One of my favorite beauty products

I think over the years, I have tried virtually every beauty product you could get from a drugstore. One thing I use every night is a makeup removing wipe. I have tried so many brands but I go back to the same one every time. Oddly enough, the Walmart brand called Equate beauty has been the best one by far.

I love how soft and gentle the towelettes feel and they are generously sized. They have just the right amount of cleanser in them that really do the trick of getting my eye makeup off with ease. Since I use them primarily for eye makeup removal, I don't have to use a whole wipe. I tear a wipe in two or three and maximize my uses from one pack. My daughters do the same thing and they last a long time. We purchase it in a 2-pack for around $6. Not bad at all! I don't buy them because they are inexpensive. I buy them because they actually work!

What do you use to remove makeup?

Wordless Wednesday | Prom 2013

My oldest daughter went to her senior prom a couple weeks ago. She looked like a princess!

Influenster Holiday #VoxBox 2012 Review

I was so lucky to get chosen to receive the last Influenster VoxBox of 2012, the holiday edition! It contained a NYC New York Liquid Color Lipshine, Kiss Nail Dress, Goody Quikstyle Brush, Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+, SoleSociety discount offer and  EBOOST Natural Energy packet.

The first thing I tried (well more like my son tried) was the Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+ in the Summer Berry variety. I really liked how hearty this oatmeal was in comparison to the usual instant oatmeal. It was full of dried berries and the serving was really big. He really enjoyed it and kept going on about how full he was.  I will be buying these for road trips and even for my husband to keep in his desk at work as a quick breakfast option.

I was really excited  to test out the Goody Quikstyle Brush. It has these unique micro-fiber "bristles" that are supposed to help reduce blow-drying time. The brush is also supposed to be good for detangling. I can't be certain if it really lessens the drying time but it works so well for detangling! I think one of the best things is how big the brush is since my hair is so long. It really makes blow-drying easier. You can clean it by giving it a little wash with your regular shampoo and air dry it. This is something I would actually buy in the future.

Next up, Kiss Nail Dress. I was originally going to let one of my daughters try these out but I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and get a little crazy. Kiss Nail Dress is basically nail polish stickers that require no drying time and last up to 10 days. The application process is relatively easy except I had a hard time getting the stick edges to smooth out. I also did not like the strong odor that they gave off. I think my nails had a strong chemical smell for at least 48 hours. I almost took the darn things off! I found that after two days, the edges were smooth and the look really grew on me. I think this particular color pattern (called Shrug) was good for me since you couldn't tell if the tips were wearing down. I kept them on for 7 days and could have gone longer, but I had to remove them since I had one nail break and I was forced to peel off the nail strip. They came off easily but I feel like the surface of my nail looked rough, almost like it was stripped. Thankfully they looked normal the next day. I am still not sure if I would buy these in the future but they are a fun nail look without the hassle of drying time or using polish remover.

I really liked the NYC New York Liquid Color Lipshine in the color Nude York City. It was really smooth, shiny and creamy at the same time. It felt good on my lips and smelled almost like candy. It didn't last very long but I guess most lip glosses wouldn't. I would love to try a darker color in the future. They retail for about $2.50 so that's not bad at all.

The last two items were the EBOOST supplement packet and the $25 off a purchase from Sole Society. I know for a fact I will not try the EBOOST because it does not appeal to me. I looked at the shoes from Sole Society and was not impressed at all. Also, I am one of those people that needs to try on a physical shoes before I purchase them.

All in all, this was a really good VoxBox and I look forward to the next one! Thank you, Influenster!

COVERGIRL Blastflipstick Review #gotitfree

When I got the email that I would be receiving a few of the new COVERGIRL Blastflipsticks for review, I was so thrilled. Besides my love of all things food and cleaning products, I LOVE cosmetics! I received 3 COVERGIRL Blastflipsticks blendable lip duos in "Minx", "Stunner" and "Perky". Although all the colors were very pretty, I was really afraid they wouldn't be as pretty on me. Some of them were a bit different from my day-to-day usual colors. The only way to find out was to try them out.

I gravitated towards the Minx duo because the chocolate and bronze were calling my name! I love dark colors, especially during the colder months. I usually wear lip balm before any lip color so I started with that. I then applied the chocolate color and loved it. I flipped it over to the goldy/bronze side and swiped a little over the chocolate color. It was gorgeous! I really do prefer the look of matte lip color over creamy and I was impressed by how long it lasted. I really like the fact that you can blend the colors or wear them alone. This gives a more unique and customized look.

Since then, I have tried the other colors and really was surprised how well the lighter and brighter tones looked on me. Unfortunately both teens stole 2 of my Blastflipsticks so it looks like I will have to go buy some more. I look forward to trying the red and gold shaded called "Tease". Thankfully I received a bunch of $2 off coupons in my kit. Now I just need to see which stores have them. So far the 2 places I have checked were completely out of them! Oh, before I forget... I am still using the COVERGIRL & Olay foundation and powder and it has been wonderful! I love how smooth and moisturized my skin has been as well as the light coverage it provides.

