Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Influenster Bloom Voxbox Review



I was thrilled to get not one, but two Influenster Voxboxes this month! You may have already seen my review of the Influenster Procter & Gamble Voxbox. Well, the Bloom Voxbox was extra special too! It had a nice variety of product: nailcare, haircare, deodorant, bodycare, and food.


Sinful Colors Professional Nail Polish Enamel in Teal Midnight ($2.00)

From everything I've seen, Sinful Colors Nail Polishes are a real steal. If you're looking for a quick, cheap color to match a particular outfit, this is definitely your brand. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the color I received in this box. Being in my late 20s, I don't wear a lot of bright blue glitter on my nails anymore. I left that back in my Limited Too days. When I put it on it looked bluish-purple so I decided to nickname it "the mermaid manicure". It's definitely a lot lighter than it looks in the bottle. I see this color is no longer available on their website, so perhaps it wasn't too popular. However, the polish was quick drying and was relatively thick - only required 2 coats for a translucent look, 3 coats for an opaque look. Check out my Sinful Colors manicure here.

Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads ($1.49)

This sample was full-sized which includes three individually wrapped pads. What they advertise is absolutely true. Each one of these Nail Polish Remover Pads will remove regular nail polish (and top/base coat) from all 10 of your fingernails. It really worked like a charm and didn't require much scrubbing.

I then got a little greedy and tried to use the same one on my toes. Unfortunately it doesn't really work for more than 10 nails. I found that they weren't quite as effective on my toes. I don't know why. I really struggled to get the same polish off with them. So, I would definitely recommend these for your manicures but perhaps not for pedicures.
They are really perfect for travel. You can avoid bringing an extra liquid with you and they don't make a mess or have a particularly strong smell. I always forget to bring nail polish remover along with me on a trip. If I'm attending a wedding or another big event I always bring polish or get my nails done during the trip at a nail salon. It's important to bring along remover too just in case a nail chips and needs to be re-painted or you need to change your nail color to match a last-minute wardrobe change. Chipped nails never look great at a formal event.



Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter ($5.99)

Admittedly volume isn't a major issue for me unless I haven't washed my hair in a while and haven't used any dry shampoo. My hair is marginally fine but there's a lot of it and while it's relatively straight, it's definitely got some waviness to it that gives it natural volume. So, I can't say I initially thought this product was really made for me. Thin, flat hair is never really my problem. Maybe the occasional cowlick instead when I get out of bed after sleeping on wet hair!

This spray can be used on either damp or dry hair. I opted for trying it on dry hair because I thought it would be easier to see the results that way. The product comes out as a sort of lotion spray which you spray into your palms and spread on your hands. When you apply it to your hair, you simply scrunch your hair with your hands from ends to roots. The product has a really nice peach or apricot scent. I didn't notice any added shine to be honest, but I did see some instant volume. I think this product would be more effective if I had more fine or thinner hair.




Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil ($23.20)


Nuxe is one of my absolute favorite brands, so I was absolutely thrilled to see Influenster include it in this box. I first learned about the brand while traveling in Paris. It's a local favorite at the French chain store Monoprix (sort of an upscale Target equivalent). I definitely consider this more on the luxe side of skin and haircare. The quality definitely stacks up with premium brands. However, in addition to higher-end retailers like Ulta and Birchbox, you can also now buy a lot of Nuxe items at Target and Amazon.

The one thing I love about all Nuxe products is that they have subtle but very delightful scents. This is especially true of my favorite product in their line, the Reve de Miel Hand & Nail Cream, which smells deliciously of honey. This Dry Oil is no exception to the rule with its light, powdery botanic scent. If you use this product on a significant portion of your skin, there's really no need to wear a fragrance or use any other scented body lotion, spray, or cleanser.

What I really like about this product is that it is multi-purpose. It's great for moisturizing your face and body to make it silky-smooth AND it can help make your hair shiny and healthy. I like to use it as a "shower oil" right before I've toweled off to help lock in some moisture in some problem areas like my forearms and elbows. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave any greasy residue - perhaps because of the 6 Precious Botanical Oils and Vitamin E in it. It's also a great way to add some shine to your hair if you have to skip a conditioner or use a cheap hotel one that leaves your hair squeaky clean. 



Secret Outlast Xtend Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($3.99)


I'll spare you the repeat review, as I also received this item in my Influenster Procter & Gamble Voxbox this month. You can read my previous review here.




Sunbelt Bakery Oats & Honey Chewy Granola Bar ($2.69)


This was a lot more moist and chewy than I expected. I was actually very pleasantly surprised by this. They just break apart like a rice krispy treat! I can see why they advertise it as having a "bakery-fresh taste". It's a lot more like the taste of the Quaker Chewy granola bars I had as a kid, but the size of a Nature Valley granola bar (1 piece of the 2-bar packs). It's sweet but not too sweet (contains 12 grams of sugar). The full size is a package of ten, so the price is an absolute steal. I will say that looking at the nutrition facts there's nothing super healthy about them as opposed to an average granola bar but they definitely serve as a nice breakfast item or snack to keep you full throughout the day.


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I received all of these products for free for review purposes via Influenster, but all opinions are my own.

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