This post is sponsored by Influenster and Garnier Fructis. This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission from purchases made using these links. All opinions expressed are my own.
Happy New Year! I hope that 2019 got off to a great start for everyone. These past few weeks I’ve been planning and mapping out my goals and what I want to accomplish this year. One thing new thing I did this year was set self-care goals. Last year, I didn’t make self-care a priority like I should have and it showed.
This won’t be the case for 2019. I’ve already started tackling my main self-care goal which is to master the art of doing my curly hair. It’s been about 10 years since I made the decision to go and stay natural. But despite being 10 years deep in this natural hair journey, my biggest struggle remains styling my hair when it’s in its naturally curly state.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. I received a POPSUGAR Must Have Box to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy!
Last year I had so much fun trying out POPSUGAR's Must Have Box subscription service. I'm honored and delighted to have been selected to partner with them again this year. You can see my past Must Have Box reveals here, here and here. The contents of each Must Have Box got better and better and I'm sure this year's boxes will do the same. January's box came filled with 6 fresh and new essentials plus a special extra that focus on detoxing, revitalization and healthy living.
Disclosure: This POPSUGAR December Must Have Box Reveal is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy.
Partnering with POPSUGAR Beauty last year was hands down one of my favorite aspects of 2016. For starters, I admire Lisa Sugar and the empire she's built POPSUGAR into. When it comes specifically to POPSUGAR's Must Have Box, I love that it's a subscription box that fits my lifestyle and my current way of living. I appreciated the fact that every month they took care to curate items that made life easier, simpler and more beautiful. And their December box was no different.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy.
I always get a rush of excitement whenever I get a POPSUGAR Must Have Box in the mail. Why? Because I know I'm getting quality (and sometimes exclusive) products that I will actually use and enjoy. November's box is no exception. The theme for this month's box is togetherness. My box was filled with elegant and inviting holiday (or any time) celebration essentials.
When it comes to building a great looking tablescape, your table runner lays the groundwork for rest of your table decor. This simple, fringed wine and cream colorblocked table runner gives me elegant farmhouse/country chic vibes. It can be dressed up for the holidays, but can be dressed down for everyday use. This table runner is hand screen printed and machine washable.
Discount Alert: Use code POPSUGAR to get 25% off your Pehr order by December 31st.
I enjoy hosting holiday dinner parties for my family. However, I enjoy dressing up for said dinner parties even more. And we all know that best part of dressing up is accessorizing which is why I was stoked to see this Elaina bracelet from Kendra Scott in this month's Must Have Box. Not only is this bracelet beautiful, but there's no tricky clasp to fight with.
This bracelet can be adjusted to fit your perfectly thanks to it's unique sliding closure design. I wish all bracelets used a sliding closure. There's no great jewelry struggle for people with tiny wrists than trying to find bracelets that won't fall off our arms. I'm looking forward to styling a holiday look to show off my Elaina bracelet and be the hostess with the mostess !
Discount Alert: Use code DNTCL-TPCCM to enjoy 20% off your next online Kendra Scott purchase.
Although my mom has never been a fan of popcorn, she made it our Christmas tradition to purchase a large tin of gourmet popcorn that was split into three different flavors. When the Christmas movies started playing after Thanksgiving, we'd sit around the television after dinner and each enjoy handful of the flavored popcorn of our choosing. It's no surprise that this Toffee Butter Popcorn from Oogie Snacks is one of my top 3 favorite products from this month's box.
Whether you're looking for a sweet treat to send home with your holiday guest, an edible stocking stuffer or a delicious snack to enjoy while watching Christmas, this popcorn is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. It's also non-GMO, gluten-free, cholesterol-free, trans fat-free and contains only six ingredients (all natural)!
While we're still on the subject of edible holiday treats, I love dressing up desserts and hors d'oeuvres using party picks. These silver and gold star party picks from Meri Meri are perfect for Christmas. Why? For starters, silver and gold are totally Christmas colors. Remember Rudolph's Silver and Gold song from the movie?
And of course the star shape reminds me of the North Star and how it led the three wise men to Baby Jesus. I can't wait to use these to decorate my BBQ meatballs this year. Moo and I both have birthdays coming up next month and these will make great toppers for our cupcakes as well.
