My Influenster #XOVoxBox

****THESE ITEMS WERE PROVIDED TO ME FREE FOR TESTING PURPOSES FROM INFLUENSTER****

The first item I received in my #XOVoxBox from Influenster was a pack of the Tide Pods with Febreze. There were 10 pods in the pack and they are a 4 in 1 pod. They clean, soften, remove stains, and leave your clothes smelling fresh. I already use Tide Pods regularly so I was pleased to get these and try them out. For me it is just so convenient to just pop a pod into the wash instead of having to measure you detergent, wait for the rinse cycle to add the softener, and don't forget having to treat the stains before you throw them in the wash. What if you forget or miss a stain and you wash it, then throw it in the dryer, chances are your stain is now set for life. With the stain remover in this pod you don't ever have to worry about missing a stain again. Plus it leaves your clothes soft and smelling fresh!

This next item I received is the new Colgate Optic White Toothbrush with built in whitening pen. I was a little skeptical about this because I have tried so many whitening products and didn't get much results. This one I have to say has really surprised me. You brush your teeth with this toothbrush that has these bristles that help clean your teeth, technically they aren't bristles but these rubber things nestled in the middle of the brush. The whitening pen fits right inside the handle of the toothbrush. This whitening gel in the pen is different than other ones I've used. This one you don't have to wait for it to sit and then rinse it off, you just apply it to your teeth and go, it adheres to the teeth and you don't have to rinse it off. It also has a nice minty flavor (just a mild minty flavor) to it so you don't have to worry about having an awful taste in your mouth.

This next item I got goes with the toothbrush that came with this box. This is the Colgate Optic White Platinum Express White toothpaste in Fresh Mint. It says it has 2 times the whitening ingredient. I am liking this toothpaste and I think I will be purchasing it again when this tube runs out.

The next item I got was the Skinfix Hand Repair Cream. This is a thicker cream that says it "delivers healing benefits above and beyond the average hand cream to soothe the most challenging skin conditions. This specially formulated medicinal hand cream contains 1% colloidal oatmeal to target eczema, dermatitis and extreme dryness". It also says that it calms redness, relieves itching, and rebuilds the skin barrier with a blend of healing botanicals, rich natural butters and emollient oils. I can say that it does not have a scent but I did notice that for a little while after application my hands felt somewhat greasy. It wasn't enough to make me stop using it because it really did work for my hands. I do not know if I will purchase this again because I am not sure of where I can get it in my area.

This item that was sent to me was the John Frieda 7 Day Volume In Shower hair treatment. I have not tried this out yet but I will try it soon. It says that it :

Texturally transforms fine hair, leaving it full even after multiple washes.

This lightweight semi-permanent treatment establishes a base for volumized styling, enabling her to achieve a look previously viewed unattainable.

The treatment works by penetrating into each fiber and amplifying each hair strand for lift that lasts through multiple washes.

I may have to give it a try because I have fine hair and would love to have some volume occasionally.

The next items I got were these sample/travel size John Frieda Beach Blonde shampoo, conditioner, and Sea Salt Spray. I have tried the shampoo and conditioner and I have been really pleased with them. I do occasionally use a flat iron to straighten my hair and I almost never use the heat protectant spray even though I have it so it's nice to have a shampoo that is great for heat damaged hair. The conditioner leaves my hair so silky smooth and easy to comb because of the detangling properties. They both have energizing mint and it is such a nice pleasant smell, not overwhelming. I have yet to try the Sea Salt Spray so I can't say how it works but I'm looking forward to trying it out.

This last item was my favorite part of this box. I received a coupon code for a free bra and panty set if I signed up for a VIP membership to Adore Me. Adore Me's description of their VIP Membership is listed here:

"Live the VIP life with Adore Me’s monthly VIP Membership. Enjoy great lingerie plus tons of benefits!

$10 OFF any style, any time!

Your first style for $24.95!

Every 6th set is on us!

Free shipping and free unlimited exchanges.

Exclusive access to VIP only sales and sets.

No obligation to buy, no membership fee."

