Klout Perk: Carol's Daughter

So, I've posted before about Klout - basically, it's a site that measures your social influence on your online networks. The fun thing about Klout is the perks: based on your score and demographics, from time to time you are eligible to claim perks! Sometimes the perks are in the form of a discount on a particular brand/company, or an exclusive invite or preview...but sometimes they're free products!

The perk I received in the mail today was this type. It's a full sized Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer by Carol's Daughter.

This was an exciting perk for me because I have been working on growing out my hair color and I've been trying to baby it as much as possible to keep it nice and healthy, so any product like this is welcome!

I've also heard a lot lately about Carol's Daughter and have been wanting to try some of their products. They make natural skincare, haircare, and beauty products and in general receive pretty good reviews!

I had never heard of this particular line or monoi oil in general, but here's what the included information tells me:

Monoi oil has been made and used in Tahiti for centuries. It includes Tiare Gardenias and Coprah Coconut and is used to heal and protect the skin.

The Monoi Repairing Collection by Carol's Daughter contains no sulfates, parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, or artificial colors. In addition, they promise 13x longer hair life, 96% reduced breakage, and to seal 93.3% of split ends in as little as one use. Pretty big promises, but we'll see!

My first impression of this product is positive. It is a cream with a nice consistency, and it does smell of gardenias! I worked it into my hair as directed, and currently my hair smells great and looks and feels nice and soft. I will post a review after I've been using it for a while!

In the meantime, definitely join Klout if you haven't yet...it's a fun way to get to try new things.

Glossybox - October

Well, after waiting foreeeever for my October Glossybox, it finally arrived yesterday! But, for the first time ever for me, I have an issue. I am missing an item from my box! So, this review will only be over the four items I received. I have contacted Glossybox to inform them of my missing item and I will update this when I hear back from them and receive a replacement! This will be my first time dealing with Glossybox's customer service and I have read both positive and negative reviews on this aspect of their service, so I will definitely fill you all in on the results.

The theme for this month's box is Spa Luxe, and it promises products to help us pamper ourselves. What did I get this month?

Glossybox always has my favorite presentation - chic, simple, and tied with a bow. 

Here's the list of items in my box. The item I did not receive is the Kryolan blush - a full sized custom blush made for Glossybox! Definitely a bummer that it was left out of my box, so I have my fingers crossed for a replacement. Mistakes happen, but it's definitely how a company handles mistakes like this that matters to me.

This is Exfoliating Loofa Soap by Heartland Fragrances! It's a hand poured glycerin soap with natural loofa inside for exfoliation and to improve blood flow. I got the scent "peppermint" and it is nice and strong and minty. In fact, if you sit the soap out of the package, it kind of doubles as an air freshener!

I love this soap. It feels great on the feet and legs, it's a bit tingly from the mint and it's scrubby, but not too harsh, in my opinion. This is the full sized soap. I will be buying some of these!

This is an Enzyme Facial Peel by Nastassja Skin. It uses papaya enzymes to remove dead skin and leave the skin smooth and radiant. I love enzyme peels, so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this one works for me. It's a tiny little pot, but products like this generally go a long way for me, so I will get several uses out of it. It smells nice and tangy.

This is Luminous Bamboo Shine Mist by Alterna! It is a shine enhancing mist for the hair. It smells nice and fresh, and it did leave my hair nice and silky. I already have a few other products like this, so it's nothing groundbreaking for me, but the sample is a nice size and it's good to have.

And finally, a 2 in 1 product - a lip duo by Model Co. The colors are Dusk and Striptease...fun! The lipstick is a nice subtle nude shade, and the gloss is a sheer peachy pink with shimmer. They both smell like strawberry! I was surprised to enjoy these colors, the lipstick looks very natural on me and not as brown as I worried, and the gloss is nice and not sticky. This is my first time trying anything by Model Co and I wouldn't mind trying more!

Also, Glossymag made a comeback this month! It's a nice touch, I think.

So, had I received my blush, I would be very happy with this month's box! I am hoping Glossybox handles this well for me, and I will update this post when I hear from them!

What are your favorite pampering spa products?

Giveaway winnings - ELF Disney Villains Palette!

So, I was super excited to find out that I won a giveaway hosted by Pretty Squared (which is a great beauty blog run by two sisters, you should follow them!) The prize is the Maleficent palette in the super limited edition ELF Disney Villains collection.