Putting together the perfect holiday look doesn't stop with choosing the right outfit and jewelry. Completing your look with the right makeup is just as important. With this Dawn to Dusk palette from Stowaway Cosmetics, you'll have no trouble creating a holiday party worthy smokey eye. The best part is that this palette is compact- roughly the size of a credit card and ultra thin- to make it easy for you carry your palette in your holiday purse/clutch.
It also comes with a dual end eyeshadow brush and not one of those flimsy foam applicators. The angled brush end is going to allow you to have more precision and control over defining your crease and adding color to those hard to reach places like the inner tear duct and water line.
Discount Alert: Get 25% off a purchase of $50 or more using code MUSTHAVE
I can officially mark one item off of my Christmas and Dream Home lists. I am a Southern girl through and through and am currently in the process of creating my dream farmhouse. In my opinion, wire nest bowls scream Southern charm to me. They make great fruit bowls during and after the holiday season. You can also add in decorative ornaments to give any flat surface in your home a more festive and effortlessly elegant makeover.
Overall, I am very pleased with the offerings of this month's box and can't wait to see what December's box will contain. I'm hoping I'll be able to cross another item off my Christmas or Dream Farmhouse list. The products in my November box came to a total of $164.99. As usual the products in the Must Have Box have more than paid for the box subscription itself ($39.95/month).
With Christmas being literally around the corner, I encourage you to treat yourself and/or a loved one to the December Must Have Box. You can use promo code SHOP5 to get $5 off your first Must Have Box.
Sagittarius season is finally upon us! I'm over-the-moon with excitement that my 31st birthday is less than a month away. I know it's not quite a big deal at turning the BIG 3-0 is for some, but for me seeing another year of life is always a cause for celebration. So to kickoff off birthday celebration and to give you guys some gift ideas for a loved one who has an upcoming birthday, I'm sharing 13 gifts from my birthday wishlist.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links.
2. Kate Spade New York Darla Wallet| To say that I'm overdue for a new wallet is an understatement. I've had my current wallet for over ten years. It's beyond falling apart and I couldn't part with it until this year because it's the first birthday gift my husband got me when we were still in the dating stage. I'm thinking this Kate Spade Darla Wallet would make a nice replacement. And who knows, it might last another ten years.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Hel's Bells Lipstick| I don't wear a full face of makeup everyday. For starters, my skin is way too sensitive and needs to breathe. However, I try not to leave home without putting on some sort of lip product. Sometimes I opt for a sheer gloss, but lately I've been wearing lots of reds and plums. I love this deep plum shade, Hel's Bells, by Charlotte Tilbury and can't wait to try out it.
4. Forever 21 Studded Pumps| I've always wanted a pair of studded pumps, but never got around to actually paying some. I saw these at Forever 21 and now I have to have them. I'd love to pair them with dark wash skinny jeans, a fitted black blazer and a light colored top to create a chic mompreneur look that I can wear to a casual brand meeting and a teacher's conference.
5. KitchenAid Professional 5 Qt Mixer| I can't believe that I still haven't invested in a standing mixer. I'm a cook-off winner for goodness sake! With the kids getting older and their stomachs becoming bottomless pits, we spend a lot more time in the kitchen baking and cooking. This 5 quart standing mixer would definitely come in handy and pay for itself.
6. Geek Chic Mug| This mug pretty much sums me up in two words. Also, I happen to wear glasses. I can't wait to add this mug to my collection as well.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Illustrated Edition| My family can tell you that I am a huge Harry Potter fan! I watch the movie marathons everything they play on TV. And I'm currently rereading the J. K. Rowling iconic Harry Potter series. I was ecstatic when I found out they were rereleasing the books in illustrated editions. I put the first book on my birthday wishlist and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on my Christmas wishlist. I can't wait until the rest of the series is released next year.
8. Olivia Burton Rose Gold Watch| Call me old fashion, but I still enjoy wearing a watch. What I love about this watch from Olivia Burton is that it has a bigger face than a traditional women's watch which will highlight the slenderness of wrist, but the band isn't chunky. Also, I like that the rose gold is more muted than other rose gold colored watches I've seen. Plus, this watch is budget friendly- only $98.
9. BeautyBlender| After watching tons of beauty tutorials on YouTube, I'm convinced that I need to hop on the BeautyBlender train to give my foundation a smoother application and finish.
