Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Review

This product was received complimentary from Influenster, all opinions are my own.

I received the Shine, Shine Go Away cleanser in this year’s Paradise VoxBox and although I already had a go-to cleanser I had used for months, I was still eager to try it out.

Pond’s Fresh Effects, contrary to the regular line of Pond’s products, caters to a younger generation on women facing everyday skin problems (this cleanser in particular targets shiny skin).



This cleanser worked exactly how I needed it to; it removed dirt and make-up making my face clean and glowing. When I poured the product on my hands, I could see that there was some shimmer to it, and that is how I felt my skin looked once I washed it with this cleanser.

TIPS:

1.       This is a cleanser, not a make-up remover; please do not use it to remove eye make-up because it will sting.

2.       Always wet face before applying product, this will allow for easy removal of the cleanser.

3.       Use warm water to wet face to open up pores and cold water to wash cleanser off to close them back up.

4.       This cleanser goes in deep in to the skin so make sure you use an oil-free moisturizer afterward or your face may feel dry.

Overall, I really liked using Shine, Shine Go Away cleanser; it worked just as good as the more expensive brand for half the price.

Check out their website for more information, complete line of products, and special offers:

http://www.olay.com/skin-care-products/fresh-effects

NYC Sparkle Eye Dust Review

NYC Sparkle Eye Dust Review

This Product was received complimentary from Influenster, all opinions are my own.

I received this product in this year’s Paradise VoxBox and the color I received was Smokey Topaz. I have never been a fan on the tube eye shadows because I have always thought them to be difficult to apply and messy. Furthermore, the ones that had an applicator were always creamy and creased really quickly. NYC thought of an idea to combine the pros in box tube shadows and creamy shadows with applicator to create NYC Eye Sparkle Dust. Although this product is not new it really has improved from its last version to make it easy to use without the mess.

http://newyorkcolor.com/products/eyes/eyeshadow/sparkle-eye-dust-0

For more product information, colors available, where to buy and beauty tips

The shadow itself doesn’t feel any different from the regular stuff and goes on the same way, with the exception of the soft tip applicator. This shadow is really pigmented so a little goes a long way, just make sure you take some on the excess shadow off the application (like on the rim of the tube) before applying it. Another thing that I found is that because a little does a lot with this product, some of it fell on the corners of my eye and above my cheeks when I applied it but it’s nothing that a moist wipe won’t take off. The color you see in the tube is exactly what you get when you put it on, like a mauve or lighter burgundy.  It will not crease and it is pretty soft and shimmery.

 

Because the applicator has a lot of the product on it, you really can’t blend well with it so my suggestion is to place the shadow with the wand and blend it in with another brush. Also, because it is so shimmery I would use the darker shades at night and buy a light champagne color to wear on the brow bone to really open up your eyes.

Overall, this product met my expectations and for only $2.99 a tube, it is definitely worth checking out!

Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles

I received this product complimentary from Influenster, all opinions are my own.

I received this product from Influenster’s Paradise VoxBox and I was really excited to try it out. I currently have another pair on Dr. Scholl’s For Her insoles; have had them for years, so it was time to try some new ones.

Right off the bat I could see noticeable differences between the two pairs (I think the pair I had was the old version of the high heel inserts), the new insoles were smaller and had a raised bump for arch support. Also, a new feature I liked is that they have the heel and toes clearly marked so you know you are putting them on your shoes the right way. The old pair of insoles that I had turned a dark brown from the shoes I had them in so I am hoping these new ones don’t turn color but I haven’t put them to the test.

http://www.drscholls.com/products/HighHeelInsoles

For additional product information, reviews, videos, and a $2 off coupon

The insoles are definitely comfortable, but you may have to play around with the positioning a little to make sure your feet are placed properly over them. Although they are thinner and more flexible than other insoles, you still need to make sure that there is enough room in your heels for them. Overall, a good buy worth trying out… if you are not completely satisfied they do have a money back guarantee.  

Nectresse Natural Sweetner

This product was received compliments of Influenster; all opinions in this post are my own.

To learn more about this product, please go to the Nectresse website and Influenster product page .

I must first admit that I am most certainly not a cooker or baker, although I probably enjoy baking WAY more but the extent of my cooking abilities goes as far as dialing for take out :)

For this reason, I wasn’t sure of how exactly to use Nectresse, besides of course pouring some on my cereal (which I did almost daily) and so I looked online for some help. Below you will see one of my favorite recipes to make because not only is it delicious but it is easy and quick to make. I made these for my son’s birthday and he loved them but best of all, by using Nectresse natural sweetener I knew I didn’t have to worry about added calories or artificial ingredients…enjoy!

