Review: Influenster Violet VoxBox

As many of you know (since I've talked about them before and proudly display their badge on my blog), I'm a member of a social community called Influenster. It's a invite-based social networking site where you can unlock badges that align with your passions and help companies by trying out and reviewing products related to those passions. If it isn't clear by the fact that I have a beauty blog, one of my passions is makeup and skin care, and thus I had the privilege of being selected to receive Influenster's Violet VoxBox this fall. This was the second VoxBox I received in the last 6 months (with the first being the Colgate SlimSoft box, which I absolutely loved). Needless to say, I was really excited to receive the box and see what fun products were included for me to try.

Inside, I received 5 products:

1. A Goody Athletique Headband in blue and black
2. A Sally Hansen New Triple Shine nail color in Sparks Fly
3. A SoyJoy snack bar in cherry vanilla
4. A Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas facial mask and
5. A deluxe sample size of the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

Not wanting to waste ANY time, I immediately started trying the products.

Unfortunately, I have a minor soy intolerance, so I was not able to try the SoyJoy bar, but even if I didn't have the allergy, this cherry vanilla flavor really didn't appeal to me and so I would have had a hard time stomaching it regardless.

The Goody headband was described as one that provides "hold and comfort so you can be physically active and strong in body and mind," but within seconds I realized I had basically been sent a piece of fabric crap. Granted, I do think I have a funny shaped head and therefore don't usually wear headbands, but this thing literally popped right off my head the minute I put it on and shook my head the slightest bit (remember I'm standing in my kitchen right now, not actually engaging in any sort of physical activity). It also felt really tight and uncomfortable, and had such a wide band that I felt a little silly wearing it. This immediately went into my Goodwill pile. 

Next up, I whipped out my nail polish remover, took off the polish I was wearing and got ready to try the Sally Hansen nail polish they sent me. The color wasn't particularly my taste (a mix between a steel blue and gray with chunky silver sparkles), but I figured it might be a good color for holiday parties or even New Year's Eve. However, this too, was a piece of crap. I tell you I have never encountered a polish that was so thick, gloppy and gooey as this stuff. I tried my best to put on a couple of coats, but the polish simply wouldn't stick to my nails or lay down flat. To get an opaque pigment I had to put a ton of it on, and then my nails looked thick and weird. And worst of all, they didn't dry after 20 minutes, and easily wiped almost clear off my fingers with a tissue. Junk.

At this point, I felt disgusted so I decided to save the other two products I received for another time. Thankfully one of them, the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo I actually DO like, so I plan to do a full review on it soon. The Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spa mask that I received wound up being pretty good -- I got the Red Earth Pomegranate and Cinnamon mask, but I personally am a bit freaked out by sheet masks (see my scary mask-covered face) and didn't feel like the product did anything that special for my skin. If I'm going to sit around looking like a monster for 15-20 minutes I should at least see some dramatic effect when I take the mask off, right? The good news is that this product is natural without any harsh chemicals or toxins and at only $2.49 a mask, it's an affordable one for folks that don't want to spend a lot. I would consider trying other masks from this line in the future to see if I find one that does more for my skin type, but this one didn't bowl me over.

Needless to say, I let Influenster know that I was sad about the crappy products that they sent me, and initially I even took to their Facebook page to see if other folks agreed with me. And that's where I got the encouragement to put this post together, because my friends there reminded me that negative reviews can often be just as helpful as positive reviews (which is honestly what I prefer to write for you guys).

That being said I hope you guys did find this post helpful, if for no other reason than to keep you from spending your hard-earned money on stuff that isn't worth it. If you've tried any of these products, tell me about your experience in the comments below, be it good or bad!

Review: Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask

A few months ago I discovered the Michael Todd True Organics line after watching YouTube's MissGlamorazzi review a product from the line. As a beauty junkie, I am always on the lookout for new products to try, especially when they are organic and affordable, so I was intrigued. Thanks to a 20% off coupon code, I decided to take the plunge and ordered the Acne or Oily Skin Regimen (which I will do a full review on soon), and as a surprise, received a few deluxe size samples of other products to try. One of those products was the Pumpkin Nutrient Rich Facial Mask.

Now, I don't think it's possible to tell you how much I love pumpkin ANYTHING (Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, Trader Joes pumpkin ravioli,  pumpkin pie, etc.) , so I was thrilled to see this sample and give it a shot. I've also been trying to get myself into a routine of doing a face mask each Sunday as part of my pampering routine to continue to help my acne prone and oily skin.

