Jolly VoxBox ~ Influenster

Oh, man I was super excited when I first heard about +Influenster . A place where you can share reviews on pretty much anything, and with the added bonus of sometimes receiving items to review? Sign me up! My experience thus far with them has been awesome. Quick, easy and amazing service. My Jolly VoxBox arrived within a day of them telling me it had even been processed! Super fast, seriously! (Please read the entire blog post for your chance to join +Influenster too!)

So, what did they send me?



What looks to be a full sized box of Skinny Cow Divine filled Chocolates in peanut butter and crème, travel pack of Puff's Plus Lotion Tissues, full sized NYC HD Color  Trio Eye Shadow in 781 Long Beach Sands, Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Stargazer and an adorable Duck Tape Brand Duct Tape mini roll NOT pictured!

Let's start the reviews....

Skinny Cow Divine filled Chocolates in peanut butter and crème- I believe the name says it all! With 130 calories per pouch and three chocolate pieces per wrapper, they are pure heaven. I love peanut butter too, and this flavor does not disappoint! It's smooth, creamy and decadent. Makes me wonder how something so good is only a measly 130 calories? But, I don't care. I ate mine with some popcorn and it was so good! I've seen Skinny Cow in the store, but every time I've thought about buying it, I resisted because I thought there was no way something with limited calories could taste good. Boy, was I wrong! I will definitely be picking up more of Skinny Cow, when this box is gone. Now I just have to hide it from my son and husband!

Puff's Plus Lotion Tissues- I've been a lover of this brand of facial tissue for years. I love the softness, especially with the added bonus of the lotion. It's so comforting to use, and never make the sensitive skin around my nose hurt or chafe. I'll admit I used these bad boys up fast! I've had bronchitis and I've used these, plus a brand new box I went out and bought. I love these guys and I will always use them!

NYC HD Color Trio Eye Shadow 781 Long Beach Sands- Let me start by saying I was super impressed with the colors of the trio. Sometimes when you receive something to test, you don't always get the right shade or color that suites you. However, thankfully this time I did. I love the creamy texture and color payoff these shadows offer. The highlighter is a beautiful shimmery peachy/pinky shade, works great as a brow highlighter or in the inner eye area. The middle shade is a muted, brown shade with hints of gold. The crease color is a lovely taupe color with accents of pink in it. Over all the trio is super flattering to all eye colors and looked so warm and inviting with my brown eyes. I love this eye shadow and will definitely be looking at more NYC shadows in the future! (The pictures do not do this trio justice!)

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer in Stargazer- I'm a fan of Rimmel, I've used their lip glosses a lot of the years as well as their mascaras so I had no issues trying out this product, other than cringing at the color. I'm light skinned, with cool undertones. This shade called Stargazer is not complementary for someone like me. I applied it and it looked garish on me. I looked sick (well, sicker) and it totally washed me out. However, the texture was really nice and I honestly think if I had been given a pink or berry shade, I would have been in love with it. That being said while I didn't like the color, I felt the color payoff and texture was very nice. It held up fairly well through lunch, though I did have to reapply to freshen it up, but that's kind of normal for me.  So, I think I will be looking at other colors from the Show Off line!

Duck Tape Brand Duct Tape mini roll- This little guy is so freakin' cute! The one I was sent looks like a Hawaiian themed print, with flowers in blue and white. I've seen these guys in the store in different colors and prints, but never thought of buying one. Since they sent this to me I decided to let my son use it to wrap a present for his Grandpa and it turned out so cute! (I don't have a pic unfortunately!) I think it's a great way to dress up a present, art project or just to use around the house. I'll admit the gray/silver color is a bit dated. My husband uses Duct tape for EVERYTHING around the house. Seriously, right now my son's blinds are being held up by Duct tape! So, this product was meant for my household. I love the variety of colors and will most certainly be buying more of this and experimenting with new colors 

The Verdict?

I'm super impressed with the items I received from +Influenster! The quality and brands are superior! There was not a dud in the entire Jolly VoxBox. Everything included was something I was able to use and would without a doubt purchase on my own again and again! Thank you +Influenster for giving me the opportunity to test these products out!!!