 

While the membership is nice some of you might not want to commit to a membership so you can also pay as you go. In the VIP Membership you also have the ability to skip the month as long as you log in to your showroom by the 5th of each month.  If you are interested in trying them out use this link here. I was very pleased with my selection. Everything fit perfectly and I've had them for about a month now and with washing, drying, and wear they have held up well, I've had other bras and panties from stores like Walmart that fell apart after a couple washings so that was a little disappointing.

If you are interested in Influenster you should go here and check them out.

 

 

March Ipsy Glam Bag

Today I am going to share my March Ipsy Glam Bag with you. This month's theme is Floral Fantasy.

For those of you who are not real familiar with Ipsy here's a little breakdown of what it is...Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that you sign up for. It costs $10 a month and they bill you on the first of the month every month. Shipping usually starts around the middle of the month and they start giving out little sneak peeks of what is all going to be in the bags for the month. They start the sneak peeks around the first of the month. Right around the 10th or 12th of the month they open up your "Glam Room" and it will show you what you will be getting in your bag. You get roughly 5 products in your bags and the items they choose for you are somewhat based on the beauty quiz you take when you sign up. Each product is usually a deluxe sized sample and there is usually at least one item that is full sized. You can re-take the quiz at any time if you are not satisfied with the types of products you are getting. Your products are packed inside a cute little make-up bag that is designed for the theme for the month. If you are interested in signing up I will give you my link here. Check out this link for more information and to sign up.

As always included with your bag is a little card with the theme on it and either has more information about the theme, the Ipsy beauty vloggers, or inspirational quotes. The bag this month is a pretty blue floral print with the signature "Ipsy" zipper pull. The material of this bag is the same as last month's material, it's a nice coated fabric that is heavier than regular fabric.

The first item I got in my bag was this NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick in the shade Little Susie. This shade is kind of a pinky color. I love these lipsticks because not only are they affordable but they are very comfortable on your lips. They don't dry out my lips at all. This was a full sized product.

The second item I got was the Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Creme Oil. This is a luxurious styling crème made of the lines staple blend of soy, cocoa and argan oil. Soy Renewal Crème Oil gives lightweight conditioning and moisturizing that helps hair look and feel extra healthy! I have not tried this yet so I am not sure how well it works or if I like it. This was a travel sized product.

The third item I got is the Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter, this is formulated for light skin tone so it should work well on me. Chella says it is a neutral pencil that will brighten and visibly lift your eyes when lightly applied on the brow bone, dark circles, blemishes and red spots. In addition, this multi-purpose pencil can be used to brighten and “open” the eye area by applying to the water line and inner corners of the eye. I haven't used it yet but I am really looking forward to trying it out real soon! This is a full sized pencil.

My fourth item I got was the Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Anti-aging Mattifying Lotion. This is a deluxe sample sized. This is a lightweight lotion formulated with apple stem cells to help delay the natural signs of aging by maintaining the longevity and activity of stem cells in the skin. Simultaneously, retinol stimulates new cell turnover and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They say it is "oil-free, helps delay the natural signs of aging by maintaining the longevity & activity of stem cells in the skin. Also stimulates new cell turnover, improving the appearance of lines & wrinkles and increases water reserves, limits water loss & improves lipid barrier function to balance moisture levels". I haven't tried it yet but I will be giving it a try real soon.

The final item I got was the Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow in the shade Lucky Penny. I believe this is a full sized product. They are 100% natural, mineral based loose powder. Featuring a creamy texture, this highly pigmented powder is easily blendable and offers the ability to create depth and intensity around the eye. I have not tried it out yet but it looks to be a copper color and I've heard it's really pigmented.


That is all I got in my bag this month and I was pleased with most of the items. The styling creme and mattifying lotion I'm not sure about yet but that's just because I have really sensitive skin so I'm always unsure of how my skin will react to something new. I am sure that I will use the mattifying lotion but I am just not sure how I will like the styling creme in my hair, I don't put a lot of stuff in my hair because it is fine and I don't want to weigh it down and I hate that when it does.

Stay tuned for next month's Ipsy Glam bag and I'm excited to see what the theme for April will be.

