June Influenster Mom VoxBox 2012

I received my first Voxbox from Influenster. I was delighted to one of the lucky chosen few to get this box. Influenster sends packages to qualifying participants who receive badges on their site. They don't do monthly boxes, but every couple of months they try to put together different themed boxes. What you do is go to their site and sign up with them and open badges based on your interests and lifestyle. As they get closer on getting a box together, they will select all the people who best fit the items going into the box. You are not guaranteed a box, but they will try their best to make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to try one at some point. Inside the box you will typically find about 5 products. Some will be full-sized and others sample sized.

All products are sent out to you complimentary for testing purposes. In return all you have to do is just be open and honest about the products you receive. Also you need to let others know about your experiences while using each of these products. This can be done through blogging and/or a video response. If you would like to know more about this please visit www.influenster.com

Now on to the box. The box for June is the Mom VoxBox. Enclosed are fun products that I have been selected to test, evaluate, and recommend.

       Here is what was in my June Mom VoxBox. 

   This was how the box came packaged.

Here is what was inside my box. Ivory Bar Soap which is 99.44% pure - so pure it floats! With no heavy dyes or perfumes, this product offers a simple, yet effective clean for the entire family at a competive price. Great as a face wash, laundry soap ( you chip the soap flakes into the washer) and hand washing soap for delicate clothing. Retail $4.27 for a 10 pack of bath size bars. Sample Value $.43

DenTek Comfort Clean & Fun Flossers these flossers make flossing fun and are designed to encourage healthy oral hygiene at a young age, while Comfort Clean will help you to floss effortlessly & comfortably. Retail $1.99-$2.99 for full packs. Sample Value $.12 for the Comfort Clean & $.18 for the Fun Flossers both are a 3 pack.

Stash Tea Superfruits Tea Sampler which features Mangosteen, Goji Berry and Pomegranate Raspberry, Acai Berry, Yumberry Blackcurrant and Blueberry, included are instructions on how to make this tea iced as well as some Nektar Natural Honey Crystals to use as a natural sweetener. This is a full-sized box with 18 tea bags Retail & Sample Value $3.50 not including the Nektar packets.

Quaker Soft Baked Cookie in Oatmeal Raisin. Quaker's chewy, soft baked cookie in a family-favorite flavor. With wholesome Quaker Oats, you'll never guess that these weren't baked in the kitchen by you. Retail $2.69 for a box of 6. Sample Value $.45

ImPress Press-on Manicure by Broadway Nails featuring advanced nail technology, now you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds. Simply peel off, press on, and you're done. There is no drying time, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week. Available in 36 colors and patterns. I got the color Stiletto. Retail $5.99 to $7.99 depending on area. Sample Value $7.99

Lastly is an item that was not in every box this was stated on the card enclosed based on demographics, select Influensters will receive. So the extra item I received was The Original Dish Drying Mat this mat is the new solution for drying hand-washed dishes, pots & pans, this super-absorbent dish drying mat protects your countertop and cushions delicate dishes and stemware. It holds 4 times its weight in water. Machine washable and highly durable. Folds and stores easily. This is sold exclusively at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Retail & Sample Value $4.99

I was very happy to get this box and I hope to be chosen for any future boxes. So after you get your box in you need to go to their site log in and check in your VoxBox. Then they will contact you with additional instructions and a reminder about your post-experience survey.

**** Disclaimer: I received each product complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. These products were sent to me to review and to give my honest opinion on them. I was in no way paid for this review or post. All opinions are honest and my own. ****

Cravebox Summer Spruce Up Ltd Ed box 2012

Well Cravebox has done it again & produced another great box. This time around Cravebox has several limited edition boxes to give away this summer. They have several to choose from. To aquire one you have to select on their site that you want to be notified as to when a special summer box is being offered. Then the first 1,500 to 2,500 it depends on the box and how many they will be given out. Then you will be notified as to when to enter the lottery drawing. If you are chosen and accept the box you will be charged $10 and it will ship within the week.