10. Canon PowerShot SX710| I'm still not sure if I'm ready to invest in a DSLR, so this Canon PowerShot is the great in-between camera. Plus, after recently finishing my first photography course, I'm anxious to try out what I've learned.
11. The Magnolia Story| I adore Chip and Joanna Gaines. They seem so sweet and down to earth on their HGTV show, Fixer Upper. I love that they're outspoken about their faith and are family oriented. I can't wait to read more about their story and how they build their Magnolia brand from the ground up.
12. Gold Spotty Dot Day Designer| I feel like I wasn't nearly as organized as I should have been this year. I'm committed to getting my act together and have heard that when it comes to planners and organizers, Day Designer is where it's at.
13. Clarisonic Aria Cleansing System| As we age, our skin changes. This is especially true for the skin on my face. It's changed so much over years and I've found in the recent months that my skin needs a deeper cleaning than my usual exfoliating cloth can give. So, it's time to step it up and invest in a Clarisonic.
If you have a family member or loved one with an upcoming birthday, I hope that you've gotten gift ideas from my birthday wishlist/gift guide. These gifts will also make great Christmas presents as well since we're in the thick of the holiday season. Happy Holidays y'all!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support YUMMommy.
My POPSUGAR October Must Have Box finally arrived. I had been patiently awaiting its arrival and felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I got a notice from my rent office that it was in. June was my first time partnering with POPSUGAR and then we partnered again for their September box. Each box has gotten better and better in terms of its offerings. The October box had a bit of weight to it and I knew in my gut that I wasn't going to be disappointed this time around either. Come on let me show y'all the goodies that made this month's box selection.
This month's box came with two "Special Extras." Lisa Sugar's new book Power Your Happy: Work Hard, Place Nice & Build Your Dream Life was one of them. If you didn't guess from her last name, Lisa is the founder of the POPSUGAR brand. Without her this post wouldn't be happening. Thank you LISA!
Power Your Happy is filled with advice and tips from both Lisa's professional and personal life experiences. With a current 4.6 out 5 stars rating on Amazon, I have placed this book on my Nonfiction November TBR and can't wait to haul it in a video on my BookTube channel. The book nerd in me celebrated when I saw that I got a book in this month's box. I'm ready to be inspired and learn some tips on how to take YUMMommy to the next level.
Fun fact about me, I like to collect mugs. I'm glad to have this Rise & Shine one to add to my collection now. It's cute and the design has a clean, minimalist feel to it. This diner style mug has some weight to it which I love as well.
Dairy-free, non-GMO, gluten-free hot chocolate anyone? Why I don't mind if I do! One of the things I really appreciate about the POPSUGAR Must Have Box is that they always try to include at least one or two products that fall into the green/honest/healthy living category. And with only two ingredients- cocoa and sugar- this rich dark chocolate is definitely a Fall must!
The weather here in the Queen City has been a bit chilly. So a few nights ago Moo and I treated ourselves to some of the Dark Drinking Chocolate topped off with some marshmallows. We give two thumbs up. We would have given it three but the way the human body is set up, we can't physically.
Retailing for only $12 this travel-sized makeup remover towel lasts up to 1,000 washes. Do you know much makeup you can with this?! Think about it. If you wear makeup everyday, then you can ditch buying liquid makeup remover, cotton facial pads or makeup remover wipes over and over and just get one of these instead.
You're not going to find another makeup remover that will only cost you $12/year. And if you only remove your makeup once a day, you can get at least two years worth of usage out of your Makeup Eraser. It also doubles as an exfoliator! Two products for the price of one. Winning! Beauty lovers add this to your Christmas and birthday wish lists ASAP!
Growing up in large family and motherhood has taught me the art of efficient and quick showering. With that said, I'm grateful POPSUGAR included this luxurious shower oil and bubble bath the October box. It was a subtle reminder from the universe that I'm overdue for a little self-care.
The holidays are right around the corner, I'm going to take a day or two before it gets really hectic around here and enjoy a nice long uninterrupted bubble bath. I'm talking candles, a good book, spa music- the works pretty much. My body and skin will thank me for it. Oh did I mention that this shower oil and bubble bath are sulfate, paraben and phthalate- free?!