February Ipsy Glam Bag

This month's theme for Ipsy was #ipsyLOVE which I thought was very fitting for February (Valentine's Day). The bag is a really cute vinyl bag with a pink, white, and grey checked pattern and of course there is the signature Ipsy zipper pull on it. I really love this bag and I think I might change out the one I carry in my purse for this one.

For those of you who are not real familiar with Ipsy here's a little breakdown of what it is...Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that you sign up for. It costs $10 a month and they bill you on the first of the month every month. Shipping usually starts around the middle of the month and they start giving out little sneak peeks of what is all going to be in the bags for the month. They start the sneak peeks around the first of the month. Right around the 10th or 12th of the month they open up your "Glam Room" and it will show you what you will be getting in your bag. You get roughly 5 products in your bags and the items they choose for you are somewhat based on the beauty quiz you take when you sign up. Each product is usually a deluxe sized sample and there is usually at least one item that is full sized. You can re-take the quiz at any time if you are not satisfied with the types of products you are getting. Your products are packed inside a cute little make-up bag that is designed for the theme for the month. If you are interested in signing up I will give you my link here. Check out this link for more information and to sign up.

The first item I received in my bag this month was a Rob Scheppy for 'TiniBeauty Eyeshadow. It is in the shade Pearl Fizz, a shimmering beige powder shadow from the palette designed for 'Tini Beauty by Hollywood makeup artist Rob Scheppy. It is a full sized shadow and retails for $12 on 'Tini Beauty's site. I have not tested this out but I am sure I am going to like it, I love having shimmery beige shadows that I can use for creating neutral eye looks or just swiping on by itself when I just want to wear minimal makeup.

The next item I got was a parfume sample from Joya. It is the Composition No. 1 Parfum Oil. JOYA Composition No. 1 is a luscious perfume oil in a beautiful and convenient roll-on travel-sized bottle: fruity, floral, creamy, citrus, a little musk, a lot refreshing. Perfume oil, unlike traditional alcohol-based fragrances, whispers instead of screaming. JOYA parfum realizes the true essences of its top, heart and drydown notes and gently absorbs on the skin of each wearer, making for an intimate and personal experience. Composition No. 1 interacts with your own chemistry and smells different on everyone and is sure to make an impression. This is a sample size and the full size retails for $30 on Joya's site. I have not tested this to see how I like the scent so we will see what happens.

The 3rd item I got was a ModelCo. Blush Cheek Powder in the shade Peach Bellini (a peachy pink). ModelCo’s BLUSH Cheek Powder creates a beaming, rosy glow to brighten every complexion. The micronized color pigments and luxurious, pressed powder delivers a sheer, natural radiance that lasts all day. I have not tried this item yet because just by looking at it I am wondering if it will be too dark for me but I will give it a try and see how I like it. This is a full sized product and it retails for $22 on ModelCo's site.

The next item I was a little excited to get because I have been wanting to try this brand out and see how I like it. This is the Cargo Mini Lip Gloss in the shade Anguilla. Its super high shine gloss delivers intense color payoff and locks in moisture to keep lips feeling hydrated. This longwearing lip gloss has a slick texture that feels creamy gliding over lips without being sticky. Ingredients such as Vitamin E and Jojoba Seed oil help increase lip moisture and decrease the appearance of furrows around the mouth while increasing lip volume to its maximum fullness. I have yet to try this item out as well (I'm a little behind this last week or so) but I think I am going to love it and I will probably wear it a lot, especially on the weekends when I wear minimal makeup. This is a sample size and the full size retails for $16 on Cargo's site.

The last item I got in my bag this month I was really excited about because I love trying out new brushes. This is the Luxie Beauty Large Angled Face Brush 504. This is such a soft brush and I am really liking it. The Luxie Rose Gold Large Angled Face Brush is a 100% Animal Cruelty Free brush with high quality synthetic hair bristles that are soft to the touch. With its Vegan makeup qualities from bristles to ferrule, this Rose Gold brush is a must have in your makeup collection. Coated with a revolutionary antibacterial solution for minimal brush cleansing, your brush remains fresh and clean for longer periods of time. The density of the brush allows for an even application without any wasted product and does not absorb the product into the bristles. This one retails for $8 right now on Luxie Beauty's site.