Well as my luck would have it I was chosen to receive their first box. I did sign up to be notified when this was available. This particular Cravebox is the Summer Spruce Up Limited Edition Cravebox. In this box were 5 items to equip me with cleaning essentials to help make my home as pretty inside as it was outside.

In this box was Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser & Polish. This unique non-bleach formula will even remove rust, and is great for cleaning stainless steel. Sample Value $3.95

Dawn Duo Sponge Cloth. Scrub on one side. Wipe on the other. Safe on non-stick cookware, dishes, bakeware & countertops. Sample Value $2.99

Mr. Clean Bliss Gloves. Latex-free gloves with a super plush flock lining adds comfort and helps keep hands dry. Sample Value $3.99

Sprayaway Glass Cleaner. This amonia-free, clean scent formula doesn't streak, leave a film or drip. This also included a $.35 coupon for a future purchase. Sample Value $2.16

Then a coupon for one free box of Glad Tall Kitchen Bags. These bags have reinforcing bands to add strength while using less plastic. Sample Value $5.49

This box was valued at $18.58 which is a great deal. Personally I have never tried the Glass cleaner nor the Dawn cloth and the Mr. Clean gloves. I have and currently use Glad trash bags and the Bar Keepers Friend. Which does work wonders on my sink. I hope that I'm chosen for the Limited Edition Beauty box. I'm sure that will be a great one as well. So if your interested in checking out this box service then go to www.cravebox.com.

Update: I now have tried the gloves and really like them. They are so comfortable and do not leave a gross residue on my hands after I take them off. The Dawn cloth is amazing and that I will purchase this again as well. As for the glass cleaner it does work better than my Windex and is less messy. So with that I like to say that this box was great and gave me the chance to try out new items that I otherwise may have not tried.

Tiffany inspired nails

I have always loved the little blue box from Tiffany's. I have only in my life received one item from their collection and that was a starfish necklace. One of my husbands former customers gave the necklace to me as a gift. It was a grand gesture since I probably would never have gotten anything from them in my lifetime.
This nail creation was easy and I'm pretty sure everyone has done a similar design using the signature Tiffany blue colored polish. I knew that China Glaze's For Audrey was the closest match hence the name For Audrey. Obviously a reference to Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's.

So I decided to take this a little further by adding not just the famous Tiffany bow to my ring finger but, the ribbon as well on my pointer, middle and pinkie fingers. So what to do with the thumb? Well I decided to try the Tiffany & Co. logo but, with my carpal tunnel acting up and making my hands unsteady. I just opted for the T & Co. logo instead of the T & Co. New York 925 logo. I just wished I could have been able to attempt it. Maybe next time. 

Here is my final design for the Tiffany inspired nails. I wanted a little sparkle and pizazz. I added a top coat of my favorite go to micro-fine glitter China Glaze's Fairy Dust. This is the best glitter topcoat hands down in my opinion. It adds just enough sparkle without being to overpowering.

Here is a close up of my four fingers. I'm really happy of how my design came out. As they say Diamonds are a girls best friend. Well it should actually be Tiffany's are a girls best friend. Oh, ok I know that this many not sound as catchy but, it was worth a try. I hope you enjoyed this nail design.

Sephora's Sun Safety Kit 2012

I will be showing you what was inside my Sephora Sun Safety Kit for 2012.Which includes 17 pieces of SPF essentials and safe-self tanners for beautiful skin. I must admit I have had this sitting on my shelf for somewhile and was meaning to do a small review last month. Then of course time and other products got in the way so now I finally have a free moment. I will show this product how it came and what was inside.

So here is a little background on this kit. Sephora and The Skin Cancer Foundation have collabrated for this their sixth edition of the Sun Safety Kit. This annual partnership in sun protection is one of Sephora's most popular kits. The collection features 14 deluxe, sample-size sun protectants, three self-tanning products, and a bonus re-usable train case. This year's selections includes past favorites, as well as new additions for your sun protection arsenal. Also One hundred percent of the net profits from this kit will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. All this for $30 and is valued at $193. Which is not bad for all the goodies inside.

I will not be giving individual reviews for each as I will be doing individual reviews for some of the items I do use. I may not use all of them or may not care to. According to many reviews that I read on Sephora.com this is apparently done every year and sells pretty well. Since this is my first time purchasing this kit. So lets get started.

