Not Your Mother's® Beach Babe™ Texturizing Sea Salt Spray

I have tried nearly all of the beach sprays out there and none of them have ever really worked. Most of the time I have to use a few of them mixed together to get a look I am only semi-happy with. This product is the best I have ever used and the cheapest...go figure. It gives that effortlessly cool be-achy look and have never given me that gross crunchy mess that a lot of them do. The smell is so light, but amazing. It has hold so you really don't need hairspray and it works all day. I can go two days with this product...I will use this as long as its sold.

• Link back to the Not Your Mother's® website: http://bit.ly/X9D4gH
• Link to the Beach Babe page: http://bit.ly/14G5TDQ
• OR link to the She's a Tease page: http://bit.ly/VGBXli

“Olay Fresh Effects” {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleaning System

I’ve been using Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System and have been really pleased with the results. When I saw Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleaning System, I was anxious to give it a try.Fresh Effects is a lot different from Pro-X – it’s smaller, more intense (as its description states, it “packs some punch”), and has a triangle brush head instead of a round one. The bristles are also a lot stronger – they’re a silicone/rubber material that will make this brush a lot more durable. The packaging leads me to believe it’s geared toward a younger market, which makes sense with the intensity of this brush’s vibrations. Fresh Effects is powered by 1 AAA battery (included) and can be used in the shower, but not submerged in water. This makes it so much easier to integrate into your regular routine. It would fare well for traveling since it’s so compact (smaller than my hand!). I’m actually considering putting it in my gym back to use after my workouts since it gives such a deep clean.

The Cleansing System comes with Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser ($6.99 for a full size). It’s as powerful as a mask, but works as a cleanser to deep clean and reduce the appearance of pores. It left my face feeling tight, like I had just done a face mask, which I thought was impressive. I like it so far, but I think you’d be safe to use the Fresh Effects cleaning brush with the face wash of your choosing.

With a price tag of only $12.99, I HIGHLY recommend the Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleaning System. It’s a great way to scrub off the day!

I RECEIVED THIS PRODUCT IN MY INFLUENSTER SWEETHEART VOXBOX . THIS REVIEW IS MY HONEST OPINION ABOUT THIS PRODUCT AND I WAS NO SPONSORED IN ANY WAY . 

INFLUENSTER SWEETHEART VOXBOX 2013!

I got all of these products in my Influenster Sweetheart VoxBox and was sooo excited to try them all out! Here's what was all included:

Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid Powered Contour Cleansing System - I love anything Olay so I figured I would fall in love with it. The cleanser was ok nothing special but the vibrating brush that came with it, ya I'm head over heels for it! Like seriously, I have this super dry skin nose so the brush was great for ridding of my dead skin and also helped my pores look smaller.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray -I've seen the Beach Babe floating around Pinterest so when I got it in my box it was kind of fun to test out. This stuff worked alright for me It worked great, gave me a little curl.

 

Skinny Girl Daily On-the-go Bars! -I tried this one on the way home from our little vacation and decided this is something I might just buy after all. I could for sure taste the blueberries and the little amount of yogurt in them was enough that I could taste it but not too overwhelming. I would highly recommend these to anyone interested in a tastefully satisfying bar!

Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response - The smell was great, yup, I base my purchase off the smell, and the overall usage of the deodorant was fairly pleasant. I normally just apply if I know I'm going to work out or be in a heated enviornment so it worked great for me.

KmS Mineral Cosmetics GIVEAWAY!

 Enter this lovely givewaway by FEB 21ST BY 10AM!

I entered the KmS Mineral Essentials $100 Giveaway! Click this link so you can enter too! http://bit.ly/14YJTnY

BZZ COVERGIRL BLASTFLIPSTICK =]