Wanna join Influenster? Send me a line with your name and email address and I will send you an invitation! Only the first 5 people who respond will get the opportunity, so hurry! Email me at anonmom07@gmail.com
 

Tarte's Bow & Go Holiday Gift Collection

Tarte's Bow & Go Holiday Gift Collection arrived a few weeks ago, and I've had some time to play around with all the products. It's probably kind of obvious how much of a Tarte lover I am, and my satisfaction with this collection is high. I am very happy with my TSV purchase from QVC.

 

With sixteen shades and a great amount of those matte, I am loving this palette. The colors (don't show well in the photo!) are all super wearable and the pigment and color payoff is good, but even better if you use a primer first. For some reason Tarte loves using shimmer in their eye shadows. I am not a lover of it. So, I was very pleased to see that this collection had quite a few matte shades!

The LipSurgence sticks are all lovely. However, as you can see they are mostly in the pink color family and that's something many have complained about. It doesn't really bother me, I don't like reds or browns too much, so this selection is fine by me. The first one of the far left is probably my favorite, (I think the name is precious). They are pretty long lasting and I don't feel robbed of moisture. Overall I feel these are very good.

 

The eyeliners in shades brown and fig are both colors I have in double. I've collected them over the past few years, and while I love them and think they color and pigment is lovely, I don't really need more. Same goes with the mascara. I like it, but I have a few already, so more than likely these will be given out as presents. The Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara is really good. Like close to being my favorite. Not THE favorite, but almost. What I love is how gentle this formula is on my lashes. I've noticed when I've used chemical laden drug store and high end mascaras, my lashes tend to fall off a lot. But, when I use more natural mascaras (not 100% natural, but close!) my lashes thrive. They do not fall off as much and they grow and look so much healthier.

 

Overall I am very pleased with this collection. While there are some items I already own, the eye shadow palette is the stand out item. Whether you keep the entire collection for yourself, or gift part or all out, it's a smart investment!

LORAC Red Hot Full Face Collection

I've heard a lot about LORAC, but I had never tried it until recently. Mostly because it seemed so very expensive and out of my price range. However, as I was watching HSN one night I saw that they were having a 24hr beauty sale and LORAC was just one of the brands they were selling. So, I found a good sized kit and ordered.

The kit contains 4 full size Silky Smooth Eye Shadows in shades Cream, Gold, Taupe and Black, Pro Mascara, blush in Crimson, Lips with Benefits Gloss in Nicholas and 3D Liquid Lustre.

Here's what I liked-

(Eye shadows top-Gold, Taupe, Black and Cream.)

(Colors don't show that well on me!)

I really liked the look, wear and durability of the shadows. While they may not have been the most exciting shades, they work really well at creating some pretty looks. In the photo above I used the gold as a base, then applied taupe over it and into the crease to kind of soften it up. I also added the cream onto my brow bone and used the black as a liner.

This lip gloss tastes divine! I know, I know most lip products are kind of toxic and you shouldn't be eating them, licking them or ingesting them.........but this lip gloss tastes just like caramel. So, good so creamy! (Yeah, I liked the product right off!) But, the color was great too. Not too bright, or crazy, just a really nice rosy color that works lovely on the lips.

(Blush in Crimson on the left, lip gloss in Nicholas on the right.)

The Pro Mascara was great too. Not clumpy and gave me just the right amount of volume that I felt comfortable using it daily. It kind of reminded me of an old MAC mascara I used a long time ago.


What was so-so-

The blush was okay. I can't say it's the best I've ever used, but I'm not a big connoisseur of them either. I think that most of kind of standard anyhow. This one didn't blow me away, but it looked nice. Nothing I'd go out of my way to purchase on its own.


What I hated-

The 3D Liquid Lustre was not my cup of tea. Basically it's just glitter in a bottle. I hated it. I applied a swatch to my hand and was relieved that I didn't mix it with my foundation as someone had suggested doing. It might be cute for a teenager to use, but not a thirty something year old woman!

Overall I think LORAC makes some great quality eye shadows. They are highly pigmented and have the ability to be used wet or dry to give a more dramatic look. If you buy anything, I'd recommend you go for the eye shadows. I've heard nothing but great reviews on the other shades too. I don't think you can go wrong with them. For the price of this entire kit $32, I think it's a pretty good value. Especially since you get the mascara, blush and yummy lip gloss too, (the 3D stuff is a dud in my opinion).

Hope you found this helpful!

