Influenster Jingle VoxBox

January 27, 2016January 27, 2016 Coco

The last time I received an Influenster VoxBox was in March of 2014. Life got busy, and I did not have a lot of time to put into this blog at the time, so my participation waned. I was so happy when I received an email that I had been selected for the Jingle VoxBox. Hopefully this can be the beginning of many more VoxBox reviews this year.

When the Jingle VoxBox arrived, I thought it was sooo tiny! But it has just as many goodies inside as the ones in the past did. Here’s what was included:

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream sample (1oz) – $8.99-15.99 full size

Biscoff Cookies (3 two packs, 25g per pack) – $2.99 per 250g

Ore-Ida Tater Tots product FREE coupon ($4)

Hallmark itty bittys (Rapunzel) – start at $6.95

NYC City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner (932 Dark Brown) – $3.99

KISS True Volume Lashes “Natural Plump” – $3.99

KISS Strip Lash Adhesive (Black) – $3.99

Pure Ice Nail Polish (1019 Deja Vu) – $1.97 only at Walmart

As always, here are my first impressions of each item :

I was surprised that the cream is unscented, which is nice because it can be used without distracting from any perfumes (which I wear daily). It feels very moisturizing and should be good for these winter months.	~~I can’t recall if I have ever tried these before, but I am excited to try them!~~ I had them on a plane! I remembered! They’re really good!! I love that they included 3 packs, because it will give me a chance to really try them again.
I expected more coupons that I would never use, but this one is awesome because it pays for the entire item! I can’t wait to try these Tater Tots!!	ADORABLE! Is there more to say? These are so cute, I am resisting collecting them all!
I’m not a huge eyeliner fan, so I am not sure if this will get much use for me personally. It looks pretty nice and goes on smooth.	I have only worn false eyelashes… once! It was for my cousin’s wedding and they were gorgeous but hurt horribly when it was time for removal. I have never had the pull to wear falsies, but since then I have wanted to re-create the look.
I am so happy that this was included with the eyelashes because otherwise I wouldn’t have known what to do. This tube will last me FOREVER.	Pretty sparkly blue-purple color, however I am not sure I am their target market – I never shop at Walmart.

Full posts to come soon!

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.

Zoya Mystery Trio Box 2015 Review

June 20, 2015October 29, 2015 Coco

The Mystery Trio Box features 3 brand new, never before released or produced colors in adorable mini 0.25oz sizes. We promise, you’ve NEVER seen these from ZOYA… EVER! Get the Mystery Trio Box for just $15 PLUS free US shipping*. That’s not all… we’re including a special gift, because you deserve a little something extra. These three mystery colors are ones we thought everyone would love and they look great on all skin tones!

Not sure I would pick these colors for myself, but the box is adorable and a great value!

Taylor’s Gift Organ Donation Foundation – OPI Taylor Blue Nail Polish

April 15, 2015April 25, 2015 Coco

In March 2010, thirteen-year-old Taylor Storch’s life was tragically cut short by a skiing accident. With only a few minutes to consider their options, her grieving family made the life-changing decision to donate her organs.

I heard about Taylor’s story on the radio one morning and was touched by her parent’s words. I immediately checked out their website to learn more about their cause.

In April 2013, during National Donate Life Month, Taylor’s Gift Foundation created a clever way for organ donation to be an easy part of any conversation. With the help of OPI’s exclusive “Taylor Blue” nail lacquer, the “Paint it Forward” campaign was born, and quickly proved to be as effective as it was simple.

Supporters were encouraged to paint their nails Taylor Blue and share their photos through social media using #TaylorBlue. This simple show of support ended up exposing millions of people to the idea of becoming an organ donor.

Once the Taylor Blue nail polish was avaliable in their Online Store, I immediately purchased a bottle.

The color is absolutely beautiful and it is easily one of my favorite colors now. I received many compliments when wearing the polish and loved the opportunity to share a little about Taylor’s Gift and encouraging others to visit the website, as well.

I also made sure I was signed up as an Organ donor! If you are interested in becoming an Organ Donar, check out their website: http://taylorsgift.org/register/

Rachel Zoe’s Spring 2015 Box Of Style Review

April 10, 2015February 2, 2022 Coco

Introducing Box Of Style. Over $300 worth of glamorous finds, curated by Rachel Zoe and delivered to you for only $100.

One of the most sought over boxes so far this year, Rachel Zoe’s Box of Style was sold out within a few hours of launching and I was one of the lucky ones to get one!