I absolutely loved everything I received in my Glambag this month and I can't wait to see what Ipsy has in store for us in March!!





*item descriptions taken from Ipsy site

January Ipsy Bag Unbagging

This month's theme for Ipsy is Start Fresh which I think is fitting for January, it's the start of a new year and an opportunity to start fresh with some things. The bag this month is very simple, it's made of a kind of heavy textured vinyl. It has a orange zipper with the signature "Ipsy" zipper pull and it's white on one side and a royal blue on the opposite side. It's very different and yet so simple at the same time in my opinion.

For those of you who are not real familiar with Ipsy here's a little breakdown of what it is...Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that you sign up for. It costs $10 a month and they bill you on the first of the month every month. Shipping usually starts around the middle of the month and they start giving out little sneak peeks of what is all going to be in the bags for the month. They start the sneak peeks around the first of the month. Right around the 10th or 12th of the month they open up your "Glam Room" and it will show you what you will be getting in your bag. You get roughly 5 products in your bags and the items they choose for you are somewhat based on the beauty quiz you take when you sign up. Each product is usually a deluxe sized sample and there is usually at least one item that is full sized. You can re-take the quiz at any time if you are not satisfied with the types of products you are getting. Your products are packed inside a cute little make-up bag that is designed for the theme for the month. If you are interested in signing up I will give you my link here. Check out this link for more information and to sign up.

The first item I received in my bag was an item I actually already own but I'm happy to have another one. It is the Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush. It is "the ultimate tool for precision application of liquid or cream eyeliner. The ultra-plush synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty free. Its extended aluminum handle is light and easy to use to make you look pixel-perfect even in the harshest of lights!" I have actually not tried this brush out yet (not even the one I already owned) but I plan to try it out real soon. I have a feeling I am going to love this for perfecting my application of liquid, cream, or gel liner.

Then next item I received in my bag was the J. Cat Beauty Fantabulous Gel Liner. I was really excited to get this item because I have been wanting to try out gel liner. I used to be horrible at eye liner application no matter what I tried but now with practice I'm starting to get better. Now I want to perfect my winged liner look. This gel liner is intense yet it has a smooth creamy texture that lasts all day long and is smudge-proof! The color I got was Blue Black which I am assuming (because I haven't tried it yet) is like a jet black shade.

The next item I got I think will go well with my new gel liner. It is the Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow in the shade Ethereal which is a shimmery champagne shade. This has an "incredibly innovative formula that pushes natural makeup and mineral color to new bounds. Rich, lasting, creaseless eye shadows are infused with coconut water for a velvety, cream-like finish. Formulated without: Phthalates, parabens, carmine, beeswax, lanolin, mineral oils, propylene glycol, petroleum and FD& C colors (along with other nasties you do not want on your skin). No animal testing. Gluten-free, 100% vegan and cruelty-free." I can't wait to use this along with the liner I got!

I also received the Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo shimmer lotion. It is an incandescent liquid that lights up skin with all over radiance. Mix with foundation or wear alone to provide a luminous glow for all skin types. An especially amazing product for mature or dry skin. Sheer Glo provides a youthful glow and dewy finish. Use on face and/or body and get glowing." I'm not sure if I will use this much but I might try to play around with it. I did rub some on the back of my hand and it did have a nice glow without being overwhelming with shimmer or glitter.

The last item I got in my bag was something that I'm not sure I will use but I'll hang on to it because you never know when I'll want something like this to add to my skincare routine. It is the Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream. It says it "provides rich hydration to the delicate skin around the eyes. This powerful product will leave your eyes looking brighter, smoother and younger looking. The Key Ingredients are:
• Avocado Oil - Restores and protects skin, while helping retain clarity and brightness.
• Moroccan Argan Oil - Packed with restorative omega fatty acids to intensely hydrate and replenish.
• Shea Butter - Deeply moisturizes and softens skin."

