Your little black dress will thank you

As much as I hate to admit it I sweat like crazy and I have a hard time finding a deodorant that works. I remember when I worked a dentist office being under the bright lights all day I would have pit stains and not smell so fresh. WOW talk about embarrassing so I immediately shopped for new deodorant. After four or five woman's deodorants I couldn't find one that worked for me so I used a man's for a while. Thanks to perfume, I didn't exactly smell like a man but I sure didn't feel feminine using a man's deodorant.  But compared to pit stains and BO smelling like a man was the better of the two options. Then Degree came out with a woman's deodorant and I was so grateful that it worked. 

I have never really thought about trying another deodorant until I got the Secret 24 Hour Outlast in my voxbox from Influenster so I gave it a try. It's little black dress approved because it won't leave white marks. Honestly I'm very careful not to ruin my little black dress with white marks, it's the everyday black shirts that get the stains.  I hate that because then you either have to scrub the stain off or change. Who has time for that in the morning?

When I pulled the Secret out of the box I noticed how good it smells. It's a floral smell which I adore and it smells very fresh. I was little hesitant because it is a gel and I was afraid it would feel funny under my arms. The first time I put it on it was different but nothing I couldn't handle and it dried very quickly. The deodorant itself is clear so it goes on clear and stays clear, it also doesn't feel sticky or gooey. Another great things no deodorant balls haunting you when you wear sleeveless. 



Secret lasted through my day --  10 hours of work, a brisk walk on my breaks, cooking supper, washing dishes, helping with homework, then putting the kids to bed all of that with no odor or pit stains. Combine that with it being clear and smelling great I'd say it is a winner.  Even though I was not in the market for a new deodorant I found one that works better then my former favorite and I will buy this one again. 

I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes but the opinion is all mine.

Dickinson Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes

 

 

 

 

 

I received a box of Dickerson's Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes they sell for $5.99 for a 20 count box. You can find it at your favorite local drug store.  I was very excited to try these because mid-day my forehead starts to shine almost as bright as a light bulb. I apply powder but it never makes it go away. I can't stand that oily look so this was something that I thought would be very useful and I couldn't wait to try them.  



Excitedly I ripped open one of the individual packets, the first thing I noticed was the towelette is nice size, it also is pretty thick and with it being individually wrapped it stays very moist. Witch Hazel can be used in so many different ways I wasn't sure how to work the towelettes into my skin care regimen.  I started using them in the afternoon after my toner and on lazy days I used them as a make-up remover wipe.  Then I followed with my regular moisturizer and eye cream.  I have seen where others replaced their toner with these wipes. I'm sure there is no wrong way to use them, whatever fits your lifestyle best. They are great to bring with you to the beach, gym, or on your morning run to refresh your face.


When I first open the wipes the smell was not my favorite but after a few uses I started to get used to it.  I love the way it makes my face feel cool after using it reminds me of an old toner I used when I was a teenager. After a few uses I saw the bags and dark circles under my eyes starting to go away and my face did not shine like a light bulb mid-day.

So what are the perks of Dickinsons Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes? They make my face feel cool and refreshed, they have lessened the appearance of the bags and dark circles under my eyes, they have stopped the mid-day light bulb on my forehead, and they are very portable. The only con is the smell but I got over that quickly.  Plus Pintrest has tons of great uses for witch hazel, it's good for sunburn, diaper rashes, and insect bites.

Overall I think these get an 8/10 and I would purchase these again.  I would also like to try other products from this line.  Check out the Dickinsons website for products and skin care tips.

 

I received a box of in my SugarNSpice VoxBox complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. The product was free to try but the opinion expressed in this post are all mine and I was given no additional compensation for it. 



 

 



Suave vs L'Oreal Styling Oil

What is hair oil? what does it do? These oils are said to heal, banish frizz, condition, and protect hair while adding shine without weighing hair down. To me that was a wow factor because I have to use three to four products to get protection, conditioning, and less frizz so trying a hair oil was a must for me although I never knew it until I was chosen to test one.  There was a little part of me that was very afraid to use the oil because my scalp is naturally oily while my ends are dry but I am pleased to let you know neither of the oils in this post made my hair oily or greasy.

Now if you are anything thing like me once you have decided to try a hair oil your shopping trip goes like this. You are standing down the shampoo isle looking at all the different brands thinking which one is a good one? You grab one or two and there's the little voice in your head that says "but wait this one is half the price of the other one". You're skeptical of buying the less expensive one because you have been burned before. You know the one -- the bottle says "compared to" but it doesn't work anything like that the other one. How do you know? You went back and purchased the more expensive one because you weren't getting the desired results. Although we all know its worth the extra cost if works better there is always that thought... but what if the less expensive product really does work the same?

Lots of people believe the more you pay the better the quality of the product but is that isn't always true. I tried both the L'Oreal Eversleek Precious oil sold for $12.99 and Suave Moroccan oil sold for $6.99 both are intended to cut frizz and add shine. The instructions are almost identical, dispense two pumps in your palm and rub them together then rub evenly through damp hair avoiding the roots. You can use one spray of both in dry hair as a frizz serum.  I thought it would be fun to compare. So going with most people's thinking the L'Oreal would be better right? Lets see.

When I was chosen by All You to test Suave Moroccan Infusion styling oil I was very excited. I couldn't wait to see how it worked. The first thing I noticed is the Suave has a nice consistency but is not very thick and applies very nicely. The minute I put the Suave in my hand I notched the smell was amazing but it's not overpowering. There have been days when I can still smell it in my hair hours after application and that is a huge plus to me. I have noticed an extreme amount of shine and my hair is super soft after using. I have also noticed less frizz with the Suave and my hair was not weighed down.  I would give the Suave an 9/10 on quality and a 9/10 for effectiveness I really like product.

Then I got the  L'Oreal Eversleek Precious oil treatment in a compensation package for a product testing I completed through the L'Oreal consumer test panel