While we're talking about makeup, Autumn is the perfect smokey eye season. Nothing sets off a great smokey eye better than a great eyeliner. Whether you choose to add a wings for a smokey cat eye or keep it simple by outlining your water lines only, this Revlon ColorStay™ Liquid Pen goes on like butter.
It also lasts for up to 16 hours of wear. This is a great for those of us who have busy schedules and can't always be running to the bathroom to touch up our makeup every few hours. This was the other special extra in this month's box.
I can't speak for other parts of the country but April isn't the only month that brings lots of rain showers in the Carolinas. As we get into the thick of fall, the rain is going to start back up again. Thankfully, I will be prepared with for any surprise showers with this Henri Bendel umbrella that is just the right size to carry around in my purse. Featuring the classic Henri Bendel print, this compact umbrella comes with a sleeve/jacket that you can pack your umbrella back in so that you don't have to worry about any water droplets getting all over your other valuables in your purse or diaper bag.
I'm already getting excited about November's box because I know that it's going to be even better. All of the products in the October Must Have Box totaled out to $152.98. A POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription is only $39.95/month. The Henri Bendel umbrella alone has paid for this box.
If you plan on trying out a subscription for November or December, be sure to use code SHOP5 to receive $5 off your FIRST box!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by POPSUGAR Beauty and contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are my own.
This past summer I partnered with POPSUGAR and tried out their June Must Have Box (see here). Now I'm partnering with them again for their September box. And let me tell you guys, their September box is currently my fave to date. It's filled with an awesome array of products that will come in handy for everyday or almost everyday usage. Let's take a look inside this month's Must Have Box, shall we?
Why haven't I invested in/owned a wide brim hat before now?! Seriously, I'm in love this hat y'all. We've officially entered into our Autumn rainy season here in the Carolinas and this hat has already come in handy during a surprise rain shower. Aside from loving the everyday functionality and the way this hat looks on me, I appreciate the fact that it has drawstrings inside the hat to allow you tighten the hat for a more custom fit.
Don't you hate getting a nail snag or realizing that your cuticles are looking a little raggedy when you're on the go? I do. Thankfully, NCLA is here to rescue our manicures with this super cute and compact MANI-ER Tool Kit that comes with pretty much all the basic tools we'll need to keep our nails looking good. I was excited to see another NCLA product in this month's Must Have Box since I enjoyed their Born On The 4th nail lacquer from my June box. And I don't know about y'all, but this read and white color combo will forever give me Baywatch vibes.
Right off the bat I loved the smell of this deep conditioning mask. It has a note of honey/nectar and reminds me of vintage perfume. Also, being a naturalista I appreciated that this product is sulfate-free, silicon-free, paraben-free, DEA-free and free of artificial colors. Those things can be harsh on and/or harmful for certain natural hair textures. The more I learn about beauty and styling products and what's good and not good for my hair and skin, I try to seek alternative brands. So, I'm grateful that this was in this month's Must Have Box. It's been a great addition to my wash routine.
If you don't care about parabens, then hopefully the fact that this deep conditioning mask reduces hair breakage by 81% after just 3 uses will be a key selling point for you. It was me because I'm all about length retention. You can check other Briogeo products below.
This the sleekest, chicest and most glam lint roller I've ever seen or owned. Seriously, it's no surprise that this lint roller won a RedDot Award. Plus, I finally have travel lint roller that I can actually carry in my purse without it sticking to everything! Flint™ is the real MVP y'all.
A lippie that's pareben-free and gluten-free? Yes, please! Before I opened my Must Have Box, I was hoping that they'd put a lip product in it since I had nail lacquer in my last one. When I saw this I knew my prayers had been answered! And the color, The Warning, is perfect! I've mentioned on here before that red is my power color.
Lately I've been wearing a lot of red/redish plum lip colors and now I get to add this shimmery red lip lacquer into my rotation. I will say that this formula is thick, which is okay if you're only putting on one or two coats. You can add more to help build up the color, but I'd just recommend putting your favorite red lipstick underneath or filling in your lips with your favorite red lip liner and doing one coat of The Warning over top.
Talk about deliciousness! I can't wait to get my hands on more of these because they just became one of my top 3 favorite snacks. Even better is the fact that everyone in the YUMMommy household can eat these because they're non-GMO, certified vegan, soy-free, dairy-free as well as gluten-free. Also, I thought it was sweet that The Gluten Free Bar was started by two brothers, Marshall and Elliott, who have food allergies like my kids do. These days I find myself drifting towards buying products that are family owned.
