L'Oreal Paris and Influenster ExtraOrdinary Hair box!

So, I was catching up on the Influester site, reviewing products and doing things I hadn't done in almost a year! When you are active on the site, you're more likely to get surveys, which can get you boxes! I wound up getting the Extraordinary hair line from L'Oreal to test and review. I did get this free, but all opinions are my own.

Now I have fine curly hair. I usually need a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to keep my hair from frizzing up on me. The downside to this can be limp hair. Now in the past, I have not liked L'Oreal hair products for the simple fact that they usually have strong chemical scents, or floral scents.

When I got this in the mail I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet, almost powdery scent. It's not so heavy that I can't use it in the summer, but it is a slightly heavier scent than I go for. The product itself is WONDERFUL. I have smoother, shinier and more voluminous hair! One downside is the shampoo can feel a little too oily on days where I really feel like I need an extra boost of cleansing. However, I have yet to have a bad hair day with these products. My curls are great, my hair isn't flat and I love using the oil before my mousse. I have a video review you where you can see my hair and how great it looks.



I highly recommend you give this a shot. They also have a Curl version, which might be great if you have thicker strands than I do.

Influenster Pond's Vox Box

Ponds Vox Box contains one full size (7 oz / 200g) Clarant B3 Dark Spot Correcting Cream and one full size (7 oz / 200g) Rejuveness Anti wrinkle cream.

Provided to me by Influenster, yet all thoughts an opinions are my own.

The Rejuveness cream is great. The powder smell is my only negative, but it does not keep me from using it. I have combination skin and this cream leaves oiliness in the t-zone. I use this at night as it does make my skin look better, feel softer and smoother. It's not overly moisturizing and little goes a long way. I was worried as I am used to having bad reactions to anti-aging/wrinkle creams. This uses AHA's and Collagen which do not irritate my skin. I am happy to have found a cream that doesn't upset my rosacea and makes my skin feel great! I have not used it long enough to notice a difference in the fine lines and wrinkles.

The Clarant Cream is my favorite of the two. It also has a strong clean scent. It is not overpowering, nor does it irritate my skin either. Still I prefer light scents or no scents. This is perfect for day and works well under my makeup. Again I have not used this long enough to notice a difference in tone of my skin, other than it looks better, brighter. A little goes a long way and it sinks into the skin quickly, moisturizing without causing oiliness. I will buy this one when I run out for sure!

Before, my freckles and rosacea spots were noticeable and my skin was not smooth. 

After 2 weeks my skin is brighter and clearer. (yes, the lighting is different, sorry)

Overall, taking care of your skin will always help it look it's best, but I finally found some creams that I can use that I really do think improve my skin and that don't cost an arm and a leg.

Box opening:

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure

 So I got some polishes in the mail from the Influenster Total Knock Out VoxBox

Three colors - of course I had to go with Pat on the Black to start with. A great deep wintery purple.

The image below is from the Sally Hansen website and shows their claims:

























So far, with my weak nails and inability to keep polish on for more than a day, I have to say that this formula actually LASTS on my nails!!!
Check out my video for more information!



I received these polishes from Influenster but plan to purchase many more!!!

Dr. Scholl's® For Her High Heel Insoles

 According to the Dr. Scholl's Website:

• Uniquely designed ultra-soft gel arch shifts pressure off the ball of your foot
• FabuSTEP^® gel provides added cushioning
• Unique adhesive keeps insole in place
• ¾ length design won't crowd toes

How to use:

• Place on top of your current insole
• No trimming required
• Replace every 6 months or at first signs of wear

I personally found the arch to be too much for my feet in my high heels. I do find them great in my flats however. The gel feels good. I have wide feet but the thinness of the insole works great in heels. They do have a sticky back, but I find it is not sticky enough to keep it in the shoe.

Overall, I wouldn't buy these for high heels. They may help some people, but I find it easier on my arches to not use the insoles.

I did get these free from Influenster but all opinions are  my own.

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream!

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream is actually a great everyday moisturizer. It even outs my skin tone and moisturizes. The color is actually light enough - lighter than most all other "Fair to Light" BB Creams. I don't have to blend it with something lighter to match my skin color.

Just like most other "BB Creams" I find this to be not much more than a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen in it. I do recommend it for fair skin (the Light to Fair version).