Birthday Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup yellow cake mix
1 Tbs Nectresse or 3 packages
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups milk
3 Tbs sprinkles

• Mix everything together and portion your pancakes out (pour about half cup per pancake) on a hot griddle.  When finished cooking, top with whip cream and sprinkles. Homemade whip cream can be made by using 3 packets of Nectresse, 1 package of vanilla instant pudding, 1 tsp.  Vanilla extract and 8 oz. Heavy whipping cream (use more whipping cream for a thinner consistency).

Influenster Sugar N' Spice VoxBox

These products were received compliments of Influenster; all opinions in the review are my own.

To learn more about these products, please go to the Optic White, Nectresse, BelVita, Dickinsons and Vaseline Influenster product pages.

      

The promise

v  Optic White will clean, freshen and whiten your teeth in one week, with full results in four weeks.

v  Nectresse Natural No Calorie Sweeter is just that, a sweeter that is all-natural and has no calories.

v  BelVita Breakfast Biscuits are breakfast cookies that provide you will sustained energy.

v  Dickinsons Original Witch Hazel are oil-controlling towlettes that also remove dirt and impurities.

v  Vaseline Spray n’ Go Moisturizer is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds.

  

The Product

v  Optic White – This line of products include a toothbrush with tongue cleaner, whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. I have been using the toothpaste for a while because I wanted to whiten my teeth without spending a whole and the toothpaste did just that. But when teamed up with the toothbrush and mouthwash, however, the paste worked a whole lot better.

v  Nectresse  - Although I have never been a huge fan of artificial sweeteners, I was excited to try this product out because it is all-natural and calorie free. I only used Nectresse on my cereal (since I’m not much of a coffee drinker) and it worked just fine. The taste was decent and, if it really is all-natural and calorie-free, I wouldn’t mind using it again.

v  BelVita – I am always dragging in the mornings, so this product really came in handy. The first time I tried the biscuits, I had them with coffee and I really did feel a burst of energy. After that, however, I didn’t feel more energized but they sure so taste good.

v  Dickinsons – Although I never got totally used to the smell, I did like how these towlettes worked, I used them to wipe off my makeup and my face not only looked clean but felt smooth.

v  Vaseline – I am obsessed with finding the perfect moisturizing lotion, so I knew that this lotion had to bring it if it was going to get my approval. Not only is it easy to apply but it moisturizes almost all day and does absorb rather quickly (although you can feel it on your hands).

The Verdict

v  Optic White – BUY, must you must use all three products and use as directed if you want the best results.

v  Nectresse – BUY, if you want to use a sweetener rather than real sugar.

v  BelVita – BUY, if you want a tasty snack or meal replacement (although it may not give you the energy it promises).

v  Dickinsons – BUY, but be aware of that funky “medicine” smell

v  Vaseline – BUY, unless you like the old fashioned way that includes using the pump’s straw to dig in to the bottle for the last of the lotion J

Palmolive Soft Touch Product Review

This product review will be for the Coconut Butter Palmolive Soft Touch. This product, along with the Vitamin E Palmolive Soft Touch, was received compliments of Influenster. All opinions in the review are my own.

To learn more about this product, please go to the Palmolive website and Influenster product page.


The Promise
The unique formula with a touch of Coconut Butter was designed to be mild on hands, with a silky, smooth feel,  while still leaving dishes sparkling clean. As always, Palmolive is Tough on Grease, Soft on Hands.

My First Thoughts
I first need to start off by stating that I do not enjoy doing the dishes, although I understand that they must be done. Secondly, I know that in my case the most logical solution would be to use the dishwasher but, being raised in a traditional Mexican family, the dishwasher is the devil and it will never leave dishes as clean as washing them by hand :) Lastly, I had been purchasing Dawn Hand Renewal for a while because I know the importance of taking care of your skin and I hate using those gloves that just leave your hands stinky and sweaty.

The Product
I was pleasantly surprised with the appearance of the product, looks more like something from Bath and Body Works than a dish soap. When using the product, I realized the lather is thicker and silkier, which for me was a good sign for both my dishes and my hands. The grease came right off and doing the dishes was a breeze. The true test came when I had to clean spaghetti off a plate, the grease stains came off and there was no greasy film afterwards as you sometimes get with "cheaper" products. Also, I must add, I have two children at home that love their milk so this product also worked well in cleaning the milk residue off the bottles.