This was great news for me, as there were none of these palettes in my area, they are not available online, and I so want to try this one. Much to my delight, it arrived yesterday!

They sent it all wrapped up in a jack-o-lantern shopping bag with an adorable Halloween card! So cute.

Maleficent is absolutely my favorite Disney villain. HBIC, right here.

The palette includes 8 shadows, eye primer, two lip and cheek pencils, and a glitter gel liner, as well as some awesome lashes and glue. I love the included mirror!

Behind the mirror, it has these tutorials for day and night looks using the products. 

I really love the smokey jewel tones! I've only had a chance to play with them a little bit, but I'm really enjoying them and I think they'll be great for me! I can't wait to play around with this to figure out my Halloween look!

So excited to get this, thanks again to Pretty Squared!  

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox

I was super excited to receive another Influenster VoxBox yesterday! This one is for beauty bloggers and was full of fun beauty products to try.

If you haven't heard of Influenster, it is a program that provides free VoxBoxes of products in return for reviews and word of mouth sharing! It's a lot of fun, and I still have three invitations, so if you're interested, please leave me a comment or send me an email!

This is what I got in the Beauty Bloggers VoxBox.

The shipping was super fast on this one! For once, I was one of the first to receive it, and it arrived here the day after my tracking email came.

It was full of lots of fun things to try...I was surprised by how many items there actually were. And happily, they were all new items to me (besides the candle...but that is at least a new scent for me!)

This is a NYC New York Colors IndividualEyes Custom Compact. The shades I got were Dark Shadows, and as you can see, it's a black, gray, and white palette. I love that it comes with the primer and illuminator in the palette...this will be handy for keeping in my bag. I've never tried this brand, but the prices are super reasonable so I'm excited to see if I like it!

This is a Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit. These are super dramatic and thick! I love that they come with the glue and an application tool. I haven't mastered applying lashes yet so I am happy to get these to try. These will be great for a fun Halloween look.

This is a White Barn mini candle from Bath & Body Works! I absolutely love these candles, I think they are the best ones out there for the price. This scent is Nutmeg and Spice and it smells ridiculously good and cozy. Also included is a coupon code for $10 full sized three wick candles, which is about half price. Awesome. I can share this code with you, as well. If you enter the coupon code F126566 while making an online purchase between now and 10/28, you can get up to 5 candles at the discount price.

This is EBOOST drink mix. It's full of natural ingredients and promises to boost your mood, energy, and immunity. Sounds good, I will try it today!

These are Goody Simple Styles spin pins. They are meant to make a simple updo easy. They also come with directions for three different styles to try. I LOVE THESE. I wore them yesterday and they are awesome and held my bun in place. Once you get the hang of using them, they're truly awesome. I had never even heard of these before but I'll be buying them.

This is Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Cream. This is full of grape seed and jasmine and promises to encourage natural curls and waves while getting rid of frizz and flyaways. My hair is more wavy than curly but I am excited to see what this does for me. 

This is an either/or product...some boxes got Frizz Control cream by the same brand.

And finally, I was lucky enough to get a couple of bonus products. In some boxes, Influenster includes products that are offered only to some recipients, based on score or demographics. This month, there were two such possibilities, and I was lucky enough to get one of them (it's actually a set of two products.)

This is the Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion and Night Cream by Boots No. 7. The cleansing lotion is a waterless cleanser that dissolves makeup and leaves the skin clean without needing rinsing or a toner. The night cream is a hydrating moisturizer. I'm always on the lookout for a new cleanser and moisturizer, so these are a very welcome addition to my box!

Some other ladies got a Vitabath Fragrance mist instead of this bonus.

All in all, I am pretty blown away by this VoxBox. I will use and enjoy every single item in it! 

Have you joined Influenster yet?

Vapour Organic Beauty - review

I was recently given the opportunity to try out three products by Vapour Organic Beauty.  I was super ecstatic - I am not only a makeup fanatic, but I also adore anything natural and/or organic. While I haven't switched to completely natural and organic products, I do think it's important to pay close attention to what chemicals we're putting on our skin every day. Finding a brand that combines innovative and luxurious products with healthy ingredients is like finding a goldmine!

Vapour is a company that combines luxury products with pure, natural ingredients. They feature waterless formulations and light reflecting technology. The ingredients they use are 100% natural, 70% certified organic, and 30% vitamins and minerals. They are free of nasty chemicals, parabens, and animal cruelty!

