The Good, the Bad, and the Vital!

For my third Vox Box of the year, Influenster sent me the Vita Vox Box. This box was full of fun things that didn't necessarily connect in one way or another, but were all vital to everyday life, which I've realised after testing them for this semi-short period. If you've been reading my blog up until now you may have already seen a few things, so this will just round up my final points and thoughts on the products. So what did they send me and how did I like everything?

• Playtex Sport tampons
• Softlips lipbalm cube (missing from my package)
• First Degree burn cream tube
• Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Ceremide Capulet Serum
• Pure Leaf tea, unsweetened
• Bikini Ready Lifestyle gummy vitamin sample

A lot of what was included quickly became my favourite things, which may have been the work of the universe. "I have never even burned myself enough to use this," I said when I opened the box and discovered the burn cream, which quickly became my biggest need over the two months, Tampons, always good. The lipbalm cube had also come in my Spring Vox Box, so I was able to keep loving that and sharing it. Pure Leaf, well I've wasted all my money on that. Elizabeth Arden might not be for sensitive faces, so I've had my mum using it.

One thought I have is what is the proper rating for this box? 0/10 since Influenster didn't give me the full bottle of Bikini Ready haha. Totally KIDDING, of course! I rate each product separately, but I do give this box an overall A rating.

Playtex Sport: 5/5 VITAL
One of my previous entries was dedicated to Playtex Sport and my thoughts on the tampons. I recall, "For getting me to go from hating tampons to testing and loving them, 5/5. Definitely worth at least trying. I don't think there are any cons to this except maybe that they are scented and this can be irritating to the body - and I haven't seen any unscented ones. Other than that, everything is swell."

Softlips lipbalm cube: 4/5 VITAL
Though I'm not sure if I have ever given a proper rating for this product, I have found other lipbalms that I don't have to apply so frequently. We won't get into that now. However, I do love this product. "Though not conventionally shaped, it is very compact which I found convenient. Since I have skin that tends  to get oily, choosing a product can become problematic. I'd definitely recommend this after having used it."

First Degree burn cream: 5/5 VITAL
Oh where do I start? As I said before, I didn't think I would need this product. Within the first five days of having it around I did. Though not a burn, the cream really helped to heal a badly busted nail. Out of the three active ingredients, two of them can be beneficial for most types of cuts, scrapes, etc. I have since used this on food burns, scratches, open bug-bites, and even small open areas from hitting my toes on things. Perfection.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Ceremide Caplet Serum: 3/5 GOOD
If you've been reading, you have probably already seen an entry dedicated to this product. I have had my ups and downs with it, but it isn't a bad product. And my mum likes it. To get Flawless Future to a 5/5 I would probably have to test other products in the line as this particular one is not necessary to me personally at this time. If you find yourself stressed with wrinkles starting to show, however, I do recommend this!

Pure Leaf tea: 5/5 VITAL
I don't know what it is about this tea, but I feel like it is definitely better than the others. The price, not so much. But you do get what you pay for. After having a sip of the one sent to me, I did add a pinch or two of sugar as unsweetened really isn't my... cup of tea. (Pun unintended, really.) Anyways, I tried out both the unsweetened and sweetened on multiple occasions and decided I loved it. If you have the $2 per bottle to spend, do it! If not, you can always buy a package of Lipton tea bags and make your own at home~

Bikini Ready Lifestyle gummies: 5/5 VITAL
Yet another product I have dedicated a whole post to. "Out of all the supplements I have tried, I think this might be my favourite. I wasn't drained after the supplements wore off, and I didn't feel shaky while still at full energy." The only setback is that a bottle is about $15 plus shipping & handling + tax if a local store doesn't carry the line depending on the state, which is something I can't do. But, this doesn't mean this wasn't an ace product. I may have to get a bottle for when I go out of state, so I'm at full energy and in good spirits the whole time.

This is it~ This box of products sent by Influenster for testing is definitely VITAL! Be sure to tune in for a guest post, reviews of gifts Influenster supporting companies have sent me, and more~

How do I #PlayOn? Let me tell you...