Overall I'm definitely loving this month's box more than my June box. All together the products in this month's Must Have Box is worth $146.98! A monthly subscription through POPSUGAR is $39.95 + FREE shipping. So, this was definitely a steal! These boxes pretty much more than pay for themselves. The products in my June box was worth over $100 as well.
If you're interested in starting a POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription, be sure to use the coupoon code SHOP5 for $5 off your FIRST box! With each box getting better, you don't want to miss out on the chance to discover an array of new luxury products and brands. I can't wait until the October boxes roll out!
What are your favorite everyday essentials? Which item would you most like to try from this month's Must Have Box?
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive an affiliate commission if you make a purchase through my link. This doesn't cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you! Also, I received the products in this post complimentary from COVERGIRL and Influenster.
When it comes to everyday makeup, COVERGIRL is one of my favorite go-to brands. Therefore, I'm excited to share with you all what complimentary products products were in my COVERGIRL VoxBox from Influenster. I've been using COVERGIRL for years and am to say that they do a great job at producing department store quality makeup without the expensive department store price tag. It's fantastic that they've found a way to offer us premium ingredients and amazing packaging at price points that are beyond affordable. Now are you ready to find out what's in my voxbox?
I received the second voxbox. Sure I was a little bummed about that I didn't get the truNaked Eyeshadow Palette to try out, but who's going to complain about getting complimentary full-size makeup samples from their favorite brand? Not this mommy!
COVERGIRL Plumpify Mascara by blastPRO
I received the Plumpify Mascara in the shade Very Black (800). I've been wanting to try out this mascara for a while, but was trying not to be a product junkie and use up the current tubes of mascara that I still have. I love the packaging. The black and silver are simple without being too plain and the red on the mascara wand adds a nice pop of color. What makes this mascara wand unique is that it has a mix of conical bristles and fins that COVERGIRL boasts "will grip, lift, load and comb lashes for 50x more volume." Hence the name Plumpify.
The wand brush is not narrow like some mascara brushes I've encountered. I do prefer chunkier brushes because in my opinion they are better at grabbing more lash hair and require less applications/coats. Can't wait to try this out.
COVERGIRL Colorlicious Oh Sugar! Lip Balm
Lip balms are probably my biggest makeup obsession. It's been this way since I was kid. One of my mom's best friends sold Avon and whenever my mom would order something, she'd always let me pick a few of the transparent lip balms.
The Colorlicious Oh Sugar! Lip Balm that I received came in tinted shade Caramel (3). Other colors that were sent out in voxboxes include Punch, Jelly and Cupcake. Jelly is on my to-try list because it's a gorgeous light plum/grape color, but I haven't had any luck finding it at my local stores.
The Oh Sugar! Lip Balms are "made with ultra-rich ingredients such as grapeseed oil, avocado butter and Vitamins C & E." The lip balms are designed to add just the right amount of tint. Extra coats can be applied to deepened the color saturation. So this lip balm not only adds color to your lips, but nourishes them as well with all the vitamins and minerals.
How cute is the packaging?! I love that the color is listed right on the lip balm cover as well as on the bottom of the tube. The tube cover also matches the tint color of the lip balm. This is helpful when if your store doesn't have a shade guide that you can use to get an idea of how a particular shade will look against your skin tone. Of course, it's not 100% accurate, but helpful nevertheless.
Also, the packaging gives off the appearance of the tube cover being made of metal and the base of the lip balm tube looks like it's made of class, but it's all made from plastic.
Overall, I'm happy with the products that I received in my COVERGIRL VoxBox. I will be trying these products out for a week. Then I'll post a separate review post to let you all know if these products lived up their hype.
What new or recently released beauty products are you interested in trying out?
Disclosure: I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
Last month I received a full-size sample of Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel from Influenster. It's no secret that my experiences with Neutrogena products are either a hit or a miss with me. For example their acne products dry out my already severely dry skin and leave me covered in bumps and dry patches that look and feel like carpet burns. However, I fell in love with their Triple Repair Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In. Therefore, I figured my experience with their Hydro Boost would go either way, but surprisingly it fell somewhere in the middle.