BZZ - COVERGIRL blastflipstick

stella artois bzz campaign

My exciting BzzCampaign is the perfect one for a booze-infused blogger: the Stella Artois chalice!  If you’ve ever seen a commercial or ad for Stella, then you’ve seen the chalice: that regal-looking glass with the gold rim and fancy handle that looks like it’s meant for a king.  Or a really nice person who likes beer. 
Did you know Stella Artois was originally created as a holiday beer?  I guess that’s why I got this campaign over the holidays.  It was named “Stella” after the Latin word for “star.”  So, star… holiday… see?
Did you also know that there’s a special 9-step pouring process for Stella? It might sound crazy, but these guys are crazy about their beer, and they insist that it’s the only way to guarantee a perfect glass:
1. The chill: The beer should be chilled to and kept at about 36-38 degrees fahrenheit.
2. The purification: The glass should be cleaned will before serving
3. The unveiling: “She is a thing of beauty,” so don’t just open it up like any old beer.  Be nice.
4. The alchemy begins: When you begin pouring the beer from the bottle into the chalice, hold the chalice at a 45-degree angle.
5. The crown: Once the beer is near the top (there’s a line on the side of the chalice to indicate this), turn it straight up and finish pouring to give it a  thick, foamy head.
6. The beheading: Using the flat edge of a knife, slice the extra foam off the top of the chalice.
7. The judgement: Make sure that the head is sufficient– it should cover the distance between that line on the side of the chalice and the very top.
8. The cleansing: Dip the bottom of the glass in water to remove any spilled beer
9. The bestowal: Place the chalice in front of the worthy recipient and watch as their eyes light up
One final tip: that big, pretty star on the handle?  It’s more than just a decoration.  It’s useful, too.  It provides a place to grasp the chalice so that your hands are away from the beer, ensuring that the heat from your hands doesn’t heat up the beer.  Nothing’s worse than warm beer.  Well, a lot of things are probably worse, but right now I can’t think of one.
And in case you care, this is my dad’s favorite beer, and this campaign forced me to try it (because why would I drink something else out of this chalice that is so obviously designed for this beer?), so it gave us something to bond over while we got trashed on New Year’s Eve.  Classy, right?!

Head & Shoulders from INFLUENSTER!

A few weeks ago I recieved my vox box from Influenster and I was so excited to get it. I've tried head and shoulders in the past but this shampoo and conditioner is pretty amazing! Its damage rescue and its supposed to restore your hair back to health like put all the moisture back to being healthy. It says on the card that I got that you will see your hair 10x's stronger within 4 washes. But I have used it twice so far I and I see a change in my hair, its alot softer than normal, and much more mangable. I'am very pleased about this shampoo/conditioner and I will have to buy it again once I run out of it. I absolutely love it! i love the smell of it too and it has really changed my hair --- its less manageable and silky and soooo smooth. 

INFLUENSTER NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Palette

I was so excited that my Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox included an eye palette from NYC New York Color to test out! Now, the palette retails for $4.99 and that made me a little wary because I haven't had the best experiences with inexpensive eye shadows in the past. But I did have a great time testing out NYC's lip gloss when Influenster sent me the Latina VoxBox a couple of months back, so I was hopeful that NYC would continue to be a pleasant surprise.

The palette comes with four pressed eyeshadows, a cream primer, and a cream highlighter. There is one double sided sponge-tip applicator included as well.

All in all, for $4.99, this palette would be tough to beat. Definitely a worthwhile purchase, and like NYC's lipglosses, I will be heading to my drugstore to check out the other color varieties they have available.

Final Assessment:

Is the product worth purchasing? YES

More information on the product is available on NYC New York Color's website.

INFLUENSTER BEAUTY BLOGGER VOXBOX IS HERE! :)

 Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012 Contents:
NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact – Dark Shadows ($4.99)
Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit ($5.99)
Bath & Body Works Mini Candle (White Barn) – Nutmeg And Spice ($3.50)
EBOOST Daily Health Booster – Orange flavor
Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin – Dark Hair ($7.29)
Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream ($6 full sized)
Boots No. 7 Beautiful kin Cleansing Lotion
Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream

I am really excited about this box, I even posted it on my Pininterst! . I love that the products selected for this box are affordable, easy to find and good quality brands. All of the beauty items are perfectly able to travel nicely too, they’re under your size limit!  Woot, Beauty Bloggers Voxbox testing time! I’d love to know if you’ve tried any of these items and what your thoughts are. Also, are you an Influenster?

Disclosure: I received the products mentioned in this post complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.

No. 7 Boots ! Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox

PROS

The cleanser and night cream are pretty inexpensive and can be found at your local Target or online. The cleanser is rich and creamy and didn’t irritate my dry and sensitive skin. The night cream also didn’t irritate my skin and really soaked into my skin which I need since my face is always so parched! I didn’t notice any breakouts after using either product and the smell was subtle, yet pleasant.

CONS

The only con I can think of is that I wish I had received bigger sample sizes!! I am going through it so quickly that I will have to go out and stock up. At these prices ($9 for the cleanser, $14 for the night cream, respectively), I can afford to.

Disclaimer: This product was provided to me through Influenster’s Beauty Blogger VoxBox program complimentary for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox - BBW CIDER LANE CANDLE!

Bath & Body Works - Cider Lane Candle!

