separate blog post so stay tuned!
-NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum: The description states that the color should last up to 6 hours and that the moisturizing formula glides on easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish. So knowing that it costs only $1.99 I was beyond skpetical of the claims but it really came through. The lip color did in fact go on very smoothly and it didn't dry my lips out like most other long-lasting lipsticks. The color is a shade that would work well with most skin types and even though I'm extremely pale it still came off and subtle sexy and not trashy. I decided to test out the 6 hour claim by wearing it to my company holiday party which happened to be at a local Chinese restaurant. I was surprised that the lip color held up for 4 hours during heavy eating and of course drinking. Sure, it may not have been the whole 6 hours it claims but I think I put it through some extreme conditions and under normal wear it would definitely last 6 hours.
-Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea: I usually am not a fan of minty-flavored things, especially when it comes to my beverages. However, I am a huge tea drinker so I figured that the Candy Cane Lane tea was worth a try. I will review this product in more detail in a subsequent post.
-EcoTools Sleek & Shine Finisher Hair Brush: My hair is so ridiculously thick that I am constantly breaking the bristles off of my brushes so I was beyond thrilled to receive a new hairbrush to try. The synthetic boar's hair-like bristles seemed like they would withstand a bit more wear and tear than the standard plastic bristles on my various Conair brushes. To EcoTools credit, the bristles are strong while still managing to be gentle on my hair. I attempted the "polish pony" look that I saw in one of their instructional YouTube videos and I did pretty well - the Sleek & Shine Finisher brush did manage to smooth out any imperfections and helped to reduce some frizz & flyaways. Here's my one and only issue -- the brush cannot penetrate the many layers of my hair! Translation = my hair is just too freaking thick for it and the bristles can only mange to get to the surface. This makes me incredibly sad because obviously it is an awesome product it's just not for me. I am contemplating trying a different brush from EcoTools that may be designed for those with thicker locks.
-Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover & Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner: I will be reviewing both of the Rimmel products that I received in my follow-up post.
-McCormick Gourmet Thyme: Thyme is not one of those spices that I regularly keep on hand solely because the only thing I ever thought to use it on was chicken and even then I only used it when I was cooking a whole chicken. So in attempt to actually use and give an honest review on this product I unstarted browsing the McCormick website for some recipe ideas and while I was there I took the "Flavor Print" quiz. Basically the quiz shows you pictures of 20 different foods and asks whether or not you like them. Based on your responses, the site then shows you recipes that are the best matches to your flavor profile. It was through this quiz that I found a recipe for "Citrus Thyme Dressing" which was an 86% match to my flavor profile. Well, I had been eating a lot of salads in an attempt to be healthier in the New Year so I thought this was absolutely perfect! It was amazingly delicious and made me look at thyme in a whole new light. I will definitely be checking out some more of my matched recipes very soon!
-Fruit Vines Bites: These soft, chewy fruit candies are available in both strawberry and cherry. I received the cherry flavor to try and all I can say is oh my goodness are these things amazingly good and addictive. They almost remind me of the soft Australian type licorice you can buy but they're 10 times better!! The bites were perfect for satisfying my late-night sweet cravings sweet and my daughter thought they were a wonderful "treat." She has been asking me to buy more ever since our sample bag ran out (I can't lie - it only lasted 2 days) but the issue is no stores close to me carry them. Eventually I will make that trip to Target to get a bag, or two, or ten but I do wish they were more widely available. Then again, maybe it's best they're not because I would be eating them all the time!
So all in all, this was another great box of products from Influenster and I was blessed to have a chance to sample them and pass along my thoughts. By the way, I received all of these products complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes. However, all opinions expressed in this blog post are 100% my own.
-NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum: The description states that the color should last up to 6 hours and that the moisturizing formula glides on easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish. So knowing that it costs only $1.99 I was beyond skpetical of the claims but it really came through. The lip color did in fact go on very smoothly and it didn't dry my lips out like most other long-lasting lipsticks. The color is a shade that would work well with most skin types and even though I'm extremely pale it still came off and subtle sexy and not trashy. I decided to test out the 6 hour claim by wearing it to my company holiday party which happened to be at a local Chinese restaurant. I was surprised that the lip color held up for 4 hours during heavy eating and of course drinking. Sure, it may not have been the whole 6 hours it claims but I think I put it through some extreme conditions and under normal wear it would definitely last 6 hours.
-Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea: I usually am not a fan of minty-flavored things, especially when it comes to my beverages. However, I am a huge tea drinker so I figured that the Candy Cane Lane tea was worth a try. I will review this product in more detail in a subsequent post.
-EcoTools Sleek & Shine Finisher Hair Brush: My hair is so ridiculously thick that I am constantly breaking the bristles off of my brushes so I was beyond thrilled to receive a new hairbrush to try. The synthetic boar's hair-like bristles seemed like they would withstand a bit more wear and tear than the standard plastic bristles on my various Conair brushes. To EcoTools credit, the bristles are strong while still managing to be gentle on my hair. I attempted the "polish pony" look that I saw in one of their instructional YouTube videos and I did pretty well - the Sleek & Shine Finisher brush did manage to smooth out any imperfections and helped to reduce some frizz & flyaways. Here's my one and only issue -- the brush cannot penetrate the many layers of my hair! Translation = my hair is just too freaking thick for it and the bristles can only mange to get to the surface. This makes me incredibly sad because obviously it is an awesome product it's just not for me. I am contemplating trying a different brush from EcoTools that may be designed for those with thicker locks.
-Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover & Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner: I will be reviewing both of the Rimmel products that I received in my follow-up post.
-McCormick Gourmet Thyme: Thyme is not one of those spices that I regularly keep on hand solely because the only thing I ever thought to use it on was chicken and even then I only used it when I was cooking a whole chicken. So in attempt to actually use and give an honest review on this product I unstarted browsing the McCormick website for some recipe ideas and while I was there I took the "Flavor Print" quiz. Basically the quiz shows you pictures of 20 different foods and asks whether or not you like them. Based on your responses, the site then shows you recipes that are the best matches to your flavor profile. It was through this quiz that I found a recipe for "Citrus Thyme Dressing" which was an 86% match to my flavor profile. Well, I had been eating a lot of salads in an attempt to be healthier in the New Year so I thought this was absolutely perfect! It was amazingly delicious and made me look at thyme in a whole new light. I will definitely be checking out some more of my matched recipes very soon!
-Fruit Vines Bites: These soft, chewy fruit candies are available in both strawberry and cherry. I received the cherry flavor to try and all I can say is oh my goodness are these things amazingly good and addictive. They almost remind me of the soft Australian type licorice you can buy but they're 10 times better!! The bites were perfect for satisfying my late-night sweet cravings sweet and my daughter thought they were a wonderful "treat." She has been asking me to buy more ever since our sample bag ran out (I can't lie - it only lasted 2 days) but the issue is no stores close to me carry them. Eventually I will make that trip to Target to get a bag, or two, or ten but I do wish they were more widely available. Then again, maybe it's best they're not because I would be eating them all the time!
So all in all, this was another great box of products from Influenster and I was blessed to have a chance to sample them and pass along my thoughts. By the way, I received all of these products complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes. However, all opinions expressed in this blog post are 100% my own.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
My #TLCVoxBox!!
So I've always been one who loves a good deal but once I lost my job and money started getting a bit tight I became obsessed with couponing and getting things almost for free. I say almost because nothing in life is really free, right?!? Wrong! Thanks to some awesome sites that I follow I stumbled upon a blog post that contained a listing of the Top 20 sites to test free products. I have had luck with some and others not so much. The one I was really excited about though was a site called Influenster.com. Through Influenster you can receive VoxBoxes that contain a number of free products that usually fall into a certain theme. I kept up with the site, taking surveys, answering products questions and doing product reviews and then one day the email came that stated I qualified for a VoxBox. I mean the way I screamed you would have thought I won the lottery...which for me it was like winning the lottery. I don't know if anyone else is like this but I literally get almost a high from getting things for free...it is seriously an adrenaline rush for me! And yea, my husband thinks I'm a little crazy but he's not complaining about all the items I get to try.