Honestly, when I first saw the full spoilers, I didn’t think I would be a fan, but after I had a chance to play with the items, I am so happy that I subscribed! Here’s what was in the box:

Miansai modern screw cuff – Value $200
Tom’s Traveler Sunglasses – Value $68
tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara – Value $20
Zoya Custom Nail Trio – Haley, Zoe, and Chantal– Value $30
Stylin’ Tape – Value $10

You can check out Rachel’s explanation for why she chose each item below:

When I first signed up for the box, I really didn’t like the bracelet which was the “hero” item of the box. I just liked that it was high value and I figured at the very least, it would be resellable. Boy was I wrong! I absolutely love it and I am sure I will be wearing it daily for a long time to come. It fits me perfectly and I ended up loving the style. I don’t usually wear gold jewelry, but I love it for this piece and I ended up pairing it alongside my Pandora bracelet:

Since the bracelet was a huge hit for me, the other items ended up being bonus. I have always wanted to try out the tarte mascara, and I was pleased to get it as a full-size. I already love Zoya nail polish and I love the colors that Rachel Zoe picked. I tried out the tan color first and it is growing on me. I can’t wait to try out the other two! The sunglasses are really beautiful and well made. I honestly like them more than any other pair I own, so when spring cleaning comes aroung, they may be my only pair. Lastly, the styling tape is a nice touch but isn’t something I will use.

Overall, I LOVED this box. It was beautifully curated and worth the cost. I can’t wait to see what Rachel has in store for the Summer box!

View in Instagram ⇒

Rachel Zoe’s Box of Style Spring Subscription Spoilers

March 22, 2015March 22, 2015 Coco

I have recently become more ~~interested in~~ ADDICTED to the subscription box world… in fact I have already signed up to try over five new ones this month. I am most excited to try out the Rachel Zoe’s Box of Style and luckily I was able to secure my subscription!

INTRODUCING BOX OF STYLE. OVER $300 WORTH OF GLAMOROUS FINDS, CURATED BY RACHEL ZOE AND DELIVERED TO YOU FOR ONLY $100.

This is a seasonal box, so there are only four boxes each year. They have two packages: Seasonal $100 (4X a year) or Annualy $350, plus tax.

Currently, the box is completely SOLD OUT! In fact, it sold out in just HOURS of being available to purchase. You can join the waiting list to get the summer Box of Style.

So far they have released two spoilers for the spring Box of Style:

Miansai modern screw cuff (valued at $200)
An exclusive trio from Zoya (consists of a gorgeous nude, vibrant poppy red and stunning opal)

The cuff isn’t exactly my taste per se, but I love that it has a high value. It is pictured in gold but it comes in gold, rose gold, and silver. I would love there to be different varieties in the boxes since I love silver but the silver one is $365 so it is doubtful.

I have been a huge fan of Zoya nail polishes for years, but haven’t gotten a new one from them in quite awhile so I am extremely pleased to receive a brand I already love.

Check out the official video spoiler featuring Rachel Zoe explaining why she selected these three polishes below:

I am hoping that there will be more luxe items like the cuff but I do like the variety so far from spoilers.

Sephora Favorites Superstars Set

December 15, 2014December 15, 2014 Coco

A $15 off coupon for Sephora arrived in the mail the other day and I knew immediately that I would be making a purchase from Sephora very soon. After some browsing on the site, I decided on the Superstars value set for $75 (worth $225)… which after the coupon, was only $60!!! Not to mention, lots of sample goodies as usual!

This set features bestselling, head-to-toe beauty essentials. With an array of full-size products, from nail polish to styling spray, they’re perfect for every beauty lover. Gift them out to your best friends or indulge yourself with this special holiday treat.

My main reason for trying this set is because I already love Nars Orgasm blush and thought it would be fun to try a few new products. And I have to say… I am way more pleased than I thought I would be! For one, I am actually using the eye liner! And I ALWAYS hated eye liner and Stila. I think this set is definitely a winner and a great gift as well.

I like just about every product in this set and I cannot wait to use them everyday.

This set contains:
– 0.003 oz Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown
– 0.25 oz Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional
– 0.10 oz Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara In Jet Black
– 1.7 oz Bumble And Bumble Surf Spray
– 0.34 oz Chloè by Chloè Rollerball
– 0.4 oz Formula X Nail Color in Ignite
– 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosè Tinted Lip Treatment
– 0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
– 0.16 oz Nars Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm
– 1 oz Smashbox Cosmetics Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 35 in Light
– 0.016 oz Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner In Intense Black
– 0.05 oz Urban Decay Eye shadow in Sin

The eye liner surprised me the most. If I keep up with wearing eye liner, I will definitely be purchasing it again. The Argan Oil smells wonderful. And of course, the Nars blush is always a winner.

The jury is still out on the Smashbox BB Cream (I haven’t been a huge fan of Smashbox in the past). And the Benefit POREfessional hasn’t lived up to my expectations, but I will have to use it a few more times to really know for sure.

Regardless, I am very impressed and excited to have this set!

