Influenster Voxbox Product Reviews

Just when you think you've tried everything, you get a whole new box of things to try! Thanks Influenster! :)

First up: Not Your Mother's Plump For Joy Thickening Hair Lifter 

Buy here.

It should be noted that I have thick hair. Not I want thick hair, I'm talking in real life thick hair. The kind of thick my actual real life mother only dreams of. And you know what? Every time I go to the salon, I get my amazing hair dresser Kristy to thin it out. A few strands here, a few strands there, whomp, whomp, gone! The idea is that, instead of looking like this:

Photo credit: Aris.Sanchez via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

I can look like this…

So, what did I think of Not Your Mother's Plump For Joy Thickening Spray… ? Well, for one, it is very much a spray! Don't buy this product thinking it will come as a cream like I initially thought. I mean – how much thickening can a spray actually do? Well, this spray is more about giving your hair just the tiniest bit of added oomph. Just enough thickening power to hold new styles and bring out your hair's natural waves. It smells great! And feels light too. You just spray a bit in your hand and then massage it into your hair. Then Bam! Perfection.

While Not Your Mother's Plump For Joy thickening spray does a very good job at what it was designed to do, I don't see myself implementing the new product into my everyday life. For a formal event, sure! But, frankly, I'm just not good enough at doing my own hair for the product to really work for me consistently. Plus, my hair already has plenty of thickness and texture. It's not very often that I would need anything extra.

Buy here.

Next up: Secret Outlast Xtend deodorant in the .5oz size. Perfect for upcoming travels!

Pros: It smells good.

Cons: The smell is strong and "outlasts" my nose.

Y'know how when you use certain kinds of laundry detergent, your clothes smell great for a day or two … and then they don't? Like your nose gets used to the smell and it goes from "wow! That smells freshly cleaned!" to "Ew! Do I need to wash that again? I thought I just washed it!" Yeah, I definitely love things that smell good, but I prefer things where the smell dissipates over time rather than lingering forever. Secret, you almost had me at outlast!

Buy here.

At 180 calories per bar and 12 grams of sugar per granola bar, I'm calling this Sunbelt Bakery Oats & Honey Chewy Granola Bar less healthy than suggested. I do love that it has no preservatives though! And the 2 grams of protein is something! The bar itself tastes strongly of oats and honey. Pretty sweet, almost like a dessert, or like the 12 grams of sugar on the packaging indicates it should taste! 

Verdict: If you are after dessert, purchase this! It is yummy! Almost like a sopapilla if you've ever had one. :) However, if you are after something healthy, grab a piece of fruit instead. It will have the same amount of sugar, but half the calories! Or even better: vegetables!

Finally, as if Influenster secretly intended on prepping me for my upcoming summer vacations, they included Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads, NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil, and Sinful Shine gel nail polish in shade number 1231.

The Cutex nail polish remover pads work decently enough. They get the color off without getting liquid everywhere and they are TSA compliant. Great if you are doing your nails on the run! However, compared to the amount of liquid you would receive in a nail remover product, I feel that these pads are slightly too expensive for what they are.

On the other hand, the NUXE dry oil is simply a delight! Just spritz some on dry skin or your scalp and your skin looks refreshed and rejuvenated almost immediately! And unlike lotions or creams, this product doesn't feel oily or gross after use. Unfortunately, the smell is a bit strong for me, but it disappears pretty quickly, so that's good. :) I only received a small amount of product for testing, but I would love to see how my dry, flakey skin would react over time with continual use of this product… If I get the full product and try it, I'll let you know! :)

Last but not least, what is a summer day without a beautiful nail polish to brighten up your life? The 1231 shade is a bright pink that has been transformed into almost a pastel color. It's neither too bright nor too light and quite fun whether you are spending the day at the beach or perusing shops in the city. I love that the company used gel tech to help the polish last longer; I know, for me, it always comes off in a day or two leaving me wondering why I dained to put it on the first place! With fun polish like this, I don't have to worry that I'm wasting my time. (Plus, the color is just awesome!)

Out of all that I received from Influenster, which products would you be most interested in trying? Are you signed up with Influenster to receive free products in exchange for a review? (You don't have to have a blog!)

Make-Up & Skincare Monday

Over the past few weeks I've received a few new skincare products to review that I'm going to share with you now.

First, let's talk about the Dickinson's Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths. I love how large these cloths are. They almost remind me of baby wipes; they are super soft and very moist. The product leaves your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed, perfect in hot weather. The one downside I found was the smell. For being "odor free", I found it to be … not. Is that a double negative? … The product has a very distinct unpleasant odor. It's not like lemons or anything refreshing either; instead it smells like moldy paper. Or maybe witch hazel (whatever that smells like!). In the end, I'm not sure if I would buy these in the future. I don't really use face wipes that much, but if I could have these without the strong smell, this would be what I'd use.

