Skinny for the new year!

Hello again,
As we all do I started thinking about getting in shape for the new year. Apparently influenster can read my mind because guess what they sent me to test? Some slim fast products. I was never sure about slim fast so it was very intriguing to try the stuff they sent me!
The first item I tried was the high protein chocolate shake. Now I have a tendency to be picky with these. I have protein PTSD from my cancer days. I can muster the strength to swallow them. This however had a rich chocolate flavor that was enjoyable and decadent. I could deffinatly dink this on a daily basis.
The next thing I tried was the dark chocolate sea salt meal replacement bar. Way to get on the sweet and salty train slim fast. The one thing I can truly say is these items seriously cater to my sweet tooth. I loved this bar. It was so satisfying. And with 5g of fiber 10g of protein and 18 vitamins and minerals it can't be wrong! It did keep me full.
On the snake side I got soure cream and onion 100 calorie baked chips and drizzled crisps 100 calories. These had a lot more in them then I expected. I LOVED the drizzled crisp. I'd eat these all the time. The chips had a good flavor. The texture was a little weird for me. They would take some getting used to. But I do suggest them if you're trying to loose weight.
Have you tried any of these items?

YSL mascara

I am so excited that I was one of the chosen ones to test the YSL mascara volume effet faux cils.
Upon opening my influenster box with this beautifully packaged, gold box, mascara I will admit that I let out a slight scream. I opened the box and inside I found the gold tube with the YSL emblem. I immediately had to try it.
The wand looks like most. It has bristles very close together. The end is a bit long for my eye, but is easy to work with. The mascara formula is beautiful. It lengthens my lashes, it darkens them with a formula that transfers to my lashes. I recently tried curling my lashes. I don't find that it holds the curl all the well but it doesn't straighten them out. This also doesn't leave me with twiggy feeling lashes. They are long lush and fluttery and stay soft to the touch.
I am a pretty big believer that you can get great mascara from the drug store, however if you are willing to splurge this is beyond worth it! I will be splurging in the future. Not only is the mascara beautiful, but you get a packaging that makes you feel like you have luxury in your palm!
Now to get to the claims. They say this is a remastered formula that will give you a false lash effect. It also says it has b5 pro vitamins to strengthen and protect lashes.  I don't really see false lash, but I do see amazing lashes. Prior to this I was using the urban decay perversion mascar, I love this one so much more. I can not attest to the vitamins strengthening yet as I have not used it long enough. I have however seen a lessening in the amount of my eye lashes falling out (which I did not have a problem with before the urban decay but that's a different blog post), so it must be doing something.
Have you tried this mascara? What are your thoughts?

influenster love

As most of you have probably guessed at this point I LOVE Influenster. The guinus that came up with this concept should have a wall of awards.
This website does so may things for me as a user. I have the ability to test products and tell the company how I really feel. I am rewarded for sharing my opinion. How often in life are we rewarded for that? They give me badges so everyone else knows too.
I have also made friends on this site. These people have similar interests. This makes a community of like minded people. People I may never have met otherwise.
Oh and above everything this is free. Unlike ipsy that I also love but pay monthly for, I am given these products. U just give my opinion. Influenster tester is a fun position to have!!
I have tested everything from makeup, hair products to cleaning products. I came across this while watching a YouTube video and have never turned back. If you haven't jumped on the band wagon, you are truly missing out on a remarkable program. I could not have a higher opinion of such a great program.
Have you tried it? What are you thoughts?

MK Glam vox box Beach look

Today I am going to do a quick beachy look tutorial, using my mary kay makeup that i got from influenster.  I found this makeup to be very multitasking but since its long wearing and bronzy colors I went with a pool side/beach look. Hope you like it!

I started out with a clean face using the the mary kay sensitive botanical face wash and toner.
Then I applied my foundation to even out my complexion. I placed the translucent powder on my t-zone and under my eyes using the powder brush.