Jaime

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Order the LORAC Red Hot Face Collection-
http://www.hsn.com/products/lorac-cosmetics-red-hot-8pc-full-face-collection/7201615

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara Drama Curl

One night I was watching HSN and I saw a demo for what appeared to be just another ordinary mascara. However, as I sat glued to the glowing box, I saw that this was slightly different. It came with a pick. A pick? As in, hair pick? No. Like a guitar pick....What???

I kid you not. Although there was never any mention of it being called a "pick" as you can see for yourself, that's exactly what it is, (the company actually refers to it as a "shield"). Anyhow I decided right then and there I needed to order it....

About a week later it arrived and I began trying it out. First thing I noticed was that it did not come in the standard tube like most mascaras. Eyeko comes in an interesting tube, which resembles that of an eye cream or some kind of skincare product. The formula is not wet, which made me very happy, (I have long, thin lashes, so the drier formulas tend to work better on me) while the wand is a natural bristle brush. Another thing I noticed was that there appeared to be some kind of fibers mixed in the formula, which made sense as this was a thickening and volumizing product. The application was normal, however I did have to pull out my eyelash comb to get out some clumps that had formed after the first application. Once I went in for the second pass, I was pretty happy with the results. As far as the pick goes, I tried using it, but it's kind of tricky. It's meant to be placed above the upper lash line, so you are able to really build up the curl and volume. I tried, but I don't think I did that great of job with it.

All in all I liked it. I honestly think it's the kind of mascara that should be used for evening or special occasions. To me, it seemed a little too dramatic for daily wear, but awesome for going out. It also holds really well. I wore mine for about 10 hours and there was no flaking, smearing and the curl and volume looked really good. Washing it off is another story too. I forgot that it is also labeled as being water resistant, and boy is it! I really had to let my lids soak for a few long seconds before even attempting to remove it . (Oh, it's also paraben free, made with botanical extracts, keratin and Shea Butter.)

So, if you're in the market for a new va-va-voom mascara, give Eyeko a try. I think I'll get some wear out of it during the holidays:)

Jaime

Buy Eyeko Black Magic Mascara Drama Curl-
http://www.hsn.com/products/eyeko-black-magic-mascara-duo/7277482


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LightStim LED Light for Full Face Wrinkles

A few months ago I decided to try the LightStim LED Light for Full Face Wrinkles, (which I purchased on the QVC website). I was intrigued because the demonstration and research they used to back up their claims was pretty positive. The company states, "A handheld, LED medical device that is FDA cleared for the treatment of full face wrinkles. It penetrates the top layer of the skin, which may help enhance collagen and elastin production." I had been wanting to try the LightStim for over a year, but couldn't justify the full price of nearly $200. Then one evening I was flipping channels and found the product being offered for 5 easy payments, plus a full 90 day trial period. I figured it was time to take the LightStim for a test drive.

It arrived about a week later, and I promptly began using it. I started doing it just as recommended by placing the device on the target area for 3 minutes. I did this 5 days a week for about a month. During this time I kept waiting for something really amazing to occur. I have a bit of an "11" on my forehead that I focused on, as well as some deeper fine lines around my eye area, (The manufacture includes a pair of goggles that you place over your eyes to protect them).  After about a month I really started studying my face. Were the lines around my eyes softened? Was the "11" diminished? Did my skin look fuller, plumper and more hydrated? No. In fact everything looked the same. The only thing that I did notice was that my skin seemed drier.

Still hoping for the best I continued on with my trial. I had read that some women had good success if they left the device on each area for a longer period of time. So, I increased the time from 3, to 5 full minutes on each area. To do my entire face it went from a simple 15 minutes to 25. Which honestly, was hard to do. The 15 felt a bit time consuming 5x's a week, but having it increase by 10 minutes seemed to just be a chore. I continued on this routine for another 2 1/2 weeks. Finally pausing to reevaluate my progress a little past the 6 week mark.

Was there a marked difference from when I started the LightStim journey? Well, no. The only thing I noticed was how dry and burnt my skin looked. During the entire time I used the device, I had to slather my argan oil and other moisturizes just to feel relief from the tight and itcy feeling that I felt after each treatment. And, I actually thought my targeted areas looked worse, if that's possible. The "11" and fine lines around my eyes appeared more noticeable. I suspect that this was because my skin was drier and missing some hydration.