Next up, I tried the Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer (the aloe soothe version). For someone with dry skin who hates applying lotions (greasy feeling ftl), this was kind of a miracle spray. To test the waters, I first tried it on my dry, cracked heels. Within seconds of rubbing the product in, my skin already looked better, healthier, and happier! Woot! The product is very light on your skin and more wet feeling than greasy, so you feel like you can touch other things right after using it. It has a nice light fruit/floral smell that disappears within seconds. And best of all, the spray cap turns to the left and right so that you can "close" the product when you are done using it to prevent accidental sprays! While I'm not sure yet if this will be a keeper in my super-light skincare routine, I definitely feel like Vaseline has put together a worthwhile product that makes moisturizing easier when you are on the go as often as I am!

One of the products I was most excited about trying was the Oz Naturals Sea Infused Herbal Moisturizer. Shortly after trying their under eye cream last month, they invited me to join their reviewer program and review some of their other products. The Sea Infused moisturizer was my first sample product from that program. I wanted to try it because it's the summer and who wouldn't want to try sea infused anything during the summer? The product comes out like a smooth, thin lotion and smells a bit like sunscreen, which isn't my favorite. And if I use it on my face, I immediately have to grab one of those cleansing cloths to wipe and keep my face from looking and feeling greasy. Overall, as much as I wanted to love this product, I think I will have to keep looking for a great face moisturizer.

After trying all of these moisturizing products, you would think my post would be over, wouldn't you? Except not. Tomoson hooked me up with New Radiance Naturals and their Anti-Aging Eye Gel. Having tried so many others in the past, I wasn't sure whether I would like this product or not. After a few weeks of diligently putting the product on every night, I came to discover that, like many of the others eye care products I've received to try over the past few months, this product was amazing and reduced the dark circles under my eyes quickly and dramatically (as in one use). My only complaint was the smell. It comes out of the bottle in small doses perfect for under eye application, and the product is so smooth and silky feeling. It is not drying to your skin nor is it greasy feeling. My skin felt super hydrated after using, almost like I applied a lotion. I would definitely recommend this product for those searching for an under-eye solution!

Finally, I got to relax and try the Sinful Colors Professional nail polish in southern belle. Be-u-ti-ful. It is definitely a gorgeous dark pink that looks fabulous now, but I imagine it will look even more fabulous in the fall. (Does fall scream dark colors to anyone else?) The brush makes it easy to apply a thin, smooth coat of paint to your nails, and it dries super quick reducing the chance you will get nail polish anywhere you don't want it.

Before going out on the town (or to babysit) I touched up my hair with my NuMe curling iron and I was ready to go! Feeling beautiful and confident is what it's all about, right?

Have you tried any awesome skincare or make-up products recently?

* I received these products for free in exchange for a review. All opinions are 100% my own. Thanks Influenster, Tomoson, and Oz Naturals! :)

Bella Influenster VoxBox Review

About a week ago I received yet another fantastic assortment of pretties from Influenster! As a member of the influenster network, I receive items for free to try and to share my reviews with you. (Their goal being that either you or I buy these products. Sometimes the products are amazing … and sometimes they are not.)

Anyway, let's get to it!

The first item I pulled out of my box (and the reason it's not included in the "group" shot) was the Dove Dark Chocolate Whole Blueberries. I had seen this new offering from Dove on my grocery store shelves, but I hadn't managed to purchase it yet.When I did try it though, the combination of fruit and dark chocolate reminded me of this:

Anyway, the chocolate didn't last much longer. Justin didn't even get to try any! There was never even a chance to get a group shot with this candy in it! Oh well. Maybe next time. ;)

Next, I pulled out the amazing EcoTools Complexion Mattifying Finish Brush. I ended up taking it on my mini-vacation to Florida this past weekend and used it to apply my make-up before going to a graduation ceremony. Given how stressful that particular day was (with my car broken down for most of the day), it was nice using such a fancy brush with soft bristles. With the bristles distributing powder evenly across my skin, putting my make-up on became a cinch! I highly recommend the EcoTools brand. Everything I've tried from them (including the brush I received in my last VoxBox) has proved to be amazing!

I wasn't too sure about using the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs makeup in medium. For one, who uses makeup on their legs? Do people really have that much time on their hands? And if so, when? How? I need to know your secrets! :) Second of all, my skin isn't that dark. Yes, I have some Italian in my lineage, but… I also have English in my background too. (Thank goodness there isn't any Irish! Eeek! Fair skin for the lose?) Anyway, I digress. As it turns out, the medium skin color ended up working out pretty well for me. The cream smoothed in quite well only adding a hint of color, which is exactly what my untanned legs needed. Perhaps it's time to go dress shopping! ;)

One thing to note: the product didn't get me very far and I am a short person. If you are tall, I could see you going through a lot of product depending on how you use it and how much coverage you desire.

