Puff's Plus

So for a few weeks I've been pretty snotty. As in, filled with snot. My husband brought home a cold, and then it turned into bronchitis, and after a few days of using toilet paper to blow my nose, it was completely red and raw and disgusting. I sent him a text in the middle of the night (he was at work) and requested he bring me some tissues with lotion on his way home.

Puff's to the rescue! He brought me a small box, butI ran out after just a few days. Luckily, that very same day, I got my Jolly VoxBox from Influentser, and it included a to-go pack of Puff's Plus!!

Hallelujah! Even blowing my nose the same disgusting amount, my nose returned to it's normal, non-scaly state. I'm a convert for life.

(This was not a paid review. Influentser did send me the product specifically to review it, but by the time it got here, I already loved it.)

NYC HD Color Trio: Long Beach Sands

Another review from my Voxbox!

Influentser also sent me NYC's HD Color Trio eye shadow in Long Beach Sands. This is a pretty neutral color palette, which is good, because we all know that I'm not particularly skilled with this sort of thing.

It looks like this:

I like this product, because it's pretty neutral, but also because (and you can't see this in the picture), it comes with an insert that tells you where on your eyelid to put each color. Obviously this is something that I wouldn't have figured out for myself. It's also good because it lasted all day. I touch my face a lot, and typically my eye makeup disappears long before I wash my face at night, but when I got ready for bed after using this, there was still enough makeup to show up on my makeup remover wipe. Excellent.

I don't know how much use I'll get out of this, since I usually just do mascara and lipstick, and possibly some cream blush if I look particularly pale, but overall it's a good product, and I'd recommend it if you're a regular eye shadow user.

(This was not a paid review, but the product was sent to me for free by Influentser specifically to be reviewed. They did not require that the review be positive.)

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer: Aurora

So, I'm bad at the makeup. I was raised by women who aren't the girliest of girls, and while they're strong, and smart, and beautiful, they aren't much for the lipstick. And because of that, I'm really bad at knowing what to put on my face to make me look like something between a porcelain doll, and a drag queen. Enter: Influentser and the Jolly Voxbox. They sent me a nifty box of stuff to review, (see previous post) and luckily for me, they were all winners.

The best thing in the box was Rimmel London's Show Off Lip Lacquer in Aurora. I've been trying for most of my life to find a lip color that looks right on me, with mixed results. They managed to choose just the right color without even knowing what I look like. Clearly the lipstick gods smiled on me that day.

Please disregard my fuzzy hair. I'm out of hairspray. So yeah, as you can see, this color is perfect. I also love it because it doesn't have the sticky texture that so many lip glosses have, and the color seems richer, and shinier than regular lipsticks. It's a perfect lovechild hybrid of the two. Three cheers for Rimmel and Influentser!

(Editor's Note: This review was not paid for, however I did receive the products for free through Influentser under the condition that I review them. They did not require that the review be positive. That's all me. I would have told you if I hated it.)

Jolly Voxbox!

I received my first Influentser Voxbox today, and I'm so excited!!

I'm pretty excited about all the stuff in this particular box, let me tell you about it:

1. Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong To Go Tissue Pack: This is excellent timing. I've been crappy sick, and have just run out of my big box of these. Hopefully this small package will see me the rest of the way through. The lotion in them will keep my nose from drying out and rotting off. Win.

2. NYC HD Color Trio Eye Shadow: I haven't tried this brand, but the colors they sent are ones that are typically good for me. Bonus: the box tells me where on my eyelid to apply each of the three colors. They clearly know that I'm bad at the whole makeup thing. This collection of colors is called Long Beach Sands.

3. Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer, Aurora. Ok, so not only is this lip gloss named after one of my favorite Disney princesses, it's a shade that actually looks really good on me. I lucked out on this one. I was afraid I'd end up with a shade of purple.

4. Skinny Cow Divine Chocolates: Peanut Butter Cream. This is a full size box! I'm not a huge peanut butter fan, EXCEPT in candy. I'm going to have to hide these from my husband.

5. Ducklings Mini Roll. This is a small, narrow roll of duct tape. It's purple and turquoise leopard print, and will be perfect for jazzing up my nieces' Christmas presents. The hubs was excited to see that they actually sell these small rolls. I have no idea what he wants it for though.

All in all, this is a great box! It's about $20 worth of stuff for free, and it's all stuff that I'll actually use, and enjoy. Hurray!

OPI: Die Another Day

I've been feeling a bit uninspired, but with my manicure last night, I realized that I could branch out a bit. I spend an inordinate amount of time looking for various "perfect" nail colors. Perfect for summer, perfect for spring, perfect for whatever holiday happens to be coming up. My skin tone is (apparently) sort of weird, and so even slight variations in a hue can make a huge difference. All that said, I've found the perfect fall nail color.

At first glance, it appears to be exactly the shade I think of when someone says "pumpkin spice." Slightly orange, slightly coppery, slightly red. I don't eat anything pumpkin (except  pie), but I love the color this time a year. I thought I'd give this a shot.