You can stay connected with COVERGIRL on the web and Facebook for products updates and savings.

As a BzzAgent, I receive free product samples for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are always my own. 

COVERGIRL and Olay Review

I received a great product package from COVERGIRL on behalf of BzzAgent. My review pack came with a COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and a COVERGIRL & Olay Pressed Powder. I have been wanting to try these products from the first time I saw them advertised in TV and magazine ads. I have always loved COVERGIRL cosmetics and have been using Olay moisturizer since I was a teenager. I figured with both brand combined, you get the best of both worlds!

Before I received my package, I had concerns about COVERGIRL having the right make-up shades to match my skin tone. I was really surprised when I saw how rich and dark enough the color was. The foundation was in Tawny (shade 165) and the powder was in medium/deep (shade 360). The 2-in-1 Foundation is supposed to help cover discoloration and age spots as well as hydrate to improve skin tone over time.

I started off with a clean face and applied a little bit of the foundation with a sponge wedge so it would be even. I didn't need much. It spread well and was not sticky or heavy. It had a fresh cosmetic scent and was not strong or irritating at all. I then swiped over some of the pressed powder to even out my skin tone. I did apply a little gold eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss to complete my look. I took a before photo but decided I didn't want to scare you all. Here is the finished look. What do you think?

My daughters were envious of how glowing and pretty my face looked. Even my husband admitted that he was admiring me from the moment he saw me. I did not feel like I was wearing any make-up at all. I really love it! I look forward to seeing how it will continue to work over time. So far, so good!

Be sure to check out COVERGIRL on Facebook to get updates on new products and promotions. If you would like a couple coupons for $2 off (expires 10/31) send me an email and I will get them mailed out to you.

I received products samples from BzzAgent for review purposes. All opinions are completely my own.

Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox Review

I am so glad I was introduced to Influenster by my friend Krystel. I was thrilled when I received an email that I would be receiving the Spring 2012 Beauty VoxBox! I am such a fan of all things beauty so I knew this program would be a great fit for me. Here is what I received:

SHEER COVER - DUO CONCEALER (@sheercover) Ideal for hiding blemishes, age spots, redness, scars and other imperfections without heavy, cakey coverage. Duo shades can be blended to perfectly match any skin tone. My thoughts: Thankfully the color works for my complexion. It is very light and not greasy. It works well for my dark circles. 

SALLY HANSEN - SALON EFFECTS Real Nail Polish Strips! (@sallyhansen) This product wears like nail polish because it IS nail polish (with no drying time). Apply and you’re ready to go. My thoughts: I have NOT tried this yet but plan on letting my 15 year old daughter test it out. We got a zebra looking pattern. I can totally see hot pink nails staggered with zebra! 

DR. SCHOLL’S FOR HER - BALL OF FOOT PADS Whether you have on-going foot discomfort, or just a soft spot for the most stylish shoes in the store, you’re going to love the Dr. Scholl’s® For Her line. Purchasing a pair is definitely worth the investment. Soft shoe inserts for standing all day are simply ideal, too. For everyday scenarios, they are simply the perfect solution. My thoughts: I am so happy for these! I don't wear heels often but when I do, YIKES! I am looking forward to using them in my heels for my date nights :)

AVEENO - DAILY MOISTURIZING BODY WASH This body wash cleanses  and moisturizes for visibly healthier skin every time you shower. It’s lightly fragranced, soap free, dye-free; hypoallergenic so it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. My thoughts: LOVE LOVE LOVE. I really love this stuff and it is the best body wash for sensitive skin. The 4 year old is currently using it and it has been very kind to his tender skin. 

CHAPSTICK - LIP SHIELD 365 This new product offers all season protection and moisturization for year-round exposure to the sun, wind and cold. With SPF 50+, it helps to protect from the sun’s damaging UVA/UVB rays. My thoughts: I can't help but think of the beach when I wear this. It smells like sunscreen but in a good way. It is super smooth and makes my lips soft and pretty. Love it! 

BATH & BODY WORKS - FINE FRAGRANCE MIST (@LUVBBW) Discover a better, more delicate fragrance experience with the NEW Fragrance Mist Collection. My thoughts: Love it! I am already a big Bath & Body Works fan so I knew I would love it. 

SOYJOY - BAR Enjoy SOYJOY (@soyjoyus) with all-natural real ingredients like real fruit and whole soy! My thoughts: When I opened to package I was afraid. I am not a big fan of natural bars. This is was exceptional! I really enjoyed it and now I know that when I see coupons and find a sale I will purchase them. I can see myself keeping one in my purse in case hunger strikes! 

I must say that I got very lucky to receive such a good box! I am looking forward to future VoxBoxes and I encourage you to sign up for FREE!