So here I go, slathering on this mask, which by the way, looks and smells just like pumpkin puree (yep, it's orange with some little black seeds in it) and within about a minute or two my face is ON FIRE. What began as a subtle cooling sensation turned into a burning, itching mess. Of course, rather than immediately wash it off (which probably would have been the smart move), I run over to grab the tube and just then notice that the mask has glycolic acid in at. A quick text to my best friend to ask if she'd ever used a mask with glycolic acid and felt like her face was burning off (she replied yes), and I calmed down. Within another minute or two, the burning began to subside and I felt fine.

The tube recommends that you keep the mask on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing (not cleansing) and applying moisturizer (plus sunscreen if you're heading out for the day). In that time, the mask does harden a bit, but not uncomfortably so like you've Botoxed your face to the point of not being able to move it.

And let me tell you, when you rinse this baby off, any discomfort becomes totally and completely worth it. My skin looks more radiant, feels more smooth, my pores look smaller…voila! The best part is that when I used the mask a second time two weeks later (it says it can be used every 1-2 weeks), the burning sensation didn't last nearly as long (or maybe I was just more prepared for it so it didn't bother me as much).

The full size retails for $34, which is a bit pricey if you ask me, but given how much product I received in the 1 oz sample tube, I think I could get about 6 months worth of bi-weekly masks out of it, which means the full 3.4 oz would last you well over a year (and broken down it's then less than $1 per week).

In case you're interested, here's the full list of ingredients:
Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin), Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharinum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Glycolic Acid (5%), Sodium Benzoate, Glucolactone, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Oil, Xanthan Gum (Polysaccharide Gum), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) Bark, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Powder, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Fruit) Pulp Powder, Myristica Fragrans (Nutmeg) Powder, Pimenta Officinalis (Allspice) Powder, Rosmarinus Officnalis (Rosemary Oleoresin), Azadirachta Indica (Neem) Oil.

As far as I know, the Michael Todd True Organics page is the only place to buy this stuff, but they do offer coupon codes, sales and gifts with purchase quite often, so keep your eye out for a deal. You can find the Pumpkin mask product page here, and at that page you can also read reviews from other folks and even watch a nice video where a girl demos the product.

If you try the mask, let me know what you think of it in the comments below!

Brand Review: 100 Percent Pure natural cosmetics

It's been almost two years since I made the transition to using primarily natural, toxin-free and organic cosmetics. And if I'm being totally honest, I will admit that it's been a harder switch than I first anticipated, simple because the majority of the big box retailers, and even the beauty specialty stores like Sephora and Ulta, really don't carry a lot of natural cosmetic lines. This means you're stuck ordering products from online companies where you can't really see the colors, test the consistencies, etc. While it means you end up getting more fun packages in the mail :), it also means you may spend more time than you'd like returning things that don't work. All this to say, if I can help you minimize that trial and error at all, leading you to high quality products that you can feel good about using, this blog will be a success!

Thanks to YouTube (where I do the vast majority of my beauty research), I was introduced to the 100 Percent Pure line, and it's probably the natural brand from which I've tried the most products. I love the fact that they use mostly fruit pigments to color their cosmetics, they don't use any nasty ingredients like parabens, triclosan, or sulfates, and they carry a full line of products -- from makeup to cruelty-free beauty tools to bath products and even skin care. It makes it easy to find enough products to meet their minimum $50 free shipping spend limit, especially when compared to a lot of other natural brands that only careful a handful of items. :)

Moving on to products, here's my list of GOs and NO GOs when it comes to what to buy:

It's a GO

1. By far my favorite item in their line are their butter soaps -- they smell absolutely delicious, are rich and creamy, and last roughly 3-4 weeks in the shower (pretty comparable to standard bar soaps…many organic or natural soaps that I've tried wash away within a week and then I don't feel like I'm getting my money's worth). My absolute favorite scent is the coconut butter, but I'm a self-proclaimed coco-NUT (yes, a bad pun). I've actually tried all of the scents and the only ones I don't personally care for are the meyer lemon and eucalyptus. 
2. If you're worried about puffy or dark under eyes like I am, due to my allergies, their caffeine infused coffee bean eye cream is a must have. I buy the small tube for $10 and it lasts me for months because you only need a tiny bit. It smells deliciously like coffee too, if that's your thing.
3. I really, really love their gel liner. I honestly can't put my finger on anything that makes it particularly special or different, and it's not cheaper than standard alternatives. But at the end of the day that's why I like it so much -- it's an exact replica or those harmful, toxin filled products without any of the chemicals. Brilliant.