About Product
The box claims that Hydro Boost is supposed to "instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day."
What I Liked
Right away I liked the packaging. The colors compliment each other and aren't too busy or distracting. The three-sided product window allows you to get a good look at the actual size of the product you're buying. The actual jar the Hydro Boost comes in looks like high-end glass, but is actually plastic and holds up well to being dropped. The all white top and writing gives it an overall sleek and chic feel.
What I liked about using the actual product was that the Hydro Boost Water Gel made my skin feel softer to the touch. After all who wants rough skin on their face? I also feel like my skin looked smoother and it didn't get ashy through the day. And it absorbs fast and the smell is light, not overpowering.
Lastly, a little bit goes a long way. You don't have use a ton of this product to cover your face which means it will last longer. I've been using this for close to a month and still have a good bit left in my jar.
What I Didn't Like
While my skin was softer to the touch and looked smooth, it still felt dry and tight once the Hydro Boost fully absorbed. I still felt the need to put either another moisturizer or some Vaseline over top to relieve the tightness. I did refrain from doing this though the first two weeks because I wanted to see if my skin would adjust and also because I wanted to see what my skin would look and feel like without added product.
I did discover though that Neutrogena actually makes a Hydro Boost Water Gel-Cream for Extra Dry Skin. Awesome! Because I didn't exactly hate the regular Hydro Boost Water Gel, I'm going to give this one a try. Overall, I'm glad to have had to the opportunity to try out this product.
Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
About a month and a half ago, I got my Frosty VoxBox from Influenster in the mail. It was filled with all kinds of great goodies and was the perfect treat to get in the mail just before Christmas. Since then I've been busy trying out the products to make sure that I can give you guys thorough review. So, let's do this!
My VoxBox Goodies
Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover ($7.49): When it comes to makeup removers, good ol' soap and water have been my go-to for years due to having sensitive skin. However, this Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover just might stay around for a while. It wasn't harsh on my skin considering it does have alcohol in it. Alcohol tends to dry my face out something awful and leave me with bumps. None of that using this. I did moisturize as usual afterwards.
If you're not too heavy-handed this bottle should last you a while. A few squirts on one or two cotton balls and you're good.
NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum ($1.99): This product claims to have "intense, amplified color and shine that lasts up to six hours" with a moisturizing formula that glides on "easily for a silky, smooth, velvety finish for all day wear." There are a total of twenty different shades/colors in the Expert Last Lip Color line. While I am a fan of the NYC brand, this product fell a little short for me in terms of coverage/pigment. As you will see in my YouTube video, the Sugar Plum shade was anything but intense or amplified.
I've seen a few reviews/swatches of the other colors and they're not very pigmented either. Now, what I did like about this product is that it does glide on very smoothly and your lips will be moisturized for at least three to six hours depending on how much you eat, drink and wipe your mouth. I wouldn't classify this as a lipstick, but more of a lightly tinted chapstick. It's under $2 and I would definitely buy some of the other shades to serve as just that.
Boots No7 Protect & Perfect ADVANCED Serum ($22.99): I only received a sample size of this product, but it is supposed to reduce "the appearance of deep lines & wrinkles, for younger looking skin in two weeks." My sample was not big enough for a two week trial, nor do I have any deep lines. However, I can say this product made my skin feel like heaven after one use. Seriously, my face felt so smooth and not the least bit greasy either.
Also, it's hypo-allergenic and didn't give me any breakouts. It does smell a little like acne medicine at first, but once on my face, I couldn't smell it. I know that $22.99 seems a bit steep for a 1 ounce bottle, but I did a little deal hunting and you get this from Target regularly $17.49, but it's currently on sale for $15.74 and a few weeks ago there was a coupon on their Cartwheel app. Also, there was a $2 off coupon in my VoxBox pushing my price down to $13.74! So, Im definitely off to Target to pick up some more.
Overall, I do like this product and I feel like it's going to help keep my skin looking young. I'm glad to be investing in my first mature skincare beauty product. The average person often estimates my age to be 21 at the most, but after a few weeks of using this product I might get mistaken for a 15 year old again? I'll keep you posted.