Verdict
Overall, I must say that I am pretty happy with this product and can't wait to try other lines from Palmolive. Palmolive Soft Touch with Coconut Butter did exactly what it promised and worked as great as the more expensive Dawn Hand Renewal. If you follow the link to the Palmolive website listed above, you will find that Palmolive reinvented themselves with several new lines of products fit to meet specific needs (try out the Product Recommender to see what line of Palmolive product works best for you). Also, another great thing about Palmolive Soft Touch is that you can easily find all it's varieties (Vitamin E, Coconut Butter and Aloe) at a Walmart near you.

What's in a smile: Colgate Optic White Product Review

Colgate White toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash provided by Influester. Log on to http://bit.ly/154mB2X and http://bit.ly/UVoWWv for more details on Influester and Colgate Optic White.

The Promise
Colgate Optic White has a mouthwash and toothpaste that utilizes the same ingredient as professional grade products to whiten teeth. According to the labels, using the toothpaste with toothbrush and mouthwash not only will you see brighter teeth in as little as two weeks but they will be noticeably whiter in four. The mouthwash, specifically, states that it also freshens breath, helps protect against future stains, kills bad-breath germs and is enamel safe.


Too Good To Be True?
I must say that before I received these products from Influenster, I was already using the Colgate Optic White toothpaste because I has heard the ads and got good feedback from my friends and family. The toothpaste definitely works, I saw whiter teeth just days after using the toothpaste alone, so you can imagine how excited I was to receive the full line...for free. Don't get me wrong through, as a loyal member of the online product review community, I was going to hold Optic White to high scrutiny. I read all of the labels and followed the instructions diligently.

The toothbrush
At first I wasn't too sure about using a toothbrush with soft bristles but I must say that this brush is pretty sturdy and goes in deep to clean. I especially like the tongue and cheek cleaner, it is soft but cleans these areas real well, much better than the toothbrush I previously owned.

The Toothpaste
Like I said before, I was a fan of this paste before receiving it from Influenster but the reason why I like it is because it works. This toothpaste promises to give you brighter, whiter teeth and it does just that. Also, for those of you that are picky on the taste of your paste, Colgate Optic White has a sweet yet minty taste that refreshes as well as cleans your mouth.

The Mouthwash
This product also held up to it's promise, it not only helped speed up the whitening process but it did everything a regular mouthwash does. I would rinse with this mouthwash in the morning and before bed every night, following brushing my teeth, and in the mornings I felt like my mouth was still fresh rather than the typical morning breath we sometimes tend to have when waking up.

The Verdict
I am definitely going to continue to purchase Colgate Optic White products because I felt that not only did they keep their promise but it is exactly what I was looking for: a line of cleaning products that will also whiten my teeth (never been much for whitening strips). My recommendation for those of you that are interested is to purchase all products and use as directed for as long as it is recommended to see the proper results :)

PR: Arm and Hammer Detergent for Sensitive Skin

I was able to test this product through a focus group for a product research company. To learn more about how you can test product or be part of a focus group, click over to www.taylorresearch.com


Look: I knew I was given the opportunity to test out a detergent for sensitive skin but I had no idea it was going to be from Arm and Hammer when it arrived in the mail. I have used Arm and Hammer for years now to wash my whites and I trust the brand so I was excited that they had a product like this out in the market from such a trusted source.

Smell: Some of the detergent had spilled onto the packaging when it arrived in the mail so it was pretty fragrant. I mainly got the detergent for my 2 year-old son who has really sensitive skin but, like many other moms with little ones, I wanted something that has a scent. This is not the scent you want for your children, it is more like a mountain fresh “manlier” smell that my boyfriend loved but I was not too sure about. I was glad to see that, after the clothes was washed and dried, the smell was not as concentrated as it was on the bottle.

Product: The detergent did what it promised to do; I was able to wash all of our clothes with this detergent and my son has not had dry patches or itchy skin since using this product. The product is small but, if used according to the specifications on the label, it can last long enough to make this a good purchase for the price ($7-$10 for 50oz.)

Over score: 8

Although I have really enjoyed using this product and it keeps its promise, I would really like to see more scents before I am completely sold on it.