2.5 oz St. Tropez Gradual Tan Sample Value $11.20

0.03 oz Bare Essentials bareMinerals SPF 25 Mineral Veil and brush Sample Value $17.85
0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 Sample Value $12
0.5 oz Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Sample Value $10.29
0.4 oz Philosophy Hope Oil-Free SPF 15 Daily Moisturizer Sample Value $15.60
Sample Value for this side is $66.94

0.5 oz Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 Sample Value $12.86
0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Protect The Truth SPF 50+ Sunscreen Sample Value $10.30
0.33 oz Supergoop! SPF 30 Everyday UV Lotion for Face and Body Cream Sample Value $5.68
.169 oz Sephora Collection Age Defy Moisture Cream SPF 15 Sample Value $3.04
Sample Value for this side is $31.88

1 Tan Towel Classic Self-Tan Towelette for Face & Body Sample Value $2.40
1 Kate Somerville 360 degree Face Self Tanning Pad Sample Value $6.00
0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 60 PA+++ Sample Value $11.96
0.23 oz Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42 PA+++ Sample Value $12.43
Sample Value for this side is $32.79

0.33 oz Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 Sample Value $14.67
0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Face Primer SPF 15 w/ Dermaxyl Complex Sample Value $13.13
0.33 oz Dr. Jart + Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA +++ Sample Value $9.19
0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30 Sample Value $12.36 -Sample Value for this side is $49.35

So the total value for all the samples are $180.96 plus $12.20 for the acrylic train case so the grand total is $193.16. So I do think that this is a great value and even though I won't probably use all these products. Did you get one this year? What do you think about it? Have you used most of the products? Which are your favorites? Let me know.

May Cravebox 2012- My First Box

I was finally accepted to get the Cravebox. The first time around my entry was not selected and  I recieved an email saying that sorry I wasn't chosen this time around. Of course I was upset and sad. They were only a few slots available for the Cravebox subscribers additions lottery. This was after a successful Beta program. Well 3 weeks later I was sent an email saying that they were opening a few more slots for those who still wanted one. This too was also a drawing. I was excited to get one more shot. So you should have seen my face when I found out that I was chosen to participate in this wonderful program. This is a monthly service for $10 a month Cravebox delivers 4-5 hand selected products a month to your door.

May's Cravebox was entitled A Taste of the Tropics Cravebox.

This is how the package came when first opened. How cute.

So this was what was inside this fun and colorful box.

 Sunsweet Plum Amazins. These are diced dried plums perfect for yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, or salad. Along with a coupon savings for .55 cents along with four recipes to make using the Plum Amazins. Sample Value $1.25 for two packages.

Lipton Tea & Honey To Go Packets. A refreshing blend of mango and pineapple flavors, green tea and honey. Along with a coupon savings for .50 cents. Sample Value .25 cents.

Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Body Scrub which is infused with coconut oil and lime extracts. Full-sized. Sample Value $7.99

Skintersection Intense Repair Cream perfect relief for cracked summer skin. Full-sized. Sample value $17.95

Lastly from Guylian Original Belgian Chocolate Sea Shells. These world famous gourmet chocolate creations are made from the finest chocolate. Sample Value $4.16

Now these were the two standout products for me from the box. The Skintersection Intense Repair cream which is awesome at repairing very dry skin. The Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub was a nice product as well it smelt so good and worked great.  Overall this was a fantastic box and I really was surprized to see two full-sized items. Overall box Value was $31.60 which is great. I'm so happy to have been chosen to get this box. It is well worth the $10 monthly fee. I'm very impressed. If you want to get on the list to be notified when they be allowing more subscriptions go to www.cravebox.com and sign up. It it worth it.

Freebie Friday

Well I going to try a new thing Freebie Friday. So from time to time I get some freebies in the mail. This is either from company sites, Facebook or any other sites who send samples for you to try. So whenever I get a sample or samples I will let you know what I got. Keep in mind several of these promos may have already expired or the items have already been given out. I really like to try new and different things so I really like getting samples. Hence me subscribing to several beauty boxes.