 I received this lovely Bath Body Works mini candle in the fragrance Cider Lane in my Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox. I'm a big fan of anything Bath and Body Works to begin with so I was super excited to recieve this lovely product! Their candles are actually better than Yankee and i love how every season they come out with different candle scents! I was really happy to get the mini candle and the fragrance is oh so yummy! I could smell it first thing when I opened my box. I love fall fragrances in candles and this is a wonderful fragrance. 

Also included in the box was a coupon for Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles for $10! :) You could purchase 5 with the coupon! I picked them up in different scents and I actually gave them to my friends and family to try :) Oh I love the fragrances in our home!
www.bathandbodyworks.com

Bath and Body Works candle was complimentary to test through Influesnter's Beauty Bloggers VoxBox! Thank you!!

MY GLADE EXPRESSIONS BZZ CAMPAIGN

GLADE EXPRESSIONS^®COLLECTION

I am really excited for my new Bzz Campaign with Glade Expressions.  I've never tried it before but have seen commercials and  can't wait to try it. I know its super long lasting smell & i absolutely love good smelling homes. They say it's like Inviting artfully designed, true-to-life fragrances into your home.

Well,I am ready to douse myself with beautiful smells in my home !!

You should check into being a Bzzzz Agent.  You would love it!

Smooth 'N Shine® Keratin Power Semi-Permanent Hair Tamer

Before using this product, my hair was completely curly from multiple washes. I had to comb out my hair which resulted in some hair loss/breakage unfortunately. After I combed out my hair as much as I could without causing MAJOR damage to my hair and showered and shampooed my hair. The kit booklet says that any shampoo would be fine, but for better results to use a clarifying shampoo, so I did. I used my Suave Clarifying Shampoo to get out all the dirt and product build up out of my hair.

After shampooing my hair, I towel dried my hair to get any excess water from out of my hair. I lightly combed through my hair, as instructed, and then put it into four sections. I applied Step 1: Protein Smoothing Treatment to my head and let it sit for exactly 25 minutes and then washed it out. Now, I will say that the treatment SMELLS badly! I couldn't bare the smell of it at all...granted it is a protein treatment, but good gosh! When they say use a well ventilated place they are NOT kidding. Have your windows open, room door open, fan blowing, air fresheners -- the whole nine! Step 1 did harden my hair as expected to do since it is a protein treatment.

The next part after washing out the treatment and gently towel drying my hair was to apply Step 2: Neutralizing Milk to my hair. I absolutely love the milk, it is really creamy and brings life back to your hair. I smoothed that throughout my hair and let it sit for 10 minutes as instructed to do. I washed it thoroughly out of my hair and toweled dried my hair completely. As my hair was still damp I applied the following products to my hair:

• Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-in Conditioning Cream
• Dove Nutritive Therapy Leave-in Smoothing Cream
• Tresemme Anti-Sponge Combing Creme
• Garnier Fructis Daily Care Silky Secret Leave-in mixed with Motions Nourish Leave-in Conditioner

These products were to ensure that moisture was locked into my hair. Afterwards, I used my Conair Blow Dryer on high to blow out my hair. After I finished blowing my hair out, I applied the following into my hair before doing a loose mid-high bun:

• Bonner Brothers Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion with Castor Oil & Aloe
• Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum

Afterwards, I throw on my bonnet and called it a night.

When I woke up today, my hair was still frizz-less, tamed, bouncy and gorgeous. Today, I flat ironed my hair using my Infinity Pro by Conair. I sprayed my Nexxus Salon Hair Care Heat Protexx to protect my hair from the heat of the flat iron and moisturized my scalp with my Hollywood Beauty Castor Oil Hair Treatment with Mink Oil. After flat ironing my entire head, I applied a small amount of the Castor Oil to my hair and sprayed my Chi Shine Infusion as well.

Gillette Venus with Olay Razor

Gillette Venus Razor with Olay Moisture Bar

Now that Spring is almost here it is time to start getting ready for dresses, skits, and sleeveless shirts. This means shaving ladies. Now some of you might be die hard waxing fans but for those of us with either sensitive skin or just don’t have waxing in the budget, shaving is our best bet.

 I was super excited to try the new Venus + Olay razor when i got this in VoxBox. Not only does this new razor feature all the perks of the Venus like 5 blades, a rounded, pivoting head designed for women’s curves, and a soft-grip ergonomic handle for confident control, even in wet and soapy environment, but this razor features Olay Moisture Bars contain skin-enhancing elements found in Olay products: Petrolatum helps lock in skin’s moisture for less dryness and Glycerin helps offer that goddess glow! This means no additional shaving gel/cream is needed, just wet the razor and  this is also perfect for traveling.

I’ve given this razor a full on test run and we are loving it. My legs are super silky and smooth plus I get the close shave I’ve come to love from Venus razors.