I had been debating on whether or not I wanted to cancel my Ipsy subscription because I was starting to accumulate a lot of stuff that I haven't used yet but when I seen what I was getting in my Glam Room I was very pleased with the products and knew that I couldn't quit!

Pacifica Super Hydrating Hand Cream

Today I am going to share with you a new hand cream that I have come upon and it has quickly become my favorite. I found these at my local Ulta one day while I was browsing and shopping for new makeup brushes. I love that Ulta has testers out on their products because I am very particular about my hand creams and lotions and I am super picky about the scents. My hubby is really sensitive to scents so I always try to get stuff that I know won't irritate him.

These are made with shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil. They are also paraben-free and just smell amazing. I picked up the Indian Coconut Nectar and the scent of this one literally reminds me of summer. You know what I mean, it has that coconut-suntan lotion smell that just screams summer! It is a warm, sultry blend of coconut and delicate creamy vanilla is pure ambrosia. I will say that the cream is thick and hydrating and doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy at all. I had tried a little bit of it from the tester on the back of my hand and was literally walking around Ulta smelling the back of my hand, I think the cashier thought I was a little crazy because I was still smelling my hand when I went to check out.

I loved that one so much that I had to make another trip to Ulta and pick up another one. At first I was just going to get another one of the same scent but I decided to try the rest of the scents and see if there was another one I liked. I had heard great things about the Tuscan Blood Orange scented one and smelled the tester. I put a dab of it on the back of my hand to see what it would smell like on me and OMG!! This one smelled amazing too!! The Tuscan Blood Orange isn't as strong of a scent like the Indian Coconut Nectar one but I knew I had to have this one too. This one is a delectable blend, juicy and spicy Blood Orange is offset with subtle strawberry and raspberry notes and grounded in fleshy mandarin and italian sweet orange.

Then I started smelling all of the rest of them to see if I liked anymore of them but I found that I didn't care for any of the other scents as much as I liked these two. This one has that same formula, it's nice and thick and hydrating without leaving you greasy. These hand creams are also listed as 100% vegan on Pacifica's site.

Here is a list of the ingredients for the Super Hydrating Hand Creams: aqua, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, capric caprylic triglycerides, polysorbate 60*, cetearyl alcohol*, glycerin*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, glyceryl stearate*, sorbitol, stearic acid*, sodium PCA, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, laminaria hyperborea (kelp) extract, tocopherol, xanthan gum, sodium alginate, cocos nucifera (coconut) water, iris pallida (sweet iris) leaf cell extract, leuconstoc/radish root ferment filtrate, ethylhexylglycerin, parfum (Pacifica's own with natural and essential oils). *vegetable source.

They retail for $9 for 2.25oz. and in my opinion that is a really great price for such an amazing product! If you get them at Ulta there is always coupons you can use on your purchase. You can also get them on Pacifica's site here. I also heard from another blogger that Pacifica products are also available at select Targets, sadly none of my Targets have them but at least I have Ulta!!

November Ipsy Glambag

Today I am going to show you what I received in my November Ipsy Glambag. There were a couple things I really liked and was excited about but there were also a couple things that I was kind of "meh" about. I'll show you everything and tell you what I thought. This month's theme was "Girl Meets Glitter" The bag was really cute and even though it's all glittery, it's a "vinyl" bag so there is no glitter to come off on everything. I love the bag, it's really cute.

For those of you who are not real familiar with Ipsy here's a little breakdown of what it is...Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that you sign up for. It costs $10 a month and they bill you on the first of the month every month. Shipping usually starts around the middle of the month and they start giving out little sneak peeks of what is all going to be in the bags for the month. They start the sneak peeks around the first of the month. Right around the 10th or 12th of the month they open up your "Glam Room" and it will show you what you will be getting in your bag. You get roughly 5 products in your bags and the items they choose for you are somewhat based on the beauty quiz you take when you sign up. Each product is usually a deluxe sized sample and there is usually at least one item that is full sized. You can re-take the quiz at any time if you are not satisfied with the types of products you are getting. Your products are packed inside a cute little make-up bag that is designed for the theme for the month. If you are interested in signing up I will give you my link here. Check out this link for more information and to sign up.