I received this from Influenster for review and all opinions are my own.

Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge BUZZ AGENT KIT!

I had the fortunate change to get the new Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge system from BuzzAgent!


Here is my video review of the kit:


Overall it's not a bad system. I have fine curly hair and this does NOT weight my hair down. That is a total plus. I don't like that the normal conditioner takes awhile to penetrate my hair and detangle. I think the shampoo is ok. The star of the set is the 1 minute hair replenish. If you have dry hair and hate how moisturizing shampoos can weigh your hair down, this is a great set.

I did get these items free from BuzzAgent.com but all opinions are my own and unbiased.

Morning Star Farms Meatless Patties

So, Being a Buzz Agent, I got into a campaign to try some food! I received my coupon for a free box and promptly lost in the move to my new house. So I did PAY for this just so I could follow through with the campaign. That is how dedicated of a Buzz Agent I am!

They can be a bit dry if you pan fry them, grilling them helps them taste better, but if you want moisture, it's almost better to boil them in shallow water.

They have the texture of meat, but taste nothing like meat.

They are very flavorful and not at all like the cardboard tasting meatless burgers of days gone by. They taste great with cheese and tomato.

Being meatless, I can't say that means they are healthy. It is still processed food after all. They are great though for a quick and easy meal.

I suggest you at least give them a try. One box has 4 patties in it. It's not too expensive to just buy one box to try.

If you've tried them leave me a comment with your opinions!

Hiding In Sunshine Book Review

This book isn't really a thriller. Fast paced it is not. It is hard to feel sorry for family that has to go into hiding, while they whine (externally or internally) about losing their first class life for a quiet, internet free middle class life. They spend 11 years in (terror) but do nothing about it but complain for the majority of the book.

I read it hoping that it would pick up, but found that the book is one long rant. A rant against the government. A rant against internet privacy rights. I found it like trudging through tar laden mud. I only kept picking up the book in hopes that something excited would happen, only to put it down again of boredom and disappointment.

The Father Daughter writing team was a great selling point. However it feels as if the book was written with the authors switching off on writing chapters. Every other chapter (almost) was pleasant to read, but then the next would be boring and hard to get through. I suspect the Daughter has the better and less rant worthy writing skills. If this is the case, she needs to write books without her father. Truly boring and unlikable characters with the exception of the oldest Daughter.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free from @influenster in a #HolidayVoxBox to review. The opinions herein are my own and are not influenced by anyone else.

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine!

I received the color Nude York City in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox! Why did I not buy these before. I had heard the hype on YouTube. I always stop by the NYC stand at my local Rite Aid. But never did I pick one up. Perhaps I thought I had enough lip glosses!

This lipgloss smells like vanilla and stays on for longer than most non-sticky glosses. (Maybe not as long as a super sticky gloss like Stila's lipglazes.) I keep it in my purse because it's so moisturizing and I love the scent/flavor. It's a joy to put on. The nude color works well over any lipstick I am wearing too.

Totally in love with this lipgloss. I must buy more!

(I received this product free from Influenster. All opinions are my own.)

Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012

Due to my Palmolive Box challenge, I was selected to receive the Holiday VoxBox for 2012 from Influenster. If you'd like an invite to influenster please e-mail me at sarine531@gmail.com and I will be happy to send you an invite!

Now on with the goodies!

I LOVE Goody. Don't get me wrong but the Goody® QuikStyle™ Brush was a nightmare on my hair. As you can see above, I used a frizz cream, and then used the brush to blowdry my hair. Sure the dry time was faster, but my curly hair did not like the brush at all! I had to apply more de-frizzing products and hated my hair all day. (THUMBS DOWN).

The Montagne Jeunesse face mask was a wonderful experience. I totally loved it and there is a previous blog post just on this mask. (THUMBS UP)

The EBOOST is not very tasty. Gave me minimal energy. And rankly, I think there are healthier ways to get your vitamins and energy - you know those things they call fruits and veggies? (THUMBS DOWN).