Just Powder on

Next I added bronzer around my face and slightly under my cheek bones dragging it up. I did this to achieve that more sun kissed look. This bronzer is great because it does not look muddy on me. Then I applied the shy blush on the apples of my cheeks and dragged it to my temple. This is the way i find blush looks best on me. But do what you like.

With Blush and bronzer

 Now for the eyes. I applied the apricot twist cream eye shadow with my finger, all over my lid. Then (and I did not have one that was mary kay) I took a mid tone matte brown and ran it through my crease for a little more depth.

Lastly I applied two coats of the Lash love mascara. Making sure to really get into my roots.

And that was it. I tried to create a ubtle look that you could wear for whatever. But i know this will be one of my go to looks for the beach. (Maybe a little less product when I go to the pool)

Whats your favorite beach or pool look?

Influenster: MAry Kay Voxbox

I know it has been a while since my last post. Im very sorry and there is no excuse. So heres a new post.
 Now, I remember back in the day (or what i would consider back in the day) My mom selling mary kay products. I was maybe 8 or 9. I dont remember it being amazing. But the point as its always been was to empower women. I am really glad I was picked to recieve this box and try out there products. I havent really rushed to buy mary kay, as now I am old enough and wear makeup rather often.
They sent me many products to try out.

I will go through each product and my thoughts so far. If you want my future thoughts after using it more leave me a comment.

1. The first thing I am going to talk about is the translucent loose powder. Im not normally a fan of loose powder, mostly because it makes such a mess. SO lets start there with this one. The packaging oon this is super smart. Its in a really nice heavy container. and where the sifter is they have added a pice that turns so you can close and open the sifter. Now dont get me wrong there is still a little of a mess possabillity, however this drastically cuts down on it.
Now to the product itself. It claims it will keep you matte all day.  I only notice some oily spots in my T-Zone. So this is were I place the product. my cheeks are dry and to cut back on the cakey appearance I dont put this there. I have noticed a huge diffrence in my t-zone since using this. I do not get oily during the day. This is so finly milled I have also been placing it under my eyes for a setting powder and I love it. It does not look cakey, or settle in my fine lines. Its a nice all around powder and I would purchase it in the future.

$16.00

2. keeping on the powder/face products, they sent me a bronzer. Now I dont buy bronzer on my own. I have a few because they were given to me. But I have such a light skin tone that I have a heck of a time not looking dirty when I put it on, no matter how light of hand. I have watched many a youtube videos, as well as reading up. I Know how bronzer works. This bronzer is very beautiful. It has a slight sheen to it that doesnt really come off on your face. It just makes you look naturally glowey. I used this on the outer portion of my face and love the look. I did slight contour up to a blush on my cheeks. I really love the over all look of this bronzer. It is buildable.


$18.00



3. They of course sent me a blush, that I will begin by saying I am down right in love with. :) It is an amazing pinky color with a gold sheen. It is beautiful. It is called shy blush. I want to by several more of these blushes. I put this on the apple of my cheek and pulled it up toward my temple. It dose not look glittery, It just adds to that glow from with-in. Its very soft and a perfect blush.

$12.00

L:Bronzer R: Blush

4. Now own to the Eye products. I recived a Cream eye color in apricot twist. It is a very pretty gold color with a slight (I mean slight) peachyness to it. the cream has a nice feel to it. and is a pretty color. I have not noticed creasing with it. But to achieve the color pay off i want it seems like i have to put quite a bit on. I wish it was a slight bit more pigmented. But it will be nice for days by the pool when I want a barly there makeup look. I have put a powder shadow on top to build the color and like that look a bit better. Basically if you are looking for a more natural look go for this color.

$14.00

5. Eye liner is a very big hit or miss for me. I want something easy to work with, that is dark and really makes my eyes look amazing. So far I have not found anything I am in love with. That is to say until I tried this Gel Eye liner in Jet black. It is so creamy and smooth and deep dark black. Those are both winning qualities in my book. But beyond that it is easy to work with. And after it sets its not moving, this could be a good thing or a bad thing. It comes off with a little make up remover, but if you dont like using makeup remover this is not the wyw liner for you. The brush is nice, i can get a thin or thick line. Its easy to take with you. Overall Im very happy with this combo.