Sally Hansen Triple Shine #210 Reef-Raf and My “Shining Moment”

January 6, 2014January 6, 2014 Coco

Water to workout, day in and day out, nothing will dull these nails. The gloss is protected with the Ultimate Shield Complex, exclusive to Sally Hansen, designed to help polish withstand the wear and tear of everyday living for non-stop shine. Outshine ’em all with our 29 shades!

Thanks to Influenster, I was able to receive a Sally Hansen Triple Shine nail polish in Reef-Raf #210 in my Violot VoxBox.

Influenster and Sally Hansen challened us to post about our “Shining Moment” so this isn’t actually a review, and more of a personal piece.

Create a post about a shining moment you had while wearing Sally Hansen’s Triple Shine™ nail color. Your “shining moment” can be as small as feeling great with your look, or as big as conquering a fear. You tell us what makes you shine!

My Shining Moment wearing Reef-Raf was definitely catching a glimpse of it throughout the day. Simple and sweet, I suppose. Whenever I wear something beautiful, I cannot help but sneak peaks at it and admire the quality. And there is nothing like a bright pink polish to brighten your mood. They say the way you dress can effect how you act and feel, well I definitely think the #tripleshine polishes make you act and feel “shinier.”

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color in “Graphite Gravity”

August 21, 2012October 12, 2013 Coco

3-D Nail Art in Seconds! Revolutionary formula infused with metallic particles that move when exposed to the specially designed magnet to create an extraordinary effect.

Included in my Influenster Summer Beauty Voxbox was the new Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color in “Graphite Gravity”. The Magnetic Nail Color line currently comes in a total of 8 beautiful colors.

I have yet to try any of the cool, fancy nail polishes that have been cropping up in stores lately. I always thought the crackle nail polish effect was neat, but this is definitely a step up! I feel so futuristic wearing this smokey grey color.

I was a little hesitant at first, worried that it would not work right, but it is actually a very simply process; after applying a base coat (or none at all):

STEP 1: Shake Magnetic Nail Color to activate. Remove overcap with magnet and set aside. Apply 1 coat of Magnetic Nail Color to all 10 nails and let dry.

STEP 2: Apply a thick second coat of color to 1 nail and immediately hold the built-in magnet over the nail. Rest the guide just below the cuticle without touching the wet nail polish. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat for all 10 nails and let dry.

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color — “Graphite Gravity”

Once you are done, you will have a beautiful 3D design! I topped mine off with a good top coat to keep the nail polish long lasting.

I am fairly horrible at doing my nails, so a design like this is something I would never be able to accomplish on my own! It is so convenient to have the magnet on the lid of the polish, and removable, too. The polish is very easy to use and the whole concept it very convenient. It really is a one of a kind look, and incredibly cool! I can’t wait to buy more colors!!

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color is available at many chain drug stores, food stores and mass merchandisers nationally. Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 per bottle.

Courtney’s Rating: A

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.

Kiss Nail Dress in “Sexy”

March 16, 2012September 27, 2013 Coco

Introducing Kiss Nail Dress, ultimate nail fashion for tips and toes! Just peel, apply, and shape for a manicure that lasts up to 10 days. On in minutes, off in seconds without remover. Nail Dress is available in 18 different styles!

Included in my Influenster Love Voxbox was a package of Kiss Nail Dress “Fashion That Sticks” nail stickers in the style “Sexy”.

I have used nail stickers before, but those were tiny stickers as a fun addition to nail polish. So when I saw these FULL nail stickers, I was pretty hesitant. I figured they would look fake and totally not at all what I’d like or wear. BUT I was completely wrong!
The process was very meticulous and often frustrating. The difficult part was filing off the excess from the nail. I also found it difficult fitting the sticker onto the nail perfectly, there are gaps of nail showing where the nail dress didn’t cover properly on most of my nails. After a few tries, it gets easier, but still painstaking. When done, they are not perfect, but actually pretty cute. I am, ultimately, VERY happy with the results. And can’t stop looking at the pretty, flirty cheetah design. I can’t help but feel slightly more confident and wild with them on!

Here’s a quick video on how to apply imPRESS Press-on Manicure:

There’s also a video for applying on toes and cutting your own designs. I definitely reccommend if you have any questions to check out the FAQ on their website.

A few tips when applying the nail dress, do the thumbs LAST. It makes applying all of the others easier. It was easier applying the toes, but I didn’t particulary like the look of it applied to all of the toes. It might be my fault, because I didn’t follow their instruction to use the square side at the cuticle, so they didn’t entirely fit properly. But personally, I would prefer just doing my hand nails next time, and maybe only the big toe and matching the other toes with a similar color nail polish. (I’m not even going to bother with a foot picture, because I messed them up so bad, it wouldn’t do the product justice!)