But I digress. So I found out I had qualified for a TLCVoxBox which included items for moms that were useful in their everyday lives and also products for some much needed pampering. The day my package finally arrived, I was like a kid at Christmas!! I opened it up and ooohed and ahhed at all the products which included: Neosporin Neo to Go, a bar of Ivory Soap, Avon ANEW Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother, a pack of Puffs to Go, a Shell Fuel Rewards Network card, and a coupon to be redeemed for a free Breyers Gelato Indulgences.
I was beyond excited, especially about the gelato because I do love my desserts. The only product I wasn't over the moon about was the Avon ANEW because I thought I really didn't need it at the young age of 30 but now that I've tried it I absolutely low it!! It goes on light right over your moisturizer and it really does make an instant difference. I wouldn't really say I have wrinkles, more like a few small lines here and there and the Avon ANEW just gives my skin a much smoother look which in turn makes me look younger. Definitely a great product.
The Puffs to Go are a lifesaver in my diaper bag. As a mom of two small children, tissues are a must have for wiping noses and for drying those tears when they get a boo-boo which happens often for us. Did I fail to mention my two children are EXTREMELY accident prone?? I'm really hoping their clutziness is just a stage that they're going to grow out of soon but unfortunately for them I'm starting to think they inherited it from me...whoops! At any rate, the Puffs to Go package is convenient and easily fits into a purse or pocket and they have the cutest designs! The one I receieved had little stilettos all over it and my diva of a 3 year old actually wants to blow her nose (this never happens) simply because of the shoes...I now refer to them as miracle tissues.
It was like this VoxBox was specially made just for us with the Neosporin Neo to Go (see accident prone offspring rant above). Once again, I just threw it into my diaper bag, prepared for the next boo-boo - which came approximately 3 hours later (no lie). My darling 3 year is learning how to ride a big girl bike. We've been working on it since Easter and she insists she can do it by herself which I don't doubt she could, if she didn't get nervous/scared and forget to break. Which is exactly what happened, causing her to lean to the side, fall over and seriously scrape her knee. Normally I'm not allowed to doctor her cuts with anything but a character covered Band-Aid but for some reason, maybe because it was something new or maybe because I let her help me spray it, on that particular dy she let me use the Neo to Go on her knee. The first thing she said was "wow, it doesn't sting!" and she proceeded to go about her business. Since that day anytime she gets a boo-boo she immediately asks for the spray (AKA Neo to Go). This will continue to be a first-aid staple for us and I never would have tried it if I hadn't received it for free from Influenster.
Next was the bar of Ivory soap. At first I was like OK, that's nice, I'll put it in my bathroom for guests but then I started googling all the uses of Ivory soap and that stuff is amazing! You can do everything from using it to make realistic looking snow for decorating a Christmas tree, to sprinkling shavings of it around your garden to keep pesky animals out, to (and this was our favorite) using it to make your own bathtub crayons! I will now be keeping a few bars around the house because you never know when it may come in handy!
OK...so can we get back to the Breyers Gelato Indulgences that mentioned earlier...because it was AH-MAZE-ING!!! I opted for the Vanilla Caramel because sadly I'm pretty plain when it comes to my ice cream flavors (I know, I know...it's a sin) and it was so ridiculously creamy and smooth that I hardly let my husband eat any. While to me it is a bit on the pricier side for a frozen treat, after trying it I don't think I will go back to plain old ice cream that much and if Breyers ever decides to make a coffee flavor when then all bets are off!!
Finally, my VoxBox included a Shell Fuel Rewards Network card. Anyone can sign up for the program for free and you'll instantly save any least 3¢ per gallon every time you fuel up. But, and this is the part I really love about the program, you can link your credit cards to your account and be able to earn fuel rewards by doing everyday things like online shopping, dining out, and buying groceries!! The downside for me is that now that we live in a more rural area, I'm hard-pressed to find a Shell station near me. There are a few but I literally have to drive out of my way to get to them so in the end it's not really beneficial for me :( With that said, the program is awesome if you have a local Shell that you can go to.
So all in all, my TLCVoxBox was everything I had hoped for and more...now I have my fingers crossed that I can qualify for another VoxBox soon because I am hooked! If you want to be able to try to some awesome products for free, head on over to Influenster.com and sign up!
