Influenster SweetHeart VoxBox 2013

     Hello! I have once again have been fortunate to receive and VoxBox via Influenster. This is my second VoxBox, I also received the College VoxBox which I did a review for on my other blog. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Basically Influenster is a wonderful site where you can join a great community of people who share their views on everything from products to TV shows to restaurants. Influenster allows you to earn badges based on your interests and lifestyle, badges such as: Fashionista, Gadeteer, Bow-Wow, and much more. Influenster then uses these badges and your activity on the site (Influenster Score) to determine who should receive a free box of products to try and give their opinions of called a VoxBox.

      This blog is mostly going to be an overview of the products and the box. I will do more in-depth reviews and maybe some videos on the individual products. Starting off with SkinnyGirl Daily Bar, I got mine in Greek Yogurt Blueberry Crisp. It was very delicious it was creamy and crispy while the the chunks of fruit were soft. The blueberry added a nice tang while the cream at the bottom of the bar was sweet. It does definitely taste like a low calorie bar though, it has that signature after taste that low calorie bars have. All in all for such a small calorie count it tastes great, makes you feel satisfied and indulged. I give the SkinnyGirl Daily Bars 4.5/5.

    Next, the Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant.  At first I was kind of put off by it because it is not the Secret powder solid I have used ever since I started using deodorant. The Clinical Strength Deodorant is kind of hard to explain... it's like a semi liquified powder solid that you push up through the holes at the top of the package and spread on your arm pit. Unlike a normal powder solid it takes about twice as long to dry and you use a lot of product (after the month that I have had the sample size it is almost gone). The major plus is that it works like a charm! It lasts all day, even through an intense workout, without reapplying. It has a great scent too, the citrus sent is very refreshing and doesn't clash with the perfume. All in all I love it I just wish the product wouldn't get used up so fast. I give the Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant 4/5.

     Next, the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray. I have super stick straight hair and I love it give it heat free texture about 4 times a week. I thought the idea of a sea salt spray was amazing and I was about to DIY my own but so I was super excited to get the Not Your Mother's one in my VoxBox. It is very easy to use and the packaging is great for covering all my hair evenly. I have used it a lot and there still seems to be a good amount left in the bottle so a little goes a long way. I also noticed that it works quickly, it helps my hair dry faster and adds noticeable volume and texture. There is almost no smell too. I give the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray 5/5 and I can't wait to try other products.

     Last, but not least, is the Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid! Powered Contour System. This had to be the gem of the VoxBox. I have used it every day since I got it and I am in love. It is by far the best cleanser I have used and it blows my Neutrogena Wave out of the water. I haven't tried using the Va-Va-Vidvid with other cleansers but I think it could work well with anything. It's shape is a but odd but it works well with the shape of my face. It has significantly reduced my scars and the over all look and feel of my skin. My only complaint is that it is pretty rough on my eyes but I just rub the cleaner from my face into my eyes using my fingers. I give the Olay Fresh Effects Va-Va-Vivid! Powered Contour System 5/5. I am also very excited to try out the rest of the products in the line like the BB Cream and scrub.

Ho Ho Holiday Nails

Nail Polish Used: OPI's Natural Nails Base Coat

                            OPI's Alpine Snow

                            OPI's An Affair in Red Square

                            China Glaze's Sunshine Pop

                            China Glaze's Gaga For Green

                            Essie's Blue Rhapsody

                            Sinful Colors' Opal Glitter

Tools: 1 Striper

           2 Toothpicks

Time to Create: 45 minutes

Lifetime: 5 days with chipping on the snowflake nails

                6 days with chipping on all nails

    Though I'm not doing anything too special for Christmas this year I thought my nails should at least have a party. I was inspired by TotallyCoolNails' tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlM4vnwua0Y&list=UUPiQX9g_mdGi9p-ZMVWc-Aw&index=3 . I'm not subscribed to her yet but I am thinking about it. There are other easier and cleaner ways to make snowflakes but I was feeling adventurous.

    Now that I look back at it I wish I had added more coats of glitter and connected the lights with a black string. Oh well. By the way, OPI's An Affair in Red Square is my favorite red nail polish. The design would have lasted longer with a top coat but it dulled the glitter... ANYWAY! Thanks for checking out my design. See you soon!

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Drummer Girl

    I had the honor of being sent these press on nails from Influenster. They are supposed to be a quick and easy way to do your nails with no drying time. Applying them was easy enough but they fit akwardly and felt fake. The fake nails are surprisingly short. Even cutting down my nails sigificantly still didnt accomidate the nails well. The drying time was apporimately 20 minutes, the time I allow my painted nails to dry anyway. 
    I was do bothered by the nails I removed them the next day. I used nail polish remover on a cotton pad to lift the sides. Removing them left glue on my nail and also stripped away layers of my natural nails. 
    Though I followed the instructions perfectly I was still unpleased with with the results. In the end painting my nails is more fun anyway.

Check out how I applied them:

Welcome the Holidays With Festive Nails

Nail Polish Used: OPI's Natural Nails Base Coat

                            OPI's Bogota Blackberry

                            OPI's Glitzerland

                            OPI's Top Coat

Tools: 2 makeup sponges

Time to Create: 1 hour

Lifetime: 5 days with 1 chip

                6 days with even more chips

                The gold nail polish also seemed to dull. 

    This was the nails I wore to Thanksgiving with my family. I was inspired by a YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oYGL8V-Ip8&list=UUT8z80a4ESgO2Y4qajk-iXw&index=36&feature=plcp . This girl makes some beautiful designs and you should check her out. Anyway, though this design should be easy to create it took me a while and a few tries to get it looking decent. Honestly, if you want to try out this look then you should practice first. 

    The base color must be completely dry to start sponging on the gold and if the gold is wet and you try to sponge on more it will lift all the polish off so beware. You don't have to wait until the nails are completely dry to put on a top coat because it will help blend the colors if it is still a bit wet. 

    The ox blood color I used is a very nice fall color and I truly recommend it. I have also used the gold the most often out off all my nail polishes. I believe that both colors should be in everyone's collection. I hope you enjoyed this post and have a great Fall! See you soon!

A Cold Metallic for the Cold Weather

Nail Polish Used: OPI's Natural Nail Base Coat

                            OPI's Kyoto Pearl

                            OPI's Top Coat

Time to Create: 30 Minutes

Lifetime: 6 days with chipping on the tips and peeling from the bottom

   This week I really wanted to contrast the design I did last week so I went to a cold metallic look. I have always loved this color and have repurchased it in different brands. My old favorite used to be Sally Hansen's Crystal Crome Nail Makeup in #63 Champagne Crystal but it is near impossible to find anymore. 

    Honestly the OPI version has a little bit better color pay off but it is a bit more white than I wanted. I applied 3 coats but I could still see my nail though the color which disappointed me. I just removed this last night and the color came off surprisingly easy and didn't stain my nails at all. The color also separated soon after purchase so make sure you shake up the bottle before use. Over all I really like this color and it should appear back on my nails in the winter time. See you soon!