Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream

This product pretty much caught my attention with the smell. From there I had a feeling I'd enjoy it. I'm the type of person that LOVES smell-goods. I'm very picky about my hair and how it turns out, so I was quite hesitant to try this product initially.

After co-washing my hair and applying leave-in conditioner, I used this product. I have alot of hair and based on the size I could only get one good use out of it. I tried to detangle my hair before applying the Kinky Moves and my hair can get a bit tangled. But applying the Kinky moves BEFORE detangling was GREAT! It smoothed my hair out really nicely, making detangling a breeze before twisting it back up to air-dry.

During this time of year and mainly because of the length of my hair, I don't wear it in it's true form much at all because it can be a battle for me to tackle at times.

I still love the smell of the Kinky Moves on my hair. It didn't give it a white residue look, but I didn't like the way it made my hair and hands feel coated. Even after washing my hands multiple times, I still feel a coating of the product on my hands. I don't like that very much. Another thing I noticed after I applied the product, my scalp and skin that came in contact with the product (neck, ears, shoulders) became a bit itchy and irritated. I've had this issue with another product that I loved. This makes me sad. I wish I could find out what ingredient it is and get rid of it all together. If so, I'd be IN LOVE!


Check out the DEETS:

Info: Not Your Mother’s offers essential hairstyling products with only the best ingredients and technologies for a truly cool and unique style. Your style might come from the streets, the magazines you read or straight from the Catwalk. Trends fade, but true style never will. Confidence, creativity and class will always be in fashion. Dare to experiment with new styles, get inspired and embrace your own personal fabulousness. Don't follow others, make your own statement. Stand out, be different, and embrace your style with Not Your Mother's.

Price: $6.00 at CVS, Walmart, and ULTA among many other retail locations

Website: http://www.nymbrands.com/

***I received this product complimentary from Influenster.***

Kiss Ever PRO Lash Starter Kit

The battle of the lashes! LOL! I must say I LOVE getting dolled up for occasions. I'm not the type to wear lashes on a regular basis like some. Mine are naturally long, not as full as I'd like them to be, but I can deal.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever suffered with crooked lashes. I was so thankful when I saw the applicator in the box.

But I was so disappointed when trying these lashes. I followed the instructions, allowing the adhesive to dry, used the applicator to apply the lashes. They were still crooked and I guess I didn't apply enough glue because they weren't very nice to me. The first one came of immediately, the other one needed a little tug. I used quite a bit more glue on the 2nd one I applied. The applicator and the tip of the adhesive took a minute to get the hang of. I thought I had it but the lashes still didn't warm up to me.

I like that they had an applicator and the glue was odor free and latex free. I wasn't able to keep them on long enough to know whether or not they were waterproof since they didn't stay on. 

I wasn't really feeling the style of the lashes. They didn't work for my eye shape and they looked a bit TOO fake to me. Also, I have large eyes and they only went 3/4 of the way across. The tapering helped to camouflage that effect Maybe if I play around with them a bit and layer them with another pair, they could work.

The lashes didn't work for me, hopefully someone else will have better luck with them. I'll be experimenting with them some more to see what I come up with. I won't give up.  Definitely keeping the applicator and glue.

Sorry! I'm too embarrassed to post a pic!

Check out the DEETS:

Made from highest quality human hair. Use with Kiss adhesive for optimal results. Latex free, odor free, waterproof, flexible formula for 24hr hold, easy applicator.
 
Price: $4.99 at Walgreens

Check out the site:  http://www.everezlashes.com/

***I received this complimentary product for testing purposes via Influenster***

The INFLUENSTER Program

I know some of you have been noticing that I've been blogging, vlogging and doing reviews about INFLUENSTER.

I think this program is a really cool way to test products free of charge, build a buzz about the ones you love, also bring traffic to your blogging/vlogging spot. Many people don't really get much of an opportunity from brand names to do reviews or sponsors, so I feel that everyone gets a fair shot to test out products.

This is not a program just to get free goodies, each VoxBox I've received in the mail has been earned through me testing the products and sharing my opinion about how I feel about each one. The new website makes it a bit easier to keep up with your accomplishments with badges for each task you complete, which also helps you to be eligible for your next VoxBox. You don't have to worry or be nervous about not 'knowing' what information to use. Everything is there for you on the site, under each task. If you're a bit hesitant about making the step to try the Influenster program, PLEASE DON'T! I know I was at first, but now I'm getting the hang of everything and I enjoy this new hobby. Once you get used to the site, everything is pretty much a walk in the park.

There's no sign-up fee, no monthly fee, and no hidden fees or taxes after you sign up. You don't even have to pay for shipping. You can leave your honest opinion about each product you test (even if you don't like it), as long as it's respectful. You won't get jipped if a certain product is not your favorite. The companies want your honest opinions.