I was not disappointed. On the actual nail, it dries a little redder than it appears in the bottle, but it seems to work with my skin tone. The polish goes on super smoothly, and dries with a slightly rubbery texture, which I haven't figured out yet, but I suspect it prevents chipping. It almost looks velvety. I don't use a lot of "high-end" nail colors, because I'm relatively cheap, but I'm coming around to the idea that you get what you pay for. I cleaned the bathroom tonight, and not a single chip. I'm officially an OPI convert.

Price: About $8

EOS Shave Cream

So, I've been using EOS (The Evolution of Smooth) shave cream for awhile now. I've tried both the pomegranate-raspberry and the vanilla bliss versions. I haven't personally used the lavender one, because I tend to be allergic to lavender, but I'm sure it's just as lovely.

This shave cream is amazing. As I've mentioned before, I have very dry, sensitive skin. This shave cream is super moisturizing, so much so, that it's really more of a lotion than a shaving product. The bottle says that you can use it to shave wet or dry, and while I was skeptical at first, on a particularly lazy day when I wanted to wear shorts, I tried it, and the bottle does not lie! My legs were smooth and soft and there was no trace of razor burn (which is usually the consequence of dry shaving). The cream is so rich, that if you do choose to shave outside of the shower, you can then rub it directly into your skin, and skip post shave lotion application.

The smell of both the raspberry and vanilla creams are quite strong, almost like desserts, which I don't love, but it fades out quickly after the shave, and the scent doesn't seem to be one that causes me to itch at all (maybe I'll even try the lavender one). This product is apparently available in 5 formulas, including (in addition to the three I mentioned) aloe (green) and unscented (white), but my Target only has the ones I mentioned. I'm sure this is available other places (including Amazon), but I haven't seen it anywhere in my area besides Target.

Price: $3-$4

Pajama Jeans

Ok, I'm a sucker for a good infomercial, or As Seen on TV products. I can usually convince myself that I don't actually need whatever product is being advertised, but in this case, I couldn't. You will think I'm kidding, or lying or just delusional. I promise you, I am not. Confession: I love Pajama Jeans.

In fact, I love them so much, that I just purchased my second pair. In addition to being comfortable, the Pajama Jeans are the only jeans I've ever found that are exactly the right length, without being taken to the tailor. (They have a 31 inch inseam.) They are dark navy, the same shade as my expensive "fancy" jeans, but if you order from their website, they have other colors available now. These jeans look better on me than any other pants I own. They don't lose their shape and become too big, or loose around the knees, or weird in any way. They are insanely comfortable, and I promise that no one will know that they are pajama jeans unless you tell them. (They do not have a button or zipper, which I appreciate, but they do look like they have a regular zipper. Your shirt should be long enough to cover where the button would be, unless it's suddenly 1995 again.

You want these jeans, if for no other reason than the holiday (read: over eating) season is coming, and nobody likes it when you wear your sweatpants at Thanksgiving. I mentioned that I just ordered my second pair, and when they got here, the company also included a free t-shirt, which they didn't mention on the website, but hey, free shirt. I will say that the shirt is too short to really look good, but it makes an excellent sleep shirt. (The website didn't mention that I was getting the shirt, so it was a total surprise, which was fun. Or possibly a mistake on their part. Either way, cool.)

You can get your pajama jeans from their website, or sometimes you can find them at places like Target or Wal-Mart in the As Seen on TV section. Don't pretend that you don't always check that stuff out when you see it.

Price: $20-$30

Astroglide: Sensitive Skin Formula

The sample I received for review today is from AstroGlide.

It's sensitive skin formula, and I'm sure it's very nice (haven't tried it yet), but this isn't really the type of thing I'm comfortable reviewing on this blog. So, I'm not slacking off, just avoiding a review that might make my readers uncomfortable.

I will say that it's in a very nice lavender package.

Thanks AstroGlide, for thinking of me and um...I'll leave a review on your site.

(Obviously not a paid review. Or a review at all, really.)

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo & Conditioner

I've been a fan of John Frieda products for years, typically using the Brilliant Brunette line, in order to go as long as possible between coloring over my gray. However, my hair is getting longer now, and as it grows, it seems like it loses volume. I'm trying to grow my hair out long, before I get too old for long hair, so I switched to the Luxurious Volume collection.

I've been using this for a couple of weeks, and while I'm not sure about how much volume I've got, it does seem to have texturized my hair nicely, so that it holds curl better, and doesn't slip when I pull it up in a bun.

This definitely smells nicer than the color enhancing shampoo, which always smelled like dye. My husband loved that dye smell, but it wasn't my favorite. This is a much cleaner smell, sort of fresh.

The product itself is clear, which, as I mentioned in a previous post, is something I like in my beauty products. This is definitely a keeper.

Price: $6 for each product.