Finally, I'm back! Blogging may not have been the best choice for me, due to my fluctuating stress level, but I truly do enjoy it. The following may not be a review all of you care for (especially you males, I know certain biological female things make you uncomfortable.) Skip on if you don’t have a period, read if you do! 

As part of the current Vox Box - Vitality - Influenster sent me a box of Playtex Sport tampons. Although I’ve had my period for almost 10 years now, I’ve never found tampons to be comfortable. Occasionally recently I found myself using Kotex brand regular security tampons but still wasn’t quite satisfied. Receiving this as a product made be really happy because I knew they would be great (as always with Influenster) - and they were.

Not only has this been a good experience in the period department because of the ease of application and removal, but I think this might be one of the best products I’ve tested. I would recommend this brand to anyone, and let them know that these are comfortable in every aspect; they can hardly be felt. There are some times when I sit down and find myself in extreme discomfort if I don't slide down in a certain way, but this may just be my own personal problem. 

Because I take birth control to regulate my period, I was able to keep the same box for about three months - most people I know use one box per period. If you have a light period, then these would be perfect. I use them for long walks, when I go out for extended periods (pun wasn't intended), dancing, stretching, yoga, and swimming. So that's really everything I do, honestly. My sister ended up taking some since she didn't remember to ask for the ones she gets and said they were even better than her brand (I forget which, but I know they're a paper applicator; who likes paper applicators? No thanks!) From here on out, this will be the brand I stick to.

I have found that this product can be purchased wherever similar products are sold, and yes they are a little pricier than some of the competing brands but they are completely worth it. 
My rating: 5/5

For getting me to go from hating tampons to testing them & loving them. What a feat, but it went so well. Definitely worth at least trying! There are always coupons for Playtex products, so if you really don't want to spend that extra dollar then keep your eye out. I don't think there are any cons to this except maybe that they are scented and this can be irritating to the body - and I haven't seen any unscented ones. Other than that, everything is swell.

Pictured: iPod touch 5th gen, playing New Beat Fund | Playtex Sport lightly scented | Nike Fitsole for Women | Hum Nutrition, Runway Ready. For links or prices, tweet/IG dm @cosmicdear~

Are you ready to live the #BikiniReadyLifestyle? I wasn't!

Out of all the supplements I have tried, I think Bikini Ready might be my favourite. So what have I tried? There was the green tea supplements which are used primarily for weight loss but also boost energy because of the high amount of protien. I've taken Disney and superhero vitamins for children because they always give a good boost to my immune system and overall energy. Just recently I started taking Runway Ready from Hum Nutrition - which I will be blogging about soon.

But what I love about Bikini Ready is the small amount of caffeine in it. The amount is miniscule in comparison to the green tea supplements I was taking, yet I had a load of energy and my appetite was suppressed without a nagging feeling that I should have been eating. Not over-eating was the best thing in the world, because I tend to do that. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't given the whole bottle - probably the only disappointing thing about the box of products I was sent to test.

Make sure to eat before you take these, as it is extremely dangerous to lose your appetite on an empty stomach. I was so dizzy that even drinking water didn't help and I had to force myself I eat. Luckily it was my first day of job training and I was kept busy enoug not to notice until almost dinner time. But don't take any chances!

What are some things you can do if you don't work? Work out! A balance of eating healthy and activity whilst on these supplements has got to be a killer combo. The results I have both seen and felt are amazing. Personally, I fancy yoga, swimming, or forms of cardio that can be done in the pool or on the grass. 

My rating: 5/5

I loved how I wasn't drained after the supplements wore off, and didn't feel shaky while still at full energy. Definitely a supplement I would love to take consistently and could stay faithful too. When taken correctly I don't think there are any cons. Unfortunately for me there isn't a merchant nearby and I'm not sure how I feel about buying a bottle online for $15 + tax, shipping, and handling. Definitely recommend looking at nearby stores or seeing how tax, shipping, and handling are in your states, though, because if this is a price you can afford or don't mind then it is 100% worth it! 

Product received complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. Photo taken from my personal Twitter account.