***I received all of the products listed above complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes***
But I digress. So I found out I had qualified for a TLCVoxBox which included items for moms that were useful in their everyday lives and also products for some much needed pampering. The day my package finally arrived, I was like a kid at Christmas!! I opened it up and ooohed and ahhed at all the products which included: Neosporin Neo to Go, a bar of Ivory Soap, Avon ANEW Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother, a pack of Puffs to Go, a Shell Fuel Rewards Network card, and a coupon to be redeemed for a free Breyers Gelato Indulgences.
I was beyond excited, especially about the gelato because I do love my desserts. The only product I wasn't over the moon about was the Avon ANEW because I thought I really didn't need it at the young age of 30 but now that I've tried it I absolutely low it!! It goes on light right over your moisturizer and it really does make an instant difference. I wouldn't really say I have wrinkles, more like a few small lines here and there and the Avon ANEW just gives my skin a much smoother look which in turn makes me look younger. Definitely a great product.
The Puffs to Go are a lifesaver in my diaper bag. As a mom of two small children, tissues are a must have for wiping noses and for drying those tears when they get a boo-boo which happens often for us. Did I fail to mention my two children are EXTREMELY accident prone?? I'm really hoping their clutziness is just a stage that they're going to grow out of soon but unfortunately for them I'm starting to think they inherited it from me...whoops! At any rate, the Puffs to Go package is convenient and easily fits into a purse or pocket and they have the cutest designs! The one I receieved had little stilettos all over it and my diva of a 3 year old actually wants to blow her nose (this never happens) simply because of the shoes...I now refer to them as miracle tissues.
It was like this VoxBox was specially made just for us with the Neosporin Neo to Go (see accident prone offspring rant above). Once again, I just threw it into my diaper bag, prepared for the next boo-boo - which came approximately 3 hours later (no lie). My darling 3 year is learning how to ride a big girl bike. We've been working on it since Easter and she insists she can do it by herself which I don't doubt she could, if she didn't get nervous/scared and forget to break. Which is exactly what happened, causing her to lean to the side, fall over and seriously scrape her knee. Normally I'm not allowed to doctor her cuts with anything but a character covered Band-Aid but for some reason, maybe because it was something new or maybe because I let her help me spray it, on that particular dy she let me use the Neo to Go on her knee. The first thing she said was "wow, it doesn't sting!" and she proceeded to go about her business. Since that day anytime she gets a boo-boo she immediately asks for the spray (AKA Neo to Go). This will continue to be a first-aid staple for us and I never would have tried it if I hadn't received it for free from Influenster.
Next was the bar of Ivory soap. At first I was like OK, that's nice, I'll put it in my bathroom for guests but then I started googling all the uses of Ivory soap and that stuff is amazing! You can do everything from using it to make realistic looking snow for decorating a Christmas tree, to sprinkling shavings of it around your garden to keep pesky animals out, to (and this was our favorite) using it to make your own bathtub crayons! I will now be keeping a few bars around the house because you never know when it may come in handy!
OK...so can we get back to the Breyers Gelato Indulgences that mentioned earlier...because it was AH-MAZE-ING!!! I opted for the Vanilla Caramel because sadly I'm pretty plain when it comes to my ice cream flavors (I know, I know...it's a sin) and it was so ridiculously creamy and smooth that I hardly let my husband eat any. While to me it is a bit on the pricier side for a frozen treat, after trying it I don't think I will go back to plain old ice cream that much and if Breyers ever decides to make a coffee flavor when then all bets are off!!
Finally, my VoxBox included a Shell Fuel Rewards Network card. Anyone can sign up for the program for free and you'll instantly save any least 3¢ per gallon every time you fuel up. But, and this is the part I really love about the program, you can link your credit cards to your account and be able to earn fuel rewards by doing everyday things like online shopping, dining out, and buying groceries!! The downside for me is that now that we live in a more rural area, I'm hard-pressed to find a Shell station near me. There are a few but I literally have to drive out of my way to get to them so in the end it's not really beneficial for me :( With that said, the program is awesome if you have a local Shell that you can go to.
So all in all, my TLCVoxBox was everything I had hoped for and more...now I have my fingers crossed that I can qualify for another VoxBox soon because I am hooked! If you want to be able to try to some awesome products for free, head on over to Influenster.com and sign up!
***I received all of the products listed above complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes***
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