One of my favorite products in the whole box was the gorgeous Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss (in shade 33). The color is phenomenal for this time of year and really makes me think of the cherry blossoms that they have featured on this package. Now, if only there was a nail polish in this color! :)

Even though Influenster didn't read my mind and provide me with a lovely nail polish in shade 33, they did provide me with a mascara from Rimmel ScandalEyes and Kate Moss. Honestly I don't wear mascara that often, so I really have nothing to compare this product to. It went on easily enough with help from the broken heart shaped brush in preventing clumps and it washed off pretty easily as well. Given how little I know about mascara, this one gets a seal of approval from me. :)

In this fast paced world, aside from the coupon for a bottle of Club W's wine that they sent me, the Not Your Mother's DéJà Vu 'Do Primer and Style Extender was a surprising treat. I absolutely hate washing my hair. It takes so much time out of my day and it is quite literally a struggle to obtain a good look. Thank goodness Influenster and Not Your Mother's Brand has my back. Wash your hair, use this product, and your hair style (following a blow dry and straightening) will not only last longer but make your hair smell lightly of red apples and berries. :) Yum, right? This product was fantastic to take on my trip to Florida because not only does it repel dirt but it also blocks humidity! More beach trips ftw! :)

Overall, I have to say that the Bella Vox Box was one of the best boxes I have ever received from Influenster and certainly a fun, spring pick-me-up. I enjoyed getting to try so many different types of make-up and it all came just in time for me to take to Florida last weekend! :) I hope my reviews of these products will help you in deciding which new items on the market you should try (Dove Blueberries!) and which to avoid (Airbrush Legs? … ??!).

Leave me a comment if you have tried any of these products before or have received your own Bella VoxBox. I'd love hear some other opinions!

Influenster Frosty VoxBox Review

Throughout the past year I've been participating more and more with Influenster, a company that sends you products to try based on your social media klout scores. The more friends, family, and influences you have, the better your chances are of receiving products with which to share your opinions on. Sometimes, however, you can receive Influenster boxes because of other projects you've participated in for them. For example, this box I received after working with Influenster and eBay to create a few selling guides for eBay. It's definitely a fun treat to receive something exciting in the mail, even if you do have to review the products. :)

Fruit Vines Bites – Strawberry

One of the first products I tried from the box were the Fruit Vines bites. YUM! I received strawberry in the mail. I'm not a big fan of licorice, but I am definitely a fan of strawberry flavored licorice bites. I had eaten them all within a week, and I would definitely consider purchasing them IF I thought I could keep my hands off of them.

NYC Expert Last Lip Color – Sugar Plum

I wasn't too impressed with this lip color. It almost matched my lip color perfectly which makes me question why I would even wear it? Plus, it was a bit drying. While I can't see myself wearing it too often, the color is quite lovely if it works well with your lips. I'm a bit more of a gloss fan myself.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner – Black

While I love experimenting with eye shadow, blush, and creams, I rarely put any make-up on my eyes. No mascara and no eye liner. The lack of makeup I typically wear makes even the tiniest bit of eyeliner or mascara stick out. That is one thing I do not like to do – feel like I'm sticking out (unless I have a reason to, that is). I did give this eyeliner a try for review purposes though. I love how easily and smoothly it went on. It did make me feel a bit like a raccoon, but I imagine if you are used to eyeliner, it probably looks fabulous. Anyway, that is just my humble opinion. It looks like it also comes in nude and brown colors as well.

Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

Because I tried the eyeliner, I also tried the eye makeup remover. I'm not sure how I expected it to work, but it definitely took a bit of scrubbing to get the makeup off. Apparently I am not alone as many Amazon reviewers seem a bit put off by this product as well. Eventually the makeup came off, but I can't imagine doing this every day.

EcoTools Finisher Hair Brush

After my hair is washed, dried, and straightened, I typically use only a comb when brushing my hair thereafter. This EcoTools brush seems overwhelmingly large and is not something I would typically need or use. I think the Styler and Smoother Agility Brush would be more what I need or could see myself using. Nevertheless, the bristles are quite nice on this brand, being both soft (to prevent hair breakage) as well as hard (to get through tough tangles). If I had the right type of brush from EcoTools, I could see myself really liking it.

Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced

Boots claims that if you use the product for 4 weeks, it will reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Given that I have a baby face (as I was told yesterday when Justin was asked to sign a release form since I looked younger than 15), I'm not entirely sure I would notice a difference in my skin tone even with a full product trial. However if you are looking for a smooth cream, this is it. I did receive a coupon for a percentage off, so I may consider buying the full product and trying it for four weeks to see if it has another other skin benefits (like brightening up one's skin). Boots is a fantastic brand, and one I've been elated to try not just once but twice from Influenster voxboxes. :)

McCormick Gourmet Thyme

A perfect seasoning to add to a variety of winter meals, I can't imagine what makes "gourmet" thyme any different from regular thyme. We haven't had a chance to use it yet, but I'm certain we will in the future. One ofthe biggest problems I suspect we will find with using this product is that we have a local farmer's market that sells fresh seasoning not too far from where we live. If and when we want exceptionally fresh thyme, we will probably go grocery shopping over using seasoning packaged from a large company. We shall see though. Many reviewers on Amazon seem to be quite happy with this product, and I'm hoping we will be too.

Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea

I'm not a huge fan of tea, hot or cold, but I was definitely excited to try this new flavor of tea from one of my favorite brands. Drinking this tea very much reminded me of cold winter days and childhood when my mom would fix me mint tea to help get me through any kind of illness I had. I always felt better afterward. Drinking this mint tea however is much more fun with an exciting name like "Candy Cane Lane" reminding you of Christmas, that is just around the corner. I definitely recommend trying it especially if you already know you like peppermint tea.

Have you tried any of these products? Will you be trying any after reading my reviews?

* I received the above products for review from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

J'Adore Influenster Vox Box

I just received my very first influenster box!! YAYAYAYAYAY!

It was super fun, because it kind of had a bit of a Valentine's Day theme, which I could totally get behind. I mean … chocolate kisses? Yum!

Because I received the box this week, I got to share it not only with my love but also a very cute, very emotional 4 year old. I love that these kisses were able to make our day(s) that much better! :)

One of the first products I pulled out of the box was the Botanics Face Mask. I've never actually used a face mask, so it will be exciting to try it. The label says that the mask "actively removes impurities and deeply cleanses with a clarifying willowbark". (They probably meant to include the bit about how it scares husbands too!) I was really afraid of looking at the ingredients list, but there are only 4 ingredients listed! Isn't that awesome?! And the ingredients seemed to be consistent with the brand concept; they are all natural. Usually when I look at labels for products like this I run away scared because I don't recognize half of the ingredients! I also like that the product is fairly quick and easy to use. According to the instructions, you only have to leave it on your face for 10 minutes! That could easily be incorporated into a nightly (or morning) beauty routine without causing undue stress!

When I saw Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight Flat Iron spray in the box, I began to wonder if Influenster could read my mind. If I don't straighten my hair, I look a bit like a clown or someone from the 80s with big, puffy hair. It's not a very attractive look. This product by Frizz Ease sounds a bit like a miracle worker. Straight hair for 3 days? Why yes! I think I will like you! :) Unfortunately, it mentions 7-15 squirts or more depending on how curly, long, and thick your hair is. My hair is curly (well, at least crazy wavy), long, AND thick. Does that mean I'm going to need to use the whole bottle?! It is nice that the product comes with a bit of keratin, but the ingredient list is pretty crazy long. I was glad to see that sodium lauryl sulfate was not on the list. One thing to note about this product is that they recommend you use it on wet hair. If you just happen to want straight hair and you haven't just washed it, guess what?! You get to go wash it. That is definitely a negative in my opinion.

I've never actually used fake eyelashes, so it was exciting that these Kiss eyelashes came in the box (although I'm a bit afraid to try them!). I definitely have had friends recommend using false lashes before, but I just have never felt the need to try it. Now that I have a sample product to try, I might just break that trend! In the box, the eyelashes look lovely. The box states that the lashes will "look natural" and "feel light and soft as a feather", which sounds pretty good to me. Plus, the company name! When sent with Hershey's kisses?! Totally great marketing scheme they could have there! Who wouldn't want to buy the combination of fake eyelashes (to look beautiful, of course), with delicious chocolate?!

The last thing sent in my box was RedRose black tea blends in Lemon Chiffon, and Créme Caramel flavors. I have to admit I am most excited about the caramel tea. It sounds delicious! #simplyindulge :)

I was hoping to get a little something to give away on my blog from influenster, but I guess they don't really do that. :( I will definitely keep you all updated as I try these products. In the mean time, keep an eye out for some of these products in stores. Or if you've tried any of these products before, let me know what you think in the comments below. I would love to know what to expect!

Hope everyone is having a fantastic week thus far! Only two more days until the weekend! :)

** I received all of the above products for free from influenster to try, and provide opinions and reviews. All opinions/reviews are 100% my own.