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.
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