They were kind enough to send me three full sized products to try, and now that I've been using them for a couple of weeks, I am ready to share my thoughts on them!

The three products I received are, from the bottom: Stratus Instant Skin perfecter, Trick Stick professional illuminator, and Mesmerize eyeliner with smokey eye tool.

The stratus instant skin perfector is a very interesting product. They call it their most revolutionary product, and also the original organic BB cream! It is definitely different than any product I've ever used before.

It is a 3-in-1 moisturizer, primer, and no-color foundation. It's designed to give flawless skin without color coverage! It brightens the complexion, evens the skin tone, and has anti aging effects. 

It comes in 3 shades, but all are basically colorless and just contain different tones suitable for certain skintones. I got 902, which is the lightest. It's best for light to medium skin with pink undertones.

This product has impressed me! It glides on the skin and makes it feel instantly soft and smooth. It leaves a dewy finish. While there is no coverage, the slight luminous effect (without being actually glittery) makes my skin look more even and radiant. This is wonderful for a day when you want your skin to look its best without coverage, and it also goes well under foundation! It was made to either wear alone or pair with their atmosphere foundation, which I am very interested in trying next! 

The trick stick professional illuminator is just what it sounds like - an illuminator! It's a great little highlighting stick that is available in four subtle colors. I got star, which is a platinum. This highlighter goes on nice and subtly, and is truly foolproof. I love it on my browbone and cheeks, as well as the inner corners of my eyes. I normally use a powder highlight, and I have found that I prefer this! It goes on much more subtly and is easy to build without overdoing the glow!

And finally, the mesmerize eyeliner with smoky eye tool. This is a nice, creamy black liner that goes on smooth and precise. I love the included blending tool - it works perfectly to smoke out the line or even just soften it! The liner is soft enough to go on without pulling, which I appreciate. I've been using it daily since I received it! A black liner is a pretty simple thing, but sometimes it's hard to find a good one.

Here are all three items on the back of my hand. The liner is on the left, the trick stick is in the middle, and the stratus is on the right. 

This was my first experience with Vapour Organic Beauty, and I have to say I am very impressed with the items I received! I can't wait to try out more products. If these look good to you, you can learn more about and purchase their products on their website.

Disclaimer: I was given products free of charge to review. I was not required to post a review, nor was I compensated for doing so. All opinions are my own.

Influenster - Bride-to-Be VoxBox

I've posted before about Influenster. Basically, they are a company that sends out free "VoxBoxes" to members. They do several different VoxBox programs a year, each one targeted at a different group or demographic. There have been seasonal beauty boxes, Latina beauty boxes, Natural boxes, Valentine's day boxes, Mom boxes, and more. This one is meant for future brides! It offers products to make you look and feel your best on your big day! Here's what was in it!

These are three full sized products by Schwarzkopf Professional! They include shampoo, conditioner, and split end sealer!

I  have been using these for about a week now and I really like these products!

The shampoo is nice and foamy. It doesn't have much of a scent, just that clean soapy smell. It rinses clean and leaves my hair soft and shiny.

The conditioner has a thin consistency and is very easy to distribute through the hair. It leaves my hair so soft and smooth and easy to manage!

The sealed ends product is wonderful and leaves my ends soft and silky.

I will be interested in trying more products by this brand in the future! 

This is Rescue Gum by Bach...it is a homeopathic stress reliever! The flavor is nice - orangey with just a bit of a medicinal taste to it. I have found that it does seem to help me relax a bit when I'm feeling stressed!

It's a cool concept, and I love anything homeopathic and natural. A nice way to relieve some pre wedding jitters!

This is a natural sleep aid! Similar to a bottle of Vitamin Water, it contains melatonin and natural ingredients to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. I tried it and I did sleep very soundly. I woke up feeling refreshed and not at all groggy. Pretty impressive.

And finally, these pretty lashes by Kiss! I have never been able to apply false lashes before...I'm just not coordinated enough. But these have these awesome strings attached to them to make application a breeze! I'm pretty sure even I will be able to handle these! So excited to try them out!

There was also an invitation card to IvyDate, which is a dating site for singles! I already passed that along to a friend. 

This is a box full of great products...and did I mention that it's FREE? I can't wait to try the lashes, and I will continue to use the gum and hair products. This box will definitely help you look and feel your best on your big day.