I've had one VoxBox to get lost in the mail (was informed the postal company lost it) and I was promised the next VoxBox would be sent out to me without an issu. And what do you know?! They came through on their word! That was very important to me!

So, YEAH! Enough of my yappin'!  If you're a blogger/vlogger (blossoming or booming), want to network and get traffic flowing (if you're a pro, a few more clicks wouldn't hurt right?), don't hesitate to check it out yourself.

http://www.influenster.com

You can also leave me a comment below if you'd like me to invite you. I have FOUR slots left at the moment.

THANKS EVERYONE!

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin

I can honestly appreciate Goody for always coming out with cool products! I remember seeing these Spin Pin(s) (why no 'S'?) in stores but I was dumbfounded as to how they were to be used initially. I would always go down the hair aisles and give them a good stare. So yeah..of course I was excited to try these out just as I have been with the other products from Influenster.

I love the idea of not having to use a whole bunch of pins. My hair is so thick that I've actually lost pins, only to find them a few days later buried in the mane. NO LIE! lol It took me a moment to get the hang of holding the hair in place and twisting the Spin Pin(s) into my bun. It's almost like turning a cork screw, just to give you an idea. I had to get used to the feeling of almost nothing being there. Alot of pins seemed to weigh the hair down, leave it too tight, or restrict it. The styles I attempted were very loose in certain areas. I actually need more pins to hold my hair in place neatly. I feel there needs to be at least 4 Spin Pin(s), especially the thickness of my hair and the price.

I think it wouldn't be as much of an issue if I was going to wear an unkempt-looking bun or hairstyle. Looser hairstyles have seemed to have become more and more popular over the years. But I prefer neater styles on most occasions. I personally didn't like having to restyle my hair every few minutes because the some of the coils weren't secured. Maybe if I were to straighten my hair, it would be alot easier to style my hair with the Spin Pin(s). But since I don't plan on using heat on my hair anytime soon, I won't find out until much later. But overall, I think it's a pretty cool product.

Check the DEETS:

Facts: The Goody brand is the most widely-recognized manufacturer of hair accessories and styling tools in the world. Through proprietary brands such as DoubleWear™, QuikStyle™, Simple Styles™, Slide-Proof™ and Ouchless®, Goody has introduced smart innovations like the exclusive Spin Pin and Quik Style Brush. With products inspired by the latest designer trends and innovative solutions, Goody offers an inspiring range of hair accessories and styling tools.

Price and locations:  $7.29 at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreen’s, Kroger, Duane Reade

Website: http://www.goody.com/

***I received this complimentary product for testing purposes via Influenster.*** 

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin

Here are some other lovely items I received in my Influenster VoxBox. I must say I initially had my doubts about these items but I really like them after giving them a good run.

It seems like as SOON as I applied the Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion (Normal/Dry),  my skin sucked it up and was moisturized. Afterwards, I used a wipe to remove the product. My skin is combination at times, mostly dry. The texture seemed to IMMEDIATELY change. It was very smooth and not tight at all, which I usually have issues with when I use other cleansers. I loved it. The scent was very light and refreshing. Yes, a WIN!

I had a very similar feeling when I applied the Beautiful Skin Night Cream (Normal/Dry). My skin wasn't greasy or oily at all, just a nice glow. :) My skin felt very refreshed and smooth. The scent was very nice. Only slightly stronger than the Cleansing Lotion, not overpowering. I had to actually pat the cream on, it wouldn't really rub in for me at first. That took a moment to get used to but I think I got the hang of it. I just added a bit more and it rubbed in better, quite a bit actually. The next morning my skin was still nice and soft. I didn't feel any product at all, just smoothness.

I really enjoyed testing both products. If the formula was changed a bit for the Night Cream to be able to actually rub the product in before my skin could drink it up, it would be a 10! Also, I think the price is great for the products (listed below). Trying these out made me feel like I was using some FruFru, expensive products. Nice! I can't keep my hands off my face!

Check the DEETS:

Info: Beautiful Skin - the newest and easy to use two-step range of everyday skincare cleansers and moisturizers, tailored to your specific skin type eliminating the need for toners. Products are color-coded, making it easy to find just the right products for your skin type: Normal/Oily (Pink), Normal/Dry (Green) and Dry/Very Dry (Lilac)


Price and locations:  $8.49 at ShopBootsUSA, Target, drugstore.com, and ULTA among many other retail locations

Website: http://www.shopbootsusa.com/

***I received this complimentary products for review purposes via Influenster.***

EBOOST Daily Health Booster

Ok..here goes! I decided to take this product when I began to feel under the weather. You know, feverish, achy, itchy throat, slightly stuffy nose, etc. What I got out of this product was unexpected.

I remember reading it was effervescent and thought that was pretty neat. I've tried a product similar and have been successful with keeping my health up during cold and flu season so I thought 'Hey why not'? The first sip was horrendous. I wish I had a way to record my expression upon the first gulp. I literally yelled out 'YUCK'! But I wanted to get better so I tried to chug it down. Big mistake! I started feeling nauseous! Not great!