The Maybes

1. I've tried both their foundation and tinted moisturizer and have mixed feelings. The Pros are that they both have SPF so you don't have to worry about applying sunscreen separately, and again, the ingredients are all natural so it's a product you can good about using. For me, the coverage wasn't quite heavy enough for my personal preference (even though the foundation claims to be full coverage), and the moisturizing aspect was just a touch too greasy for my oily skin. That said, if you have dry skin or are only looking for light to medium coverage, these may be perfect for you.
2. I actually really like their pressed powder but it's packaged so poorly that I can't help but give it a maybe rating. The powder works really well at creating a matte, smooth finish, but it's packaging in a metal tin in which the powder pan always loosens from (this has happened to me with each of the three I've owned). Not to mention, there is something about the consistency of the product that every time you hit pan, the entire thing shatters. You can try to continue using it, but essentially you'll wind up wasting much of what's left.

The NO GOs

1. Absolutely 100% stay away from their eyebrow powder gel. This stuff is just terrible. I ordered the taupe color because I have light skin and don't like harsh looking eyebrows. Yet, even as a brand new item, I could not get color to show up on my skin without applying multiple layers. And although I kept the product tightly sealed (it's packaged in a small container with a lid that snaps shut), it dried up on me in a matter of weeks and is now barely usable. What a waste.
2. The acne skin care line made my breakouts worse. I know acne care is a really individual thing, so it's certainly possible that it will work for you. 

In terms of my overall thoughts of the brand, I like things enough to keep coming back and trying new items and the fact that the ingredients are so natural always wins them brownie points.

If you're interested in learning more about the brand or checking out their products, hop on over to www.100percentpure.com or if you're lucky enough to live in California, they have four retail stores scattered throughout the state. If you decide to try something, let me know what you buy and what your thoughts are! And if you have any other natural cosmetic brands to recommend, let me know in the comments.

A toothbrush is a toothbrush is a toothbrush...right?

Have you guys ever heard of Influenster? Thanks to my awesome and trendy best friend Melissa, I got an invitation to join and I've been having a great time interacting with the site. What is it, you ask? Well, it's basically a community of influencers in all categories (music, movies, beauty, travel, cooking, pets...and lots more) and you get to contribute by taking surveys, talking about products and services in social media and more. If you like to write, and are passionate about sharing your point of view, the site is for you, so I'd encourage you to pop on over and check it out. And just to be clear, no, they are absolutely not sponsoring me to say these nice things. I'm just sharing the love!

One of the really cool perks about being an Influenster is the opportunity to qualify for VoxBoxes, which usually contain a product to try that aligns with your specified areas of expertise. Since I have a beauty blog, I recently qualified to receive a Colgate Slim Soft toothbrush to try. At first, I wasn't really sure what to think, because quite honestly, I never really gave my toothbrush a second thought. I usually looked for whatever was on sale, in a cute color and had a "soft" brush head. Even more so, I can't say I've ever really been able to distinguish between one toothbrush or another, despite all of the company's claims that one brush whitens more than another, cleans better, etc. It all just seemed like baloney.

Nevertheless, it's always fun to try out new things regardless, so I was still excited to get my box. Inside, Colgate not only sent a toothbrush to try (and a pink one at that!), but also a tester tube of toothpaste and mouthwash (always great for traveling). Immediately, I took the toothbrush out and put it next to the current toothbrush I was using, which just so happened to also be by Colgate -- it was from the Colgate 360 line.

The next day I decided to try the new toothbrush out and I wasn't expecting anything, but as soon as I started brushing I actually looked at myself in the mirror and said "wow, this feels really good!" Seriously, the bristles were probably the softest that I've ever tried, yet it wasn't the bad kind of soft where you don't feel like it's actually doing anything to clean your teeth. Rather, it felt like a sort of gum massage. I actually think I spent a few extra seconds brushing my teeth because I actually didn't want to be done. It sounds crazy, I know.

Now, are my teeth any cleaner than they were with my other toothbrush? Without a microscope and some fancy tests, I can't really say for sure. But I can say that the Slim Soft is really enjoyable to use and I haven't yet picked up my Colgate 360 toothbrush since getting the Slim Soft.

One other thing to mention - I have a really small mouth. Weird thing to say, but it's true, and I sometimes get TMJ episodes from trying to open my mouth too wide. That's another benefit of the Slim Soft toothbrush. It's really slim! It makes it easy to clean my teeth and really get in the corners without hurting my jaws. A bonus!

I honestly have no idea how the Slim Soft compares in price to other toothbrushes, but I encourage you to check it out the next time you're in the market. It may just surprise you how much a simple change can make a boring daily routine a little more enjoyable!