Elizabeth Arden #FlawlessFuture powered by ceramide caplet serum REVIEW

As someone who often finds herself stressed out, the Flawless Future ceramide caplet serum by Elizabeth Arden is a dream. This anti-stress skincare product is made to help aid in the slowing of early aging. For those of you that don't know - signs of aging may be sped up due to stress. To ensure that this is to the point, you can visit the Elizabeth Arden website for your country to get more information on the product, or email me!

The first time I used the product, my face was just clearing up from a break-out and ended up having some sort of reaction. Mortified is the only way to describe how I felt about my face breaking out all over, over night. "Mum, I might have to give this to you, I don't think my face agrees with it," and away the serum went. That point had me ready to give one of those one-out-of-ten-because-zero-isn't-allowed type of reviews because if it made a break out worse, what sort of face would it actually work on?

When I realised perhaps it would work in areas that weren't already irritated, half of the bottle had already been used. But that didn't stop me from further testing it! My whole life my eyes have been a tad sunken in, and when I have dark circles they show terribly. You can see what I mean below.

Why not use the product under my eyes only? So I dabbed a bit under one, a bit under the other, and rubbed the access under my temples. Immediately I could feel some sort of feeling in my skin, and I was impressed out how soft the patches of skin were. It even seemed as if they had puffed out in a firmer way, which was really nice. Unfortunately, I'm honestly scared to use this after the bad reaction I had the first time. It wasn't an allergic reaction, but the irritation to a few small pimples I felt was ridiculous. Because my face is so sensitive and reacts badly to even organic products at times, I think I will just let my mum keep this one and try out Elizabeth Arden when I am a bit older.

My rating: 3/5
Though I liked this, I wasn't able to use it enough to fully judge the product. There were no visible signs of change in my mum's face though she has used it consistently. I also tend to dislike anti-aging products that aren't made for all faces, and in my opinion, this product was not. Samples or travel sizes are definitely worth trying and if it works for you, then I would be glad that you've found a nice product!

If there is any more you want to know about the product, or if you're interested in purchasing it, you may do so here.

Product received complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. Photos have been taken from my personal Facebook account.

The good, the bad, the lovely

Unlike my last experience with VoxBox, this was perfect. I got accepted at what seemed to be the last minute. The box arrived without warning during finals week which made for such a great surprise when my stepdad pulled the box from behind the driver's seat one day.

What was sent in the Spring Fling vox?

• Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons
• Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retroglam mascara
• Kiss Everlasting French nails
• Nivea Body Skin Firming body lotion
• Softlips Cube lipbalm/moisturizer
• Labor Day film hangable car scenter

Photo taken from my facebook.

Each product I was sent this time were things I have thoroughly enjoyed. Except for the Labor Day gift, as I don't have a car and it fell out of the box somewhere in my room. Eventually I shall find it and gift it to someone I know would appreciate it - in true Influenster fashion because isn't sharing great things the point?

Because of a glitch with the spam catcher on Blogger, my blog was accidentally deleted because of the last post in which I used all HTML. Due to that glitch, I ended up posting two reviews on my tumblr. You can click here for "#PlayOn with Playtext Sport" or here for "Kiss #EverlastingFrench Manicure"

When it comes down to being straight to the point, I'd have to say that the Nivea Skin Firming lotion is my favourite product. Each of the products are equally good and all have a drawback or two - but with my blogs I love to show photos. Who wants to see a bunch of selfies in which you can't tell if I've even got mascara or lip balm? No one! 

Photo taken from my facebook.

Have I ever known hydrated skin until now? I'm not quite sure I have. In fact, this lotion did so much more than I expected and I'm excited to be buying more of it. Since this product seems to be quite oily on the hands and face, I definitely wouldn't recommend it for facial use like other lotions and would advise washing the hands after application. Overall, this product is perfect for the summer months and I'm quite happy to say I recommend this!
My personal rating: 4/5 stars

Photo taken from my twitter.