The Kiss® Nail Dress are great - much better than the Sally Hansen stickums that I have used before. I would buy these for when I want something fun. They lasted almost 4 days on my terrible nails. Which is good. (THUMBS UP)

The Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ was pretty tasty. And I hate Oatmeal. I'm not sure how healthy this is, but it's pretty tasty and the added fruit and nuts add texture to slimey oats. Not really practical cost wise, but it was good. (ONE THUMB UP)

Speaking of Yummy! The NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine is sooo yummy smelling and works so well. A great nude color too. I have to buy more of these. Not sticky, but lasts a long time. Very moisturizing!  LOVE it. (THUMBS UP)

And the Sole Society coupon. I did not use this as the boots that I would have purchased were all sold out and they had minimal selection. I also did a post on this previously. (THUMBS DOWN)

I also got an extra that was shipped separately. A BOOK!

This book is a bit slow to start, but it has all the necessary setup for the story in the beginning. I am slowly reading it and having a tough time getting into the first handful of chapters. I think once the story gets going though I will be gripped and will love it. I will have a full review later on.

THANKS INFLUENSTER! While I don't love everything (that I received for free), I always give my honest opinion and LOVE trying new things. A great box! Thumbs up!

Please leave any questions or comments below!

Montagne Jeunesse Mask in Chocolate : Influenster Holiday Vox Box

Thanks again to Influenster for the Holiday voxbox I received!
I got a wonderful chocolate mask from Montagne Jeunesse!

I had tried the Freeman's version - the chocolate mud mask and found it to be just as drying and thick as any mud mask that I've tried.

This mask from Montagne Jeunesse however was like applying pudding! it went on smooth, covered extremely well, and smelled like you could eat it. It is a moisturizing mask and it does a wonderful job! I still have another application in the packet! I would love a larger size!

I believe this is my first experience with the brand and I would be delighted to try other masks from them. My skin felt smooth and wonderful and I wanted to do it again the next day, just for the nice experience, but I thought that might be a bit much! lol

So do I recommend this? Totally. It dried more evenly than previous masks I have tried and came off easily with water and a washcloth. Did I mention how yummy it smelled? Totally worth they hype!

Please leave me any questions below.

I did receive this for free from Influenster. All opinions however are my very own. I did not like all the products in the box, but this one's a winner.

BuzzAgent: Neutorgena Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream

So, the Neutrogena hand cream has been great at keeping my dry winter hands feeling soft and moisturized. The formula is concentrated and a tiny bit goes a long way.  Anything larger than a pea sized amount on your hands is way too much.

I have cleaned and filed my nails and then applied a bit of product to them and really rubbed it into my cuticles. It last through a couple of washings. I have to admit, there are better products out there for nail care. However, for healing cracked knuckles, this stuff is a wonder!

It does leave a tacky residue after you first apply it. It does go away after about 20 minutes. I like to use a hand sanitizer before I apply hand lotion when I am at work. This lotion does not work well with hand sanitizer. The alcohol and the glycerin just don't mix.

Overall I think this is a great winter hand cream. I would purchase it when I run out.

I did receive this free from BuzzAgent for testing purposes.

Sole Society Shoes

Sole Society Shoes

I received a $25 off card for Sole Society in my Influenster Holiday Vox Box. That's about half off the cheapest pair of shoes on their site. I see these card in Ipsy bags, along with other subscription services. I feel like this company is being shoved down our throats.

Oh, I looked at the website. They didn't have a lot of shoes. And the only cool ones they did have were out of stock in all sizes but one or two. A $25 off coupon is great, if you plan to spend the money and use it. I'd rather pay full price for shoes I can try on in person. I find that it's better to try shoes on before buying them and I hate online returns... I also like to see the quality of what I am buying in person. Cheaply made shoes don't last long at all.

I like shoes. Boots especially. But I was not impressed with this site nor their smattering of advertising.

That is my thoughts on that.

COVERGIRL Blastflipstick Buzz Campaign!

I am really enjoying being a Buzz Agent. One of my latest campaigns is for the Covergirl Blastflipstick lipsticks!



I can't say that I am in love with them. They are a terrific idea. My problem: The taste. I can't hardly wear it with the horrible waxy cheap crayon taste that tickles the back of my throat.
The colors don't look bad, and they mix together ok. They are a bit drying - not the most moisturizing lipstick for sure. Some of them feel gritty due to the glitter in them. Some colors also stain pretty badly.