So, I returned the device and received a refund. I suppose I could have kept it beyond the 90 day trial window (and lost $200), but I wasn't willing to take a chance that I'd see results. Maybe this device is for women a bit older? I'm 34, so perhaps it was too much for my skin? I don't really know, all I do know is that my curiosity has been satisfied. I'm not saying it's a terrible product, it just didn't work for me. I checked the QVC website this week and noticed they are now selling it in conjunction with Dr. Denese HydroShield Face Serum. My purchase didn't include this product, so maybe it makes a difference?

I'm not certain I'd ever try a device like this again. In theory it sounds great, but to use it 5x's a week (some women used it 7 days a week!) for 25 minutes (others reported using it for 45 minuets!) I just don't know if it's a realistic product for everyone. However, I do think if QVC offers the 90 day trial period, you should try it for yourself. (Right now QVC is extending it's return policy to January 31st. So, if you are interested you can try it out and use it throughout the holidays and if you're not happy with the results, send it back:)

Hopefully you guys found this helpful!

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Tarte's QVC TSV Bow & Go Holiday Gift Collectiom

If you're a Tartelette lover, or new to this awesome brand their deal coming up starting at Midnight (EST) Monday November 18th or 9PM Sunday November 17th (PST) you are definitely going to want to pick up this great holiday value pack!

The collection is titled, "Bow & Go" is packed with 24 items! 16 Amazonian clay eye shadows, 4 Lipsurgence lip crèmes, 2 smolderEYES waterproof eyeliners, and 2 Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-1 Mascaras. According to QVC's site, the entire collection if sold separately would cost $248! (Suggested Manufacture's price) But for 24 hr. on November 18th, you can pick up this incredible offer for just $49.98!! And you can even choose to break it up into two monthly payments of $24.99! Plus, right now QVC has their holiday return policy in effect, so if you are not happy with your purchase you can return it up 'til January 31 2014! So, what are you waiting for? Order HERE I've already got mine locked down:)



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My Fall/Winter Foundations

Just as the seasons change, so does my foundation. I started switching things up around the beginning of October, when the weather started cooling off. My skin for the most part is dry/combo in the T-zone areas, but more on the dry end of the spectrum. When fall/winter rolls around it almost goes totally into the dry zone. So, I pull out the heavy hitters for the seasonal change.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen: This stuff has been a staple of mine for the past two years. It's a product I always return to when my skin starts freaking out with all the changes in the environment. I have had such good success with this foundation that I don't stray from it too often. More often than not, this is what I wear when I go to work, or as an everyday sort of face. The coverage is light, but totally buildable and goes on flawlessly. It does give you a nice finish, not dewy, but more on the matte side (I use with Benefit's POREfessional Primer).

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen: On days when I am working at my son's school, running errands or just having a low-key day, I most likely reach for this tinted moisturizer. I find it to be very hydrating and gives a nice dewy look. Being a BB tinted moisturizer, the coverage is very light, but if you feel inclined you can always dust a light powder over it to give it more staying power and an overall finished look. I notice I use this more when it's windy outside, as it keeps my skin hydrated and help prevents dryness that I usually get on those days.

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation: I just started using this over the summer. I didn't fair so well for me in the hot California sun, but as it has grown crisper out, I've discovered this works really well. It's a strange formula, as it applies totally white, but then after warming into your skin, the color adapts to your natural skin tone. It's kind of freaky to watch it change right before your eyes. I have this habit of continuously reapplying it, just to see it disappear into my skin! I really love the finished result on my skin. I use the color fair/light, but I think I could have ordered light/medium and it would have worked good too. This product leaves my skin so soft and moisturized, it actually feels like I am getting a skin treatment. Which, I might be since there's argan oil in it. I really like how my skin looks and feels with this foundation. I'm looking forward to using it more as the weather changes. (Side note: I've noticed I don't have the need to use a pore filling primer when I use this stuff. I just blurs and softens anything that would normally require a primer. Total plus in my book!)

Finishing Powder:
e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder: I've had this for a while, but never even opened it. It wasn't until a few months ago that I cracked open the package and started playing with it. I love using this as a finishing powder over the above foundations. It sets and locks the look for longer wear. I think it just works beautifully with the Josie Maran foundation, as I mentioned I don't need to use a primer with that one, and this as a finishing really makes my face look brighter and flawless.

Well, there you have it. These are my go-to fall/winter foundations. I hope you found this useful and let me know what you use! I'd love to hear from you:)

Jaime

(PS-Please forgive the condition of my bottles, as they are well loved!=)


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