Product Details

• Venus’ five-bladed razors shave you close and adjust to women’s curves for a smooth and comfortable shave, even over tricky shaving areas like knees and ankles.
• Olay Moisture Bars contain skin-enhancing elements found in Olay products: Petrolatum helps lock in skin’s moisture for less dryness and Glycerin helps offer that goddess glow! Just wet the razor to release a light lather – no separate shave cream required.
• As with most Venus razors, new Venus & Olay also features a rounded, pivoting head designed for women’s curves, and a soft-grip ergonomic handle for confident control, even in wet and soapy environment

Where to Buy

A refillable Venus & Olay with one replacement cartridge sells for approximately $8.99-$10.99. Packages of three replacement cartridges are available for about $14.99 - $19.49.
Venus & Olay will be available starting March 15, 2012 at food, drug, convenience and mass merchandise stores throughout the United States.
For more information, visit the Gillette website.

This product was provided via the Influenster’s VoxBox program. The opinons featured in this article are those of the author and have not been reviewed or approved by Gillette in advance.

Kiss Nails - Nail Dresser

Kiss Nails KDS10

I  received a fabolous kiss nails product called Kiss Nail Dress fashion strips in my VoxBox from Influenster. I was a bit skeptical but I gotta say – I love it! i loved the cheetah color and ahh it so easy to put on and take off! perfect for a girl who got no time nailpolish to dry.
I no longer get the opportunity to sit for an hour or two in a nail salon every couple of weeks. But, Kiss just gave back to me the look of professionally styled nails! yayy
The style I received was perfect! im so into all the animal print now days! ima a true fanatic =]  What do you think of nail dress?

Aren't they awesome!!
Creating this look was as simple as simple can be. Start with clean nails (I swiped mine with rubbing alcohol), peel, stick, file. That’s it! I was done with both hands in just a matter of minutes!
Would you like to receive products like this to test and give your opinion on? Join Influenster today!

Disclaimer: I received one or more complimentary products for testing and review purposes. Opinions are my own.

Introducing Kiss Nail Dress, ultimate nail fashion for tips and toes! Just peel, apply, and shape for a manicure that lasts up to 10 days. On in minutes, off in seconds without remover. Nail Dress is available in 18 different styles, many of them featuring 3-dimensional jeweled designs. Check out Peplum, a deep black with multi-colored gems for a pop of color, or Babydoll, for a golden and glamorous jeweled look. Skip the topcoat, Nail Dress has it built in.

With 28 strips in each package, you can cut up your extras to create designs that can be used on top of polished or artificial nails. Nail Dress doesn’t dry out the way other polish strips can, so you can save them to use on your next DIY mani. A nail design booklet is included in each package, just in case you need a little inspiration.

And don’t forget about your feet! Nail Dress looks awesome on toes, too – just use the square side of the sticker for a perfect fit.

Where to Buy
Nail Dress’ suggested retail is $6.99 and is available in all major drug chains and mass retailers like WalMart, CVS and Walgreens.


Visit KissNailDress.com to learn more!

Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo and Conditioner

Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo and Conditioner

Before I get started with this review, I should probably hold my hands up and confess that I’m a bit of a Pantene fan. They’re one of my go-to brands when it comes to hair care, so when I was sent some of their Volume & Body shampoo and conditioner to try recently, I must admit I went into the review expecting to like it.

I wasn’t disappointed, either. Make no mistake: there’s nothing particularly fancy or exciting about these products, in terms of packaging, scent or branding. Pantene is one of those no-nonsense brands that’s successful mostly because the products work. I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner from this range for about a week and half now, and, as with all of the Pantene products I’ve used, they leave my hair feeling super-soft, silky and thick – and I notice the difference when I stop using them and switch to something different.

In terms of the “volume and body” claim, my hair is a fairly good test, as it’s long and fine. Do I notice a difference after using this? I’m going to have to say “not really”. I don’t see a huge difference in volume, but my hair is a stubborn beast in that department, and not much DOES make it look more, er, voluminous. I do however, notice an improvement in the overall condition and general health of my hair, and that’s good enough for me.