$18.00

6. Now  heres a big one. Mascara. Every girls best friend. However I have naturally amazing, dark, thick and long lashes. So mascara may not be as much of a necessaty for me. However I really want that fake lash look without fake lashes. My big thing is adding loads of volumn without clumping. This mascara is nice and dark. More matte than shiny. And it defines nicly. I put on 2 coats and had no clumping. But it does not give me the volumn I am looking for. If you dont have long dark lashes you may love this. It does not seem to give me super crunchy lashes wither. I probably wont buy this one again.

$15.00

7. LIP GLOSS! need I say more? actually I probably do. I got the Nourishine Plus Lip gloss in Mango Tango. I have previously Bout one of these lip glosses in Fansy Nancy. A more wearable nuteral color. Mango tango is an intense orange. but is very buildable. If you put it on light you can tell there is something on your lips and you can build it all the way to "HOLY Orange" These glosses smell like carmel. They feel amazing. They say they are long wearing which in my open for a gloss they are.

$14.00

TOP: Cream Eye Color BOTTOM: Mango Tango Gloss 

7. And Lastly the sent me 2 brushes. And to make this portion Better I actually have a brush from when my mom sold mary kay to compare it too.
Lets start with the brushes I got in this box. Firs was a Cream eyeshadow / concealer brush, Second was a Powder brush. Both of these brushes are amazingly soft and well made. I have not had any hairs fall out. The handles are nice. The farrels are nice. The whole brush feels expensive. The Old brush that I have does Not feel as nice and is constantly shedding. (granted this could be due to age, But I dont think so).

$10.00

OLD

Overall This was a really Nice box. Im so excited that i was choosen to test these products. I have been converted to mary kay and will be purchasing from them soon.
Did you get this Box? Do you use mary Kay? WHat are your favorite products??

The goody quikstyle

The Goody quick style is a paddle brush with micro fibers in it to help dry your hair a little while you style it. this is great to avoid excessive heat on your hair. As a person with curly hair that is already a bit dry i avoid heat at all cost. I always let my hair air dry. But as you can imagine sometimes that is a bit frustrating. And as you may have thought to your self, i having curly hair must only and always use a wide toothed comb so i do not break up all my beautiful curls. Well yes i do always use a comb. But I decided to try the quick style. Its amazing. I does dry my hair just enough to make styling easier. on top of that i have not found it damaging to my hair which i am always worried about. It keeps my curls in tact but helps get rid of those pesky knots. I also find that if i flip my head over I can achieve a nice bit of volume with out teasing, cutting back on that additional damage. I am a big fan of the paddle brush and I highly recommend it.

They also have a round brush version.

Violet Vix box: Influenster

I just recived the violet vox box from influenster. I recived many fun items in this box.
1. I got the goody quick style brush. This brush has microfibers in it and claims to remove 30% of water for faster drying time. I have curly hair and was sceptical that this would mess up my curls. but it is gentle and does a nice job. I do find i have to remove tangles with a comb first. this brush is strictly for helping dry.


2. Goody Athletique this is anadjustable quick dry head band. I really want to like this, but as of now ive had to much trouble with it. :( It does not stay put in my hair. it falls out constantly and when you are workingout you dont want to have to worry about that.


3. Sally hansen triple shine, This i have a huge problem with chipping. it chips 1 day into wear. I love the color (sparkelingwater). also its not as shiny as i would expect a nail polish that says triple shine to be.
 

4. Lastly i got a soyjoy banana bar. I loved it. it was a great snack at work and i didnt feel gulty eating it. it has a nice flavor. Not to sweet. I will buy these as snacks in the future.

Overall it was fun to try out these products. it was a very 50/50 box. But i found some new loves. and learned what not to get. :) Thanks influenster.
Did you get the violet vox box? what did you think??