As always, I recommend Influenster to absolutely everyone! If you're interested in an invitation, either leave me your email here or send it to me via the email button on the side of my blog!

Ipsy - October

After last month's great Ipsy bag, I was really excited to see what they would come up with this month! I'm really interested to see how the new more customized bags will work out.

So, I was really excited to find mine in the mail this morning! What did I get?

This month's theme is "Hello Bombshell" and it's full of products to help us have a "bombshell moment". This month's bag contains two full sized products, and four makeup items!

The first thing I am excited about this month is the bag itself! How cute is the chevron pattern and the black, white, and red color combo? On top of that, it is very good quality. It's a durable material, and is also lined in the red. This will be going into my purse immediately! My favorite bag to date. Now, onto the products themselves.

First, we got a deluxe sample of Couture Colour Pequi oil treatment. This treatment promises to make hair stronger, shinier, and smoother after even one use. This is a .5 oz sample, and is a very generous size that should last me a while. I love hair oils...I'm currently trying to pamper my hair as I slowly grow out the haircolor I've been using for years, so anything to help it stay happy and healthy is a welcome addition to my routine. Super excited to try this out!

We also got a deluxe sample size of What's Your Type mascara by theBalm. I received Body Builder,  This is what it sounds like - it promises to add body to your lashes, as well as definition and length. It is free of parabens and also promises to condition. I am a mascara junkie, and I LOVE theBalm, so I am really excited about this one!

Also included was a full sized Be A Bombshell liquid eyeliner in Onyx! This is a chubby marker-type liner that is smudge proof and easy to use. I am always happy to receive a liquid liner, and this one looks nice. Will be great for creating a cat eye look!

The last two products are color makeup products, and they sent out different colors to subscribers. They say that they will be using our preferences and skin tone/coloring to be choosing our products. I was excited to see how they did! My profile states that I am very fair with green eyes and naturally blonde hair (currently dyed brown, but growing out). I'm happy to say that I did receive shades that will work well for me!

The first is a tiny eyeshadow quad by Coastal Scents. They sent out 8 different quads with different colors, ranging from brights to neutrals. Each one has one matte and three satin/shimmers.

I received the number 7 quad, which was my first choice! It contains the following colors: (clockwise from the top left): Antique Lilac, Wisteria, Lemon Chiffon, and Raspberry Tart.

These are great colors for my green eyes. This is my first experience with Coastal Scents, and the shadows seem really nice for the price! They are creamy and pigmented and I can't wait to wear them out. I will definitely be buying more shades or possibly one of the large palettes! Very impressed with the quality for the price.

And finally, a full sized Lip Bomb by Mirenesse.  They sent out three different shades of this one...I got the color Mirror Me, which is a very vibrant darker pink. This looks like another lip gloss, but it actually isn't. It's a Glossy Lacquer Stain. This is crazy pigmented...more so than any gloss OR lipstick I have ever tried! One quick sweep and it is vibrant and fully opaque. It is very smooth and nonsticky and the formula is truly amazing.

This is a quick swipe on my skin, it stayed until I removed it with soap and water!

And finally, one quick very thin coat on the lips! It is glossy but not too glossy and super, super pigmented. I put it on and it has lasted for two hours, so far. The above photo is after about 45 minutes of wear, and that includes eating a cookie and drinking!  Very impressive, as lip colors never last on me.

All in all, I think this is a pretty amazing bag. Four makeup products including two color products, and the two sample sizes are truly deluxe. Awesome! This bag has a retail value in the $70 range and every single item will be used. Happy!

What do you think about Ipsy/myGlam's changes?

Disclaimer: I bought this bag with my own money. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated.

The Look Bag - October

I used to subscribe to The Look Bag. They had many issues, but nonetheless, I always liked the bags that I received. Then, a few months ago, they stopped their subscription service. They soon announced that they would start up the service again, with some changes.

After revamping the program, they relaunched this month.  So far, the changes I've noticed are decent. The price has increased from $10 to $12.95. Along with the price increase, they now promise at least two full sized products per bag! They also promise higher quality products, better shipping, and a charitable donation for each bag sold. Out of curiosity, I resubscribed. I just wanted to see what they would come up with!

I received their first bag since their relaunch yesterday. Here's what I got!