Finish All in One Powerball Dishwashing Tabs

Today I'm branching out from beauty products and reviewing Finish All in One Powerball dishwashing tablets.

This is not the product that I usually use in my dishwasher, but the good people at Finish sent me a sample packet of two tablets, so I gave it a go.

I do not love this product. I really wanted to, because they look very cute, like some sort of dessert, and they smell lemony-fresh. Alas, I will not be purchasing them for myself.

The first load I washed with the Finish Powerball tabs was really full, with a Crock-Pot on the lower level of the dishwasher. The dishes did not get completely clean, but this has happened before when I've had large objects on the bottom, and so I decided it might be user error. Good thing they sent me two!

The next time, I washed a regular load of dishes, they were not particularly dirty, and not completely full. There was no large item on the bottom, potentially blocking water from the top rack.

The dishes in this load were also not really clean. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the dishwashing tablet had not completely dissolved, and I also found remnants of the first tablet. It appears that the plastic surrounding the detergent is too thick, and does not dissolve completely. (I did check, you aren't supposed to remove it beforehand, although that would probably help. However, the point of the tabs is to be quick and convenient, so, no.)

Unfortunately, even though they were kind enough to send me the sample, and a coupon, I won't be purchasing any more of this particular brand.

Price: $8-$15 depending on the size of the package.

(Not a paid review, obviously.)

2 for 1: Neutrogena Wave Duo & Hope in a Jar for dry skin

Today you're getting a two for one deal, because these are both products for use on the face.  I've spent the last couple of weeks trying to figure out what I need for my skin, because the moment I turned 30, all hell broke loose. I had good skin all through my teen years, when I should have been breaking out, but I'm paying for that stroke of luck now.

The first product I'm going to talk about is the Neutrogena Wave Duo. I bought this because, in addition to pimples, my pores have basically become the size of pockets, and I wanted something that would exfoliate a bit, and maybe shrink them back down to manageable proportions.

The Wave Duo comes in a starter pack with 14, pads, pre-loaded with cleanser. It has two vibrating speeds, and apparently you're supposed to use the more intense speed once a week, and the other one daily. I just use the faster one all the time. The product seems to be working. My pores look better, and my skin feels softer.

One thing you should probably be aware of is that because it pulls impurities to the surface, for the first few days of use, you might actually have a bit more acne, but then it clears up nicely, and stays that way. I have pretty sensitive skin, and the soap that it comes loaded with makes me a bit itchy, so I'll probably try to replace the pads with something that doesn't already have cleanser on it, and load it with my own soap (which I'll review later).  Overall: I like it.

The second product I'll review, is one that I'm absolutely in love with: Philosophy's Hope in a Jar for dry skin. In addition to sensitive skin, it dries out quite quickly, so I opted for the richer version of Hope. I was slightly bothered by the price, it's much more than I would normally spend on a moisturizer, but then I bit the bullet, because maybe buying the cheap stuff is part of the reason my skin has been so unmanageable.

After the first use, my skin felt a thousand times better. I didn't even realize how tight it felt until it suddenly didn't anymore. Some users have complained about the scent, but I think it's nice, and it fades pretty much immediately after the cream is rubbed in. This moisturizer is SPF 20, which is good, because I try to protect my face, even though I stupidly expose the rest of my body to a tanning bed a few times a week.

Overall, using both these products my skin looks better, my acne is pretty much gone, and my pores are normal, and I think some of the fine lines around my mouth are starting to disappear, but that could just be wishful thinking.

Neutrogena Wave Duo: $12

Philosophy Hope in a Jar (2oz): $40


(As always, I have not been compensated for this review.)

Dial Coconut Water & Bamboo Body Wash

I've been meaning to review this for awhile, because this product is perfection. I've been using it for a few weeks, and I love it.

I hope to use everything that I review here at least a few times before I talk about it, just in case the first use is great, but the 3rd one makes my hair fall out or something. The coconut body wash has had no weird effects, and I still love it, so that's one in its favor.

The scent is divine. It's light and fresh and delicate. This is not the creamy coconut scent that is usually associated with beauty products, and I like that. This smells like what coconut water should (but doesn't) taste like.

My skin is typically very dry, almost scaly. After the first use of this product, my skin felt super soft, and to my surprise, felt soft the next morning, too. I was impressed. Since I've been using it in every shower, my skin is soft all the time. I'm still surprised by it. I also love that the body wash doesn't have a color. My skin tends to be sensitive to dyes, so that's one less thing to worry about. I'm also typically sensitive to fragrance, but I haven't had a moment of itchiness from this body wash.

If you're looking for a new shower product (and really, who isn't?) you should definitely check this out.

Price: About $6


(I have received no compensation from Dial for this review.)

Welcome to the Party!

I have strong opinions about pretty much everything. Seriously, ask my husband. So, I thought that maybe it could do someone, somewhere some good to hear about those opinions. Watch for posts about makeup, skincare, perfume, foods, shops, pet products, books, and pretty much anything else. Exciting stuff ahead!