Sigma F80 Kabuki Brush

Sigma F80 Kabuki Brush

HG brush!
Such an amazing product. It buffs liquid foundations right into the skin and with SOME foundations, makes it undetectable that you're actually wearing foundation! however with slightly thicker foundations, it just looks like its been applied extremely well. (which is still a good result)
I have never tried to apply powder foundation or bronzer with this product, i just have a feeling that it may not apply or pick up enough product, i use the sigma "buffer" brush for all powder products.
The price of this brush is so good! it cost me $16, which is still so cheap.
The actual quality of this brush is so good. I was expecting it to be average considering the price, but the bristles are so soft and glide over the skin so nicely, without irritation.
The brush IS hard to wash, not in the way that it doesn't wash properly, but more so because its so dense, and you really need to be getting right in there with the soap/whatever you choose to use to clean it, and rinsing for a good 5 minutes. Also, i would recommend having 2 of these brushes, mainly because it takes about 2 - 3 days to dry after being washed. (because of its density)
Also the packaging of this product was so cute! it came in a little pink "mesh" bag with some pamphlets, and that just put the icing on the cake for me :)
my overall rating of this brush is a 5/5.
I really do recommend trying this brush, and even if you dont like it, its not like its really expensive, so you have nothing to loose!

Mark Gem LipGlosses

Mark Gem LipGlosses

This is my absolute FAVOURITE fruity lip gloss. I wear it all the time, have tubes of this flavour in all my bags, purses, jackets, vehicles, desk -uou get the idea - I like it :D

First - it's a lovely pink that is sheer, yet gives just a touch of colour that looks fresh, youthful and gorgeous. It looks great with my eyes all done up, smokey or otherwise, and it's got just enough shimmer and sparkle to be sexy and exciting - not childish. If you want that full sexy wet lip look, this will achieve it.

Second: NOT STICKY!! This is a huge no-no for me, and too many glosses out there are just like glue on my lips. If it sticks, it gets tossed.

Third: I never get chapped lips in the winter when I layer this stuff on. Every year I would go through the same winter battle with my lips, until I started using Juice Gems.

Fourth: Scent - Ahhhhh yummy...fruity, and reminds me of a tropical island...there is no flavour to it, just a lovely fragrance.
Not all of the Juice Gems have shimmer/sparkle to them if you're not a fan of glitter.
The following flavours contain glitter:
Juicy Honeydew (this is another nice sheer, light light pink)
Juicy Papaya
Juicy Passionfruit
Juicy Fig
Juicy Cherry Pop
These do not have glitter:
Juicy Cassis (excellent for nude lip almost nil colour)
Juicy Pomegranate
Juicy Snow Peach

Final Verdict - SUPERB AMAZING sparkly moisturizing gloss that smells awesome, for very little $.
Recommend: Every day I tell ppl about this secret "Gem" :D

TRESemme - Instant Heat Tamer Spray

TRESemme - Instant Heat Tamer Spray

I was extremely lazy when it came to caring for or styling my hair or any sort of beauty regiment. But after I became consistent with taking better care of myself, I noticed some amazing results! I also decided that in order to keep my results, I should invest in a heat protectant. I heard a great review of the TRESemme one, so I decided to get it.
Here's a chronological list of my reactions to this product.
1) It's everywhere, so easy to find.
2) Cool looking bottle, professional / expensive looking.
3) Wow, it's only 5 bucks?
4) Oh Dear God! This stuff smells absolutely amazing!
5) Ooooh I like the spray, a fine consistent mist.
6) My hair use to feel hot when I blow dried my hair, but it's cool to the touch now!
7) I remember why I never blow dry my hair now, the frizzies, I want to see if my hair gets fro-ie.
8) Not perfectly sleek, but it leaves my hair looking like I air dried it.
9) My hair is so soft and smells so good right now, I want to eat it!
10) Sweet Mother of Mercy, my hair is so soft, and light, and smells so nice!
I didn't expect "Huzzah" and "Hallelujah" results, but WOW! It's pretty amazing stuff!

Review: NYC Concealer Wheel

Review: NYC Concealer Wheel

i spotted this wheel in cvs the last week and i  picked up this product but didn't use it until recently. It's the NYC Concealer Wheel. I tried looking for it on their website and it's not there, so I am not sure if this product has since been discontinued? I can still find it readily in drugstores in Canada. It sells for $7.99, I got it on clearance for like $3. NYC is a really cheap brand, but some of their products are pretty awesome! i have a lot nail polish, translucent powder, pressed powder, lip glosses etc

i have been obssesed with the concealers recently, I am pretty much willing to try anything. This concealer wheel is cool cause it's a wheel with many colors, each color serves a different purpose. On the back of the packaging it actually tells you what each colour is for so that you use it correctly and this is great for beginners. I have been using the peach colour for under my eyes and the green for concealing redness around my nose. It isn't very creamy, you gotta warm it up with your finger, and it does crease a bit for me. its not the greatest coverage for me since i have really dark circles but maybe for people who dont have pigmented dark circles, it would be great for them! If the texture was better, and it blended better, it would be an awesome product. It really is a neat product to start out with, and great for the price. It def worth a try!