They still come in these little organza bags. I love these - I keep them to store hair ties, bobby pins, and packet samples. This was in a padded envelope and was also wrapped in bubble wrap, so everything was safe and secure.

The cute card explains some of the changes at The Look Bag and talks a little about fall products. On the back is a list of this month's products.

The first thing I pulled out is the only thing in the bag that is not full sized this month! It is an either/or product - you either received this body wash sample, or a sample of their Bare Foot scrub. I actually own the full size of the scrub, so I was happy to get this body wash. I tried it out today and I really liked it! It smells great - cucumber, melon, and ginseng. It lathers well and left my skin nice and smooth. 

This lip balm by York is nice and also appears to be full size. It has a light peppermint and chocolate scent and a slight flavor...it's not overwhelming at all! It feels nice on the lips, and I love that it does not contain petroleum. I love the square shape...makes it easy to find in a bag!

This is a full sized polish from POP Beauty! It promises not to stain the nails, and contains nylon to strengthen and lessen chipping. This is a black crackle polish! I tried it out over an orange polish yesterday and it was so cute for Halloween!

This is the Lip and Line Primer by Pixi. It's a two in one product! One side is a nude lip primer that neutralizes lips for product application, and the other side is a clear lip liner that prevents feathering and bleeding. I love pixi products, and I'm excited to try this one!

And finally, a full sized stila eyeshadow! The color is Sajama, which is a matte dark bluish gray. It's part of the mineral matte line, which is no longer available. The color is so pretty, and it works well wet as a liner or dry for contouring. Great for fall.

All in all, I am really happy with this month's bag! Four full sized items, three of which are makeup - that's pretty impressive! It seems that The Look Bag has really improved their service and offerings. I can't wait to see what future months bring!

Disclaimer: I bought this product with my own money. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

Share the Love Blog Hop!

Join the Share the Love blog hop hosted by Serenity You! :)

Rules:

1. Please follow your host @ number 1 and also the blog before you and any others that you like.

2. Please leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you are a new follower and found them on 'Share the Love Blog Hop'

3. Link up your blog's Home page

4. Copy and paste the code at the bottom into a new post on your blog.

5. Have fun!!

Sample Society - October

I was really excited to wake up to my October Sample Society box yesterday...especially since it seems like I just got last month's!

I really love fall and winter products, so I was excited to see what this month would bring from SS.  I have to say that after last month's awesome box, this one is a little lackluster...but it is certainly not a bad box, by any means! Here's what we got!

The shipping was super fast this month. Noticed that the box was very light, though...which generally means small sample sizes!

This is a little bonus sample. It's a lavender towelette by Herban Essentials. These are made with essential oils. They're antibacterial and antiseptic and have multiple uses. I will likely use it as a hand cleanser. Nothing exciting, but it'll be nice to have in my bag.

This is pronto wet  instant volumizing shampoo by Oscar Blandi. I've always wanted to try OB products, and this is a great size, but I am always a bit disappointed when subs send shampoo without the coordinating conditioner. That said, it smells nice (like lemon verbena) and I'll definitely try it out.

This is a teeny tiny tube of Phormula 3-9 balm by Erno Laszlo. This balm is meant to treat and smooth scars, burns, and dry skin. It is a very small tube but it is full, and a little bit goes a long way. This is a really, really pricey cream and brand, way outside of my price range, so it's great to be able to try it out!

This is the one thing in the box I will not use. I dislike self tanners and do not have any use for them, ever. I'm a very fair cool toned person who is not able to tan, nor do I have any desire to tan. That said, Jane Iredale is a great brand so it's definitely a nice high end sample...it's just a useless one for me.

And this is the most exciting product for me - Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment by Kate Somerville. I love scrubs, and this one is awesome. It helps fight acne, blackheads, dull skin, and leaves skin soft and smooth. I've used it once and loved it, and I have enough left for another use. 

And finally, a deluxe perfume sample by Aromachology. The scent is Clean & Fresh, and it is just what it sounds like. To me, it just smells like clean laundry. Honestly, it's not a scent I would wear on my body, but it will be great as a little room spray! It's definitely very strong and a little would go a long way.

In all, this is an okay box. While it's not very exciting for me, Sample Society does continue to deliver truly high end brands monthly, and it is always a great value. 

What are you looking forward to trying out this week?

Disclaimer: I bought this product with my own money. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.