So I received several items to sample they were both from Garnier. One was from Target for their Moisturizer and serum all in one. The other from Walmart's site for the Garnier BB cream. Then just today I received another Garnier BB cream sample from Garnier. So this is what I have received in samples. As I keep getting samples I do my best to post them. I want to make sure that I have enough to post.

Now I thought I would at least get the sample in a foil packet like others or in a small tube. I was very disapointed in the sample I got. This is something that could have been given out at the store. So anyway it is not enough try the product out. Just to test what color you might be.

So the same holds true for this sample. I thought at least they would have given a small tube of this since this product has to be mixed together. So when you rip the top part off there are two sides to the card and one is the serum and the other is the moisturizer. So you have to squeeze them both together to get the products out to mix and apply on the face. Well since these were free I guess what can you do? Both samples are not enough to judge whether you might like these enough to purchase.

Fourth of July Nails

This will just be a quick and easy post on my 4th of July nails. I thought it was better to do them early so that I won't be too late in posting them. I have lots to do for the next few weeks so it was better to do them now. I had contemplated on what to do. I already had several sketches on a notebook prior to this design so I kept thinking on just what to do for the final design. So here it is.

I decided on Fireworks and half of a flag for french tips. Then on the thumb a flag. I really had fun doing this and I hope you like it as well. When I got finished that was then when I realized that it was better if I had done both firework nails in red. I think it would have come out better. What do you think? If you want to know more about this nail design or what I used to create it just let me know. Thanks. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

Camouflage Nails

One day while staring at my husbands lighter which he has had for years. I thought how cool it would be to do camo nails. Now I know that this is not a new idea or design and that there are many other designs of camo nail art around.

As for me I have always been a huge fan of camo. I know that many people may not agree with this but, we are all entitled to our opinion. So without further ado here is my nail art creation.

I used a base color from Spoiled by Wet n' Wild in the color I only eat salads. Then the rest of the colors were done with acrylic paint by craft smart sold at Michael's. Using a dotting tool I applied the dark green, dark brown, and black color in random patterns overlapping to make the design look more authentic. After this dried I applied two coats of NYC's Matte me Crazy Mattifying Top Coat.

If you wanted you can also use a shiny top coat or even a slight glittery top coat as well. The sky's the limit when doing any nail design. If you have any design requests please let me know by leaving a comment below thanks. I will be trying to post more nail designs as this is something I love doing.
I will also be doing a pink camo design as well for us girly girls.

June Beautybox Five 2012

I got my Beautybox Five in the mail yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. This time around there is a difference less crinkle paper which is great and a card similar to other monthly services listing what's in the box. Now that I like because I would like to know something about the product I receiving. So now for whats in this months box.

Blinc Eyeliner 0.2oz. Summer got a little easier with this water resistant, no-smudge, easy-to-remove eyeliner that won't run or flake. Sample Value $7.98

 The All Natural Face a Vegan Mineral eyeshadow 0.07 oz. Use this versatile, not-irritating, vegan, mineral eye shadows wet or dry to accent your beautiful eyes. Sample Value $ 3.50

Blum Naturals Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues 50 Sheets. Keep shiny summer skin at bay and leave your make-up intact with these powder-free, oil-absorbing facial tissues. Sample Value $2.99

Everyday Minerals Girl Friday Blush 0.17oz. These mineral-based blushes add the perfect natural kiss of color for that fresh-faced, feminine summer look. Sample Value $10.99

Comodynes Easy Peeling. Eliminate dead cells, deep clean pores and leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and renewed with these double-duty exfoliating towelettes. Sample Value $1.62

I gather that this is a how to keep you makeup on during the summer box. All the items in here are made to keep you face looking great in these hot summer months. As you all well know that powders are a lot better a keeping your face looking fresh longer. So usually when it tends to get hotter more people are geared to using powder based products and mineral based ones as well.

Overall I was a little happier with this months box than that of last months one. The added bonus of the product information card was a plus. The boxes value was $27.08 which isn't bad at all. So for now I will say with Beautybox 5. I want to see what they are going to come up with next month. If your interested in joining Beautybox 5 it is $12 monthly. You can use this link https://www.beautybox5.com/home.php?key=4f3f58d0b6240.