I really want to like Covergirl, but most of their products haven't changed since I was a teenager and their new products have yet to impress me. I really hope that BuzzAgent winds up with more widespread makeup brands for their kits. But, I am glad that I can share my honest opinions with you! And honestly, I'd give these a D. The actual lipstick design makes applying to the lips a bit difficult. The only reason I wouldn't give it an F? It's a really good concept. They just didn't pull it off in my honest opinion.


Here is a video of my first impression:


Here is a video of some live swatches


And here are swatches of the colors that came in the kit.

Stunner, Vixen, and Minx

These products were sent to me free for review by Buzz Agent.
Check out Buzz Agent here: https://www.bzzagent.com

Starlooks Starbox Demcember - Palette Swatches!

So for December we got an awesome palette with 15 full sized eyeshadows in plenty of colorful colors!
I of course did a video!

And then I also did swatches!

The box and palette!

The colors are great and the shadows are very pigmented and smooth. I noticed that the shimmery shadows are much smoother than the more matte shades but the pigmentation is certainly there. I LOVE how the incorporate the color wheel into this palette! For someone who loves art, it's like a bonus!

With Flash

Without Flash

Bottom Row - lightest colors

Middle Row

Top Row - Brightest colors

No Flash - All swatches.

I can't wait to start doing some looks with this awesome palette!

Worldreader

Ok, so my last Smiley360 posts were just me sharing some of the things I have been able to try through the website. This one is for a great cause though. Please check it out - I don't actually receive anything free for this mission. I just get smiles for accomplishing the tasks.

Please go vote on facebook!

Worldreader: Vote for #worldreader to win the American Giving Awards 2012 http://bit.ly/U7DwbJ *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

If you want to join smiley360 I would be happy to email you an invitation! Leave a message below!

Advil® Congestion Relief

I have yet to receive my package. Do you think I need to have a cold to use this? lol.


Advil® Congestion Relief: Thx Pfizer and #AdvilCongestionRelief for my free sample. Receive a $2 off coupon http://on.fb.me/YfOIWo *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

V8 V-Fusion® Energy at Safeway

V8 V-Fusion® Energy at Safeway: Thx Safeway & V8 for my free #VFusionEnergy! Sign up for Just For U and save $1 off at http://bit.ly/NABOQK *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

My thoughts - It gives you some energy, but has that nasty energy drink aftertaste. :( -Sarah Jane

Dailybreak

Dailybreak: I tried Dailybreak.com through Smiley360! You can join the fun and win rewards at http://bit.ly/O3cxhb #Dailybreakmission *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Update!

Awhile back I received my Burt's Bees Buzz Kit and I was super excited to try out the products they sent me! I love being a Buzz Agent, not because I get "free stuff", but because I get to try new products and share my experience and opinions. I feel the more opinions you find on a product, the better informed you can be before you buy it!

Anyway, I have loved the products I received and even purchased the eye cream to try out as well.

I am still loving the face wash. It definitely does not remove eye makeup and remover is necessary as I said in my previous post. I do love how it foams slightly and rinses off cleanly, leaving smooth hydrated skin. It is not overly hydrating and it doesn't leave any kind of film behind.

The mask soaks into the skin nicely and I really like how it leaves my skin feeling soft, again without residue or a greasy feeling.

I used one of the samples of the day cream. A little goes a long way. I have combination skin and I learned putting it just on my cheeks works best. I do get an oily t-zone which is more prominent when I use all of the products together. If you have very dry skin, this whole line would be perfect for you.

I am still loving the night cream. I do wake up with a bit of oiliness, but that doesn't last past a morning face wash. I love how both lotions soak right in leaving soft skin and no greasiness.

The Eye Cream is  again, something I purchase myself, but I did use the $3 off coupon from the back of the face cream sample. The tip of the tube is like a silicone or rubber with a cross or x type opening where the product comes out. Like with the other products you don't need much. It's another great creamy, non-greasy product from the line. I tend to use this at night only as my eyelids also tend to become oily throughout the day.

This has been overall the best line of products from Burt's Bees. I won't say it's perfect for me with my combination skin, but it's a great winter regimen and I think all the under $20 price range for each product is reasonable.

Note: I did receive all the products free with the exception of the eye cream. All opinions my own.
check out bzzagent.com!