Value for money, 5/5. Quality, 4/5. Effectiveness, 4/5. Definite London look! Unlike other mascara products I have used, the non-waterproof version does not hold up to any form of water - even watering eyes - which I found odd and slightly disappointing. It also seeded to make my eyelashes really dry. Despite these two drawbacks, I found the product to be extremely effective in creating bolder looking lashes, as well as gliding on a little easier than any other brands I have owned. The brush alone is pure perfection, so I would totally recommend a little DIY to keep the brush and use it in the future. If this mascara was a little friendlier for sensitive lashes/eyes, it would definitely be a 5/5. I may buy and review the waterproof version just in case, as it might be the difference for us sensitive faced people.
My personal rating: 4/5

My softlips review can be found here on their facebook page. These products are most likely to be found at any grocery store (Ralph's, Albtersons, etc.) or pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) near you! They can also be found online at places like Walmart or Target.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Self-care date featuring Boots Botanics Iconic Clay Mask #powerofplants

Bonjour! Last I blogged here with any bits in French was introducing my J'Adore VoxBox from Influenster at the start of the month. It's been enough time now that I've decided on my favourite product from the lot, and I think it is obvious which when the title of this blog is read. If you read my last blog about the products you will see that my rating for the Boots Botanics mask was a 10/10. Now I will show you how I use this product. Let's get to it, shall we?

For a lovely self-care day as my recommendation with this product, you will need the following:

• Boots Botanics Iconic Clay Mask
• Warm running water
• Cold running water
• Bathtub
• Book of your choice
• Music of your choice
• Any facial products you use (Though I do suggest the SimpleCare Products Conditioning Oil and a Dove beauty bar)
• Friends if you want them (Start one with space between so you can each use the bath)

Step one
Using warm water to open your pores, wash your face using your hands or a soft facial towel. If you are wearing makeup try to remove as much as possible only using water. I find that this helps lessen irritation of my face.

Step two
Begin by pinning your hair back from your face. Apply your Boots Botanics Iconic Clay Mask to your face surrounding your mouth and eyes. You will want to put this on your nose to help clear pores, as black heads are likely to form there. If you aren't uncomfortable doing so, cover your eyebrows as well. 

Step three

Set your timer or alarm for 10 minutes and crack open the book you chose. If your face begins to burn or feel irritated, you will want to wash it immediately and pay attention to further reactions. If your face has not dried within the 10 minutes and you wish to leave the mask longer, you may do so.

Step four

After the timer goes off or you decide you want to take the mask off, begin to rinse it away using warm water. As your face cooled off previously, the pores closed. You will want to use warm water to re-open them and clean them out. Do so with your hands or a soft facial towel. You may need to dry your face off with a soft towel before repeating the process with some sort of facial towel to remove any staining green colour - I use my hands both times so that I do not irritate my face. As you can see my face appears to be nice and smooth, which it did not before I started. You can also see a stain from my all-natural water-proof makeup that I kept forgetting to take off.

Step five

When your face is good and not green, start running your bath. As the tub fills, use your conditioning oil or moisturizer on your face. If you are using an all-natural conditioning product, leave it whilst you soak. Steam is great for the face. Filling the bath with lavender oil helps for relaxation. If you wish, play some music or continue reading your book. I prefer listening to a full album or at least a 30-minute equivalent while soaking in a bath heavy with epsom salt. Maybe even have a nice cuppa.

Step six

When you are done with your bath, you may like to rinse off standing due to dead skin that flakes off into the water. You might also like to wash your face using warm water and a cleanser now; my recommendation being the Dove beauty bar, as I've noticed it generally left my face nice and soft. (Yes, the bar shown below is in Russian.)

After you've finished your relaxing facial care, you can continue on however you'd like. Mani-pedi, eyelash extensions, reading, writing. Finish your self-care day however you enjoy most.

Products: Boots Botanics Iconic Clay Mask ($10, £6) | Simplecare Products Conditioning Oil ($9, £6) |  Dove Fresh Touch Beauty Cream Bar ($2.5, £1.5) | The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield ($15, £9) | Farewell Fighter "The Way We Learn" Digital Album (Free)

I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Oui, j'adore VoxBox!

Délicieux, utile, adorable, sucré, charmant, amusement - all words that come to mind when I think of the beautiful VoxBox I received from Influenster in the post just a short time ago. J'adore VoxBox was a nightmare at first, arriving late and to the wrong house which caused me quite a bit of anxiety. But the amazing products inside definitely made up for it.

So what products was I sent to test?

• Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask from Boots Botanics
• 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray from John Frieda
• Looks So Natural Lashes from KISS
• Crème Caramel Simply Indulgent Tea from Red Rose
• Lemmon Chiffon Simply Indulgent Tea from Red Rose
• Family Size Bag of chocolates from Hershey's

Photo taken from my twitter.

The products definitely work well for someone who may be on their way out and goes through a special routine - I however, do not, and wanted to give about a week to test the products before posting full reviews. As I gather the pictures for this, I can totally see myself with the clay mask on struggling to take a sip of my tea and enjoy a chocolate; deciding instead to straighten my hair and prep my lashes. My excited tweet from when I first got the box.

Another photo taken from my twitter.

How fitting that my coffee/tea cup has the Eiffel Tower on it. Crème Caramel is probably a really odd flavour for a tea at first thought - caramel usually being a preferred flavour for a frappuccino perhaps. Since I was sent more samples of this than the Lemon Chiffon, I decided it would be my first test and there aren't any words for it. The tea had an amazing scent, and a taste to mach. Though I had to be up early the next morning I still refused to sleep until I finished. Not only was it pleasing to smell and sip, but it was definitely preparing me to sleep as it calmed me. I only tested this tea once, because I'd like to find a retailer near me before wasting the other samples - it was that good! Another tweet of mine.

My personal rating: 10/10

Also, I'm wearing a mask as I complete this blog.

"Oceanic minerals help draw out deep-rooted impurities and oil without overdrying. Skin is left clearer, softer and smoother." Now it says to use this product weekly, but since my face naturally produces a larger amount of oil daily, I used it two days in a row and then every other day. Plus, this was my first ever clay mask and I really enjoyed it. Each result was the same - my face was extremely dry, though overall smoother and softer than with other products. For me this is great, because any product without oil leaves my face severely dry. 

Cleansing with a light warm water for about five minutes to wash away the green tint left behind, (Though who doesn't want to feel Wicked fabulous while they're singing in their room?) and using my conditioning oil from Simplecare Products was a perfect combination. After the first use, my face was a little redder in the immediate cheekbones than it has been over the last few months and I did break out, but I chalk that up to all the trash that has passed my pores being pushed out as I convert to mineral products.

My younger sister also tried the mask, and seemed to like it well enough. She didn't say much or take a picture, but visibly her face looked 100% better.

My personal rating: 10/10

Left: KISS lashes. Right: Creey wide-eye to show my own.

This last few years I have experienced much loss of my own natural lashes. For what reason, I do not know. Compared to many other girls in my area, though, my lashes are still extremely long - almost as long as these KISS Looks So Natural Lashes - in "flirty". As someone who never wears lashes due to trouble trimming, clipping, shortening, etc. I was very excited for these - perfectly natural lashes from the start, no need for me to mess around with them. However, putting them on was such a hassle for me that I didn't even bother with the other. 

For whatever reason, I just can't seem to get false lashes to stick to my lash line properly. This may be because of my already lengthy lashes, so I don't mind. For every type of lash in every type of brand, someone is able to use them successfully - as I will assume true for these lashes. Looking up, they looked really nice and really natural, though with eyes closed it was a different story - I'd suggest some eyeliner, with a wing perhaps. The corner kept popping up, but trying it farther from the corner of my eye only made them lose the natural effect.

As you can see from the set of four pictures to the left, these lashes are great quality! They have tapered ends so they look more natural, and with the right styling I don't doubt they'd do good for others. For now, I'll just have to ask for some tips on how to work with false lashes if you have naturally long lashes or don't enjoy the terribly obvious look. And if you are looking for a natural set, I recommend these.

My personal rating: 7/10

Of course, the Hershey's kisses were fabulous. Now the only thing left to do is to test John Frieda's 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray. My cousin has said she would test it out with me, so I'll be getting in a follow up blog with that review. For your convenience, the below links for these products are straight from the company websites, with prices rounded to the nearest dollar.

Boots Botanics Clay Mask ($10, £6) KISS Lashes ($4, £2,40) Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas ($5, £3) John Frieda Flat-Iron Spray ($10, £6)
These beauty products can be found at most beauty retailers near you, the tea and chocolates at most stores. Each have many online carriers.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.