June Beauty Bar Sample Society with Allure box 2012

This review is for another monthly box subscription Sample Society. I was going to not do anymore subscription boxes but, this one caught my eye. This particular one is from BeautyBar.com along with Allure. I was looking into this one before but, there wasn't any openings. So I joined a waiting list to be notified when subscriptions opened up again. Well they did in May for the June box. So this particular one is $15 a month. Which I will admit is pretty pricey but, the Allure name drew me in. You also get a years subscription to Allure Magazine which I love. So I will give this a go and see if I like it if so I will stay if not I will cancel. I'm trying to see which services to stick with and which to let go.

Already there are some similarities to the other boxes. Sample Society is roughly the same size and depth as Birchbox and filled with black crinkle paper & gray tissue paper. The difference is that the description card is actually a booklet with helpful hints and tips on using your products. So for the month of June there were 5 samples.

The first one was from Jane Iredale her Just Kissed lip plumper. Which I got in the color Tokyo. This is a pretty rose color. The lipstick does have a slight smell to it. I can't place it but, it smells strange to me. Almost like air freshener that you find in a retail stores bathroom. When I tried it the smell was so overwhelming and the taste as well. It has a slight minty feel to it but, not in a good way. I will not be using this at all. I have allergies to certain scents and this was one of them. What a shame because I really liked the color. Sample Value $15.62 believe it or not. This sample size is only a few Oz's less than the full-sized for $25.

Oscar De La Renta Eau de Parfum in Live in Love. So this parfum is in such a cute bottle and I liked that you can have more than 3 uses like other samples. There isn't much to say about this except that the smell was alright. Nothing spectacular or amazing. It was just there. The scent is just not for me. It is alright and so far I haven't sneezed which is good. I will give this to someone who might enjoy it more than I would. Sample Value $5.80

From Alterna is Boho Waves Texture Mist. Which will help you get the sexiest beachy waves. This contains organic bamboo and blue yucca root. This weightless mist instantly gives you natural, tousled, "just back from beach" waves. Adds texture, volume, and healthy shine to all hair types. This I will try. Who wouldn't want beach waved hair? This I was happy to get. Sample Value $4.47

Caudalie's Premier Cru Eye Cream is a very pricey eye cream a full size is $95. So this sample was extremely tiny. Even worse was that there was nothing in the tube. I was so disappointed. I'm gonna have to contact them about this. So I can't say much about it. Sample Value $6.26

Lastly is Murad Clarifying Cleanser. Which cleanses and tones. Contains 1.5% Salicylic acid acne treatment. Now, I have very oily skin with few if no breakouts ever but, this may come in handy to control my oil. So I will try this. Sample Value $7.69 and I've seen it at Ulta for $9.

So overall this box was alright everyone gets the same box. So there isn't much variety in the items included. Like the parfum was okay not my taste and the lipstick was terrible in my opinion. Plus not getting any eye cream in the sample was not good. I will give them a few more months then we will see. Overall Box Value $39.84

Take Three Free! Zoya Pinterest Trio Contest

Zoya and Pinterest were having a repinning contest. It was called the "Take Three Free" Zoya Pinterest contest. What you had to do was repin your favorite colors from the new summer collection. From 5/22 till 6/5/2012. As many times as you wanted. The winning trio would go out for free if 20,000 or more pins were made in that time frame. Then when the time came you had to enter the code to get the free trio. The only catch was to pay for S&H which was $6.95 which wasn't bad. I didn't expect them to eat the shipping as well.

So I was somehow one of the lucky 2,000 people who were given a chance to get a trio of Zoya mini nail polishes. From the Beach and Surf 2012 collection. So which ever three colors were repinned the most. Those were the ones that would be chosen for the trio set. The colors that made the cut were Myrta, Kimber, and Zuza.

Myrta is a warm medium orange coral with a red undertone, gold and silver metallic shimmer, and a foil like finish. The coral color is soft and the foil finish gives it a soft warmth and glow. It is a cool opaque coral color.