After a bit of internal debate, I finally decided to take slow sips to finish the product. It was torture to say the least. Something I'll never do again. Not only was the product disgusting, the fizz stained the cup I was using. No matter how many times I've washed it, the orange ring will not come out. Not good at all.

On the bright side (no pun intended), I finally started to feel better and I had a noticeable alertness and energy boost. So much so that I was able to tackle this wild mane of mine. I see that as a plus. I just HAD to take advantage of that surge while I could. I like the fact that I didn't feel hyper or jittery and the effect seemed to last throughout the day. I guess it kind of made up for the bad taste.

I feel if the taste of the product were to be improved, EBOOST would be a great addition to your health and wellness regimen. In the meantime, I'll be finding something else to take.

That's my view...let me know what you think or if you've tried this product before:

Check out the DEETS::

Info: The Natural Energy Booster with a tangy citrus burst and a lasting natural energy boost! This EBOOST formula is loaded with green tea, vitamins and super nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin D and B-12 in an easy to mix effervescent packet. It's low calorie and sweetened with Stevia too!

Price and location: $28 for box of 20 Orange Natural Energy Booster effervescent powders at Whole Foods Market

Website: http://www.eboost.com/

***I received this complimentary product for testing purposes via Influenster.***

NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact

Excitement ONCE AGAIN! Yay! I got to try out one of my MOST FAVORITE things in the world..MAKEUP! Yes! I was so happy when I saw this little treat in my VoxBox I could've turned cartwheels..well my heart did anyway! lol

I really think the whole concept of having everything there with you to do your eyes is really cool. Maybe they should've added a mini eyeliner to the mix as well or at least an angle-tip brush on the end of the applicator already provided. I've learned to draw eyeliner with a dark shadow so the dark crease color would've probably been good for that.

 *Top row of pix w/ flash. Bottom row of pix w/o flash. Only photo editing is lightening the bottom pix. The pix have not been airbrushed.*

I hate to say as much as I was excited to try this product out, it was quite a disappointment to me. Not only were the shadows very chalky and powdery, they had quite a bit of fallout. The darkest crease color seemed to be the LEAST pigmented. In addition to that, the primer and illuminator were greasy and very streaky. I didn't like that at all. After I applied the shadows on top of the base, they only held in certain spots. I noticed looking in the mirror and after taking pictures that the payoff wasn't so great. I had to literally pile the shadows with my brushes on for them to work. But I made the product work to my best ability. I also had some issues with creasing badly, but the product did seem to last a little longer than I expected.

 

 *Product swatched. Had to layer the darker color for it to show. With flash. Without flash*

Maybe a stickier base would've held the shadows in place alot better. I've tried shadow sticks before during other makeup applications and they've been a great help. So I will HAVE to try it for the next makeup application using this palette. (Camera is down at the moment..won't be able to show a pic update. Maybe I'll do a vid update soon.)

Alright! I feel like I've covered everything. If you have any questions about the product please let me know. Thank you! :)


Here are the DEETS:

Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style, and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway! 

NYC INDIVIDUAL EYES in DARK SHADOWS: $4.99 at chain drugstores nationwide

Check out the site: http://newyorkcolor.com/

 ***I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster***

Bath & Body Works Fall Mini Candle

I always LOVE smell goods, so I was excited when I received this candle to test out. With Fall being my favorite time of year, Cider Lane really helped me bring in the warmth of the season with the rich fragrances that would remind you of the Fall. The scent is nice, but I personally wouldn't purchase it. I think it was the cider smell that was slightly turning me off but I got used to it after a few tries. I got word that the Leaves candle is a really popular one from this particular collection, so I must at least get a good whiff of it to compare.

I ended up burning another candle of a different scent to balance it out. Not sure if it was because the Cider Lane candle was smaller in comparison, but the other candle overpowered it. The Cider Lane candle was right beside me the whole time, while the other candle was on the other side of the room.

Also, I didn't get to use my coupon shown in the picture. I feel like it expired too quickly. I was going to just go to my local Bath & Body Works to give it to someone, but I ran out of time on that idea as well. I like doing random nice things like that as well. Maybe next time.

I only got maybe 6 or 7 burns out of it. I guess that was to be expected with it being a smaller candle. I scraped the remains into a burner with some other scents and it was a nice addition. I like to be resourceful as well.

That sums up my review. Check out the details and let me know what you think. :)

Here are the deets:

Highly fragranced candle exclusively developed and tested by our team of Home Fragrance experts, including the world's best master perfumers. Made using the highest concentration of fragrance oils, an exclusive blend of vegetable wax and lead-free wicks for optimal performance. 

Mini Candle $3.50; Small Candle $9.50; Medium Candle $12.50; 3-Wick Candle $19.50


For more info:  http://www.bathandbodyworks.com

***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster’s VoxBox program***