The first item in my bag was the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer. This is just a deluxe sample size. I have heard great things about it and was really excited to try it. It says that "it's infused with anti-aging technology, vitamins and high-performance pigments, this multipurpose concealer improves the appearance of wrinkles and effectively conceals the appearance of skin imperfections including dark circles, bags, redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, age spots and discoloration. Finally an extreme concealer that makes you look younger! How to use: Warm it up by placing a dot-size amount on the back of your hand and rubbing gently with the tip of your finger. Tap this concealer directly onto your under eye area, over blemishes or to other areas of concern that you wish to conceal. Blend by smoothing the product over your skin using circular motions with your favorite IT Cosmetics brush. A little goes a long way and this formula is completely buildable, so for more coverage, simply repeat the process." I have used it a couple times and I do find that it does work very well for concealing my dark circles and it really does stay put. I'm going to use it a few more times before I decide if I'm going to buy the full sized product. I've been on the hunt for a great concealer. The full size product retails for $24 for .28fl oz.

The next item I got was SeaRx Micro-Dermabrasion Face & Beauty Scrub. This was an item that I really wasn't too excited about. As I've said before I have really sensitive skin so I am always leary about trying new skin care products. They say that you can "exfoliate your whole body with this all-over scrub, which utilizes an advanced crystal blend system. The gentle scrub effectively exfoliates, removes dead cells and reveals softer, healthier skin. Featuring minerals and extracts, the formula improves skin tone and leaves you with smoother, firmer looking skin." Maybe I'll just try it out on a body part and see how it works instead of trying it on my face, but then again I am really curious to see how well this would work on my face. This is a deluxe sample size and a full size retails for $32 for 100g of product.

The 3rd item I got was the Marc Anthony Oil Of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray. This was one of the items I was excited to try because I love hairsprays to tame my fly-aways and with the argan oil it nourish my hair. They say that you can "get extra volume, shine and hold with this dual purpose hairspray; nourishing and styling in one! This argan oil, keratin and grape seed oil infused hairspray gives you strong and flexible hold plus deep nourishment, strengthening and conditioning as you style. The non-water based, fast drying formula freeze-frames your volume and hold without stickiness or flaking and it’s flexible finish creates workable styles for easy re-styling without crunch or heavy build-up. It creates a luminous finish and shields against humidity for longer lasting styles. Sun Protectors keep the sun and other elements from damaging your full bodied mane." I haven't tried it out yet but I will be real soon and I'm sure I'm going to love it. This is a deluxe sample size and a full size retails for $8.29 for 9oz at Walgreens.

The 4th item I got in my bag was the Starlooks lip gloss in the shade Guilty Pleasure. It says that "Starlooks Lip Glosses are created with a truly moisturizing, luxury, non-sticky formula. This neutral-rose, yet glamorous shade provides the perfect glisten for any lip look and complements any skin tone! Can be worn alone or in combination with other Starlooks lip products for a truly customizable finish." I have tried this out (and forgot to take a pic for you guys) and I really liked it. It's a nice light rose shade that is perfect for a light make-up day. It wasn't sticky just like it says it isn't and I really felt like that after it wore off my lips were still nice and soft, it didn't dry them out. I really loved this product and may purchase the full size in the future. This is a deluxe sample and a full size retails for $13 on Starlooks' site.

The last item I got in my bag was the Be A Bombshell Eye Base in the shade Submissive. This is an item that it was kind of meh about. It says that "this eye base is a highly pigmented, long-lasting product that can be used as a single cream color or used as an eye base to build color. Bombshell Application: Apply lightly with fingertip to create a natural finish. Layer for added color. Bombshell Tip: Create a more intense look by layering with a powder eyeshadow." It's kind of a gold shade and I'm just not sure if I'll use it. Who knows, maybe I'll try it out or maybe I'll just pass it on to someone else. I haven't decided yet. This is a full sized product and it retails for $14 on Be A Bombshell's site.

That's all I got in my Ipsy bag this month. Overall I was pleased with it and for $10 a month you really can't go wrong. I can't wait to see what they've got in store for December! Stay tuned and I'll show you what I get next month!!