Kimber is a rich, bright and saturated medium magenta pink with a strong gold metallic shimmer and a foil like finish. A hint of shiny gold makes this polish look electric. It is a warm opaque pink color.

Zuza is a deep oceanic turquoise with gold and silver metallic shimmer and a foil like finish. This color has the perfect marriage of blues and greens. It is a cool opaque blue green color.

So it seems out of all 12 in the collection the shimmer ones won over the cream shades. I really love the cream shades best. But, hey I wasn't the only one who voted. I guess so many people still like the shimmer shimmer. I'm just happy I was able to partake in this. Also shipping was really fast. I got my set in like 5 days not bad at all.
Since the contest was a great success and the trios sold out so fast since only 2,000 were available, they wanted to reward those who missed out but still participated in the contest for their favorite colors. That's why Zoya is still having a special deal on the Beach & Surf collection. You can pick 3 full-sized bottles for $15 + free shipping till 6/25/12, 11:59 PM EST. You must have participated in the repinning contest and have received an email stating the rules and how to redeem this new promotion. It is only one promo per address. Offer valid on www.zoya.com only. If you did not get an email from Zoya chances are you can not participate in this promo.

May Favorites 2012

I've just gotten around to this so sorry for the tardiness of this post. I finally had time to decide on my May favorites.

Estee Lauder's Invisible Fluid Makeup. This is their newest formula for foundation. I really love this stuff. It goes on lightweight and sheer but, is build able. I don't have too much to cover except some sight redness on my cheeks and chin. I won't go into too much here since I will be doing a full review soon. The color I use is 2CN1. Which I will say the color is dead on. I didn't think there would ever be a foundation that would be the exact color of my skin tone. Retails for $35

The next item is from Estee Lauder as well. It is their signature silky eyeshadow duo in Cappuccino N 02. I really like how this applies and it goes on so creamy and you only need a little. The colors are highly pigmented. I picked this up on Ebay. I'm not sure if it's in there permanent line. This has been my go to shadow all month. It's so quick and easy and goes with almost every look. So I highly recommend their shadows. Their duos run about $30 anywhere that sells Estee Lauder.

An eye cream I finally finished was my sample of Clinique's All about Eyes. I used this for several months now and I really liked it. It is a cool and refreshing gel formula for the under eye area. I liked the slight scent it had. It wasn't bothersome at all. The only complaint is that sometimes it migrated near my eyes and made me tear. This was only when wearing it at night. This formula absorbed quickly so it made easier when applying my concealer. I really did like this but, I didn't see too much improvement in my under eyes as in the fine lines diminishing. It did reduce my puffiness and as for eye circles it didn't do much. Overall it is a nice eye cream 0.5oz is $29.

In my Birchbox I received the Yes to Blueberries facial wipes to try. I really liked them they have a fresh and clean scent of blueberries and had some moisturizing properties to them as well. Now that's great as an added bonus to someone suffering with dry skin. As for me I have oily skin and I had to rinse my face off a little to get the film off. Now don't get me wrong they weren't bad at all. I just don't like that kind of feeling to my face. They did take all my makeup really well and on my eyes as well. Now when it came to mascara it did take some slight wiping but, it did come off. I didn't get any bad reactions to this nor did it irritate the skin. I will repurchase this in the future. I still have many wipes to use and try. A 8 pack is $2.99 at Ulta & a 30 pack is $6.99 at Target.

The last item to make my favorites is the real techniques expert face brush. This brush has replaced my Sigma Sigmax F80 flat top kabuki ($16). Which I thought couldn't be replaced ever. Well this brush is great a applying my liquid foundation like a glove. Sorry for the Ace Ventura reference. I couldn't resist. Anyway this brush really buffs out the foundation to an airbrush finish. It is lightweight and not as dense as the Sigma. But, still dense enough to make the face look great. I was also impressed with the price. It is $8.99 at Ulta or Ulta.com. Samantha Chapman from Pixiwoo has really done well with this brush line. It's super affordable and the quality is great. I have really come to love her brushes. I highly recommend them. These are all my favorites for the month of May. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.