EcoTools Full Volume Styler ($10.99): This brush is designed to create "gorgeous volume and style, while cruelty-free bristles distribute hair's moisturizers for the ultimate shine." This product also claims to fight frizz and static and dry hair 20% faster. Not going to lie, as a Black woman with very curly/kinky natural hair, these volume styler brushes have not been my friend and weren't my friends growing up either. I remember getting my hair so tangled up in one of my mom's that she almost had to cut a big chunk of my hair off!
Thank goodness she very patiently spent an hair detangling small sections instead. However, that EcoTools is on to something with the design of their Full Volume Styler because my experience was drastically different this time around. The openings do allow the hair to dry faster. Also, the bristle combination worked very well with my natural hair. I had a little frizz, but less than my usual amount. Also, I love that this brush and the packaging are made entirely out of eco-friendly products and can be recycled!!
Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner ($4.49): Just want to start off by saying pick this product up from Walmart for $3.97 and save yourself almost a dollar. You're welcome! Now that I've saved you some coins, let me say this is eyeliner is awesome-sauce!! I had an eyeliner from NYC that I got in one of my VoxBoxes about two years ago that I thought went on soft, but when I say that this Rimmel Scandaleyes is like a million times better, I mean it!
It glides on like butter, which is really important because who wants to rip their eyelid off using a hard pencil eyeliner? I don't. Hard eyeliner pencils was one of the reasons I didn't wear eyeliner as often, but now that I've been introduced to Scandaleyes, I'm lining these cuties up. My eyes are one of my best features that I get complimented on all the time and now they can really stand out.
And it's waterproof for long lasting wear. However, since this does glide on like butter be careful not to put too much pressure on it when lining your eyes or you will break off the tip. I received the black liner, which is perfect for me since I don't experiment too much with eyeliner colors just yet. I like to take chances with my shadows and then keep it simple using black liner.
Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea ($3.39 for 20 bags): So, my mom has a thing for teas, especially green teas and any tea made by Celestial Seasonings. Growing up she kept their regular green tea in stock because it was good at fighting off colds and building the immune system. All of which I needed being that I was always the first one to get a common cold and have it turn into a severe case of the flu or strep throat. She pumped us with green tea and it paid off at some point.
I say all that to say that I am now obsessed with their Candy Cane Lane Green Tea and love that it comes in decaf since I'm technically not allowed to have caffeine. Moo and I enjoyed this for Christmas and she got hooked too. We can't go the grocery store without her asking if we can get another box. This stuff is Christmas and holiday cheer in a cup.
Seriously, Celestial Seasonings has the tea game on lock when it comes to creating flavored teas. And you know the bitter aftertaste that accompanies most green teas? You won't have to worry about that with this one. I don't know how they did it, but I don't taste it when I drink the Candy Cane Lane. Wonder if they'll tell me their secret?
Fruit Vines Bites ($1.28-1.79): Let me start off by saying that these are super yummy. They don't have any preservatives and are low fat. They're also not super sweet. I received the Cherry flavor in my VoxBox and have since tried the Strawberry as well. Now, I did let the kids try these and that was a mistake.
These are not gluten-free and we had a long night of itching, applying steroid cream and administering doses of Benadryl and almost trip to the hospital as a result. So, if you or your child has food allergies be sure to read the back of the label before you chow down. Another snack that I can enjoy by myself and I'm not complaining one bit.
McCormick Gourmet Thyme ($4.79): If you've been following the blog for a while, you already know that we are McCormick lovers! I served as a Grill Ambassador for them a few year ago and tons of free sauces and seasonings to try out. Even before that though, McCormick is the only seasoning brand you will find in my mom's cabinets. Yes, my mom is very brand loyal.
And just as she influenced me in terms of some of the brands that I buy that I buy today, I hope I'm influencing my kids in the same way because McCormick knows their seasonings and their herbs too! I've put this stuff on literally everything from chicken to veggies and even made a gravy for Christmas that was beyond delicious. My mom and baby sister gave it two thumbs up. That's awesome coming from them because they are gravy masters.
So, there you have it folks! Overall, this was probably my favorite VoxBox. If you're interested in signing up for Influenster for your chance to start reviewing VoxBoxes click here. Sign-up is pretty simple and you'll get surveys about once a month or every other month to fill out and see what VoxBoxes you would make a great match for. Don't forget to check out my YouTube video below (or you can click here).
Have you tried or would try any of these products?