The unedited picture, without any filters, to show the true color of “Sexy”

I am already into my seventh day wearing them (with daily showers/baths and my normal routine), and they still look good and none have fallen off! Although, by now they look a LITTLE grungy and chipped on a few of the tips. I will update how long they actually last. UPDATE They lasted well over a week until I decided to take them off. They last a little longer if you trim your nails after they’ve grown out a bit.

Overall, I really like Kiss’ Nail Dress stickers. In fact, I kinda love them. They don’t fall off like fake nails, and they look just as good as polish… and make designs I could NEVER do myself! I wore them out over the weekend to a few parties, and they were a big hit! I even met a girl who was wearing Kiss Nail Dress in the zebra design “Garter” (sadly, she didn’t get them from Influenster). I will, without a doubt, buy these again!

Nail Dress’ is available in all major drug chains and mass retailers like WalMart, CVS and Walgreens for about $6.99 a package.

Courtney’s Rating: A

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure “Tweetheart”

December 17, 2011September 18, 2013 Coco

Introducing imPress Press-On Manicure, the revolutionary way to apply polish! Featuring advanced nail technology, you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds – simply peel off, press on, and you’re done. With imPress, your nails will always be your best accessory.

Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure

Included in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox was Broadway Nails new imPress Press-on Manicure. They currently come in 36 different colors and patterns, including trendy brights, classic darks and animal prints, but for this review I received #240 Tweetheart, a deep red color.

First Impression:

The imPRESS press-on manicure comes inside of a cute look-a-like nail polish bottle, that also acts as storage for your extra nails. Inside are 24 nails in 12 different sizes. As the “Press-on” name makes aware, these false nails do not need any glue to apply and are supposed to last for up to a week! I’ve never been a fan of gluing on fake nails be they from a drug store or salon, but the idea of a easy to remove press-on nail is very appealing to me. When I had my nails done at a salon, I absolutely loved having perfect long nails, because my real nails become to brittle as they grow out. But after a month, my nails grew out and the salon nails didn’t look so perfect anymore. I didn’t want to pay the steep salon prices again, and removed them myself, which was a pretty brutal process. The imPRESS Press-on Manicure sounds like a great alternative for those who want beautiful nails without the price or pain.

Before we get started, here’s a quick video on how to apply imPRESS Press-on Manicure:

Application:

It took me about 10 minutes total applying the nails, most of that time was spent picking out the nail sizes. I apparently have very large thumbnails and very small pinky nails, because there were only one set for each of those nails, so here’s hoping neither the thumbs nor the pinkies fall off first, because I wont be able to replace them! It was very simple pressing the nails on, the only difficult part was removing the tab, which took a lot of pressure. I recommend starting with the pinkys and leaving both thumbs off until last, because you’ll need them to remove the tabs on the other hand. I put on every nail flawless, so even a nail newbie like myself can put these nails on! They look fabulous, and are at the perfect length, not too long which is very classy, unlike a lot of fake nails.

The unedited picture, without any filters, to show the true color of “Tweetheart”

I applied the nails on Monday night, and didn’t have any issues until Thursday morning when the nail on the pointer finger of my left hand came off! I noticed it was already getting loose because my hair was getting caught under the back of the nail. I applied one of the extra nails (I decided to carry the little bottle around in my purse just in case), but that one also came off later in the day, and again on Saturday. My only guess is that I didn’t properly cleanse it after the first one fell off. I have had no issues with the other nails, and other than that one finger, the nails have stayed on for about 5 days and they still look very nice. I can tell they’re getting to their breaking point, because my right thumb nail feels like it’s ready to go! If the nails make it through the night, I’m probably going to remove them sometime tomorrow night.

5 days into wearing imPRESS Press-on Manicure

One negative is that some tasks, ex. trying to open anything slightly difficult, are nearly impossible, because either the nail isn’t strong enough or the glue isn’t strong enough to hold the nail. Which isn’t necessarily a big deal, but you might have to ask other for help. Also, after a few days of use, the tops of the nails begin to look grungy, and require a light scrub down of rubbing alcohol.

Update: I decided to take them off on the 6th day after the thumb nail finally fell off. The rest were still fully attached, and actually slightly hard to get off, so I suspect they would have stayed on a few more days. Use a little nail polish remover to help get them off, otherwise it will hurt a little if they’re not somewhat loose.

Bottom Line:

As far as glue-on/press-on nails go, these are by far the easiest and best on the market that I know of. They’re kind of pricey considering they only last a week tops, so that could be the determining factor for how often I actually wear them. They’re beautiful when on, and the addiction to having gorgeous nails will be hard to resist, but even for their cheapest at $5.99, it’s not totally worth it. The quality is there for an A rating, but the price drags the product down to a B.

imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!

Courtney’s Rating: B

Disclaimer: I received these products to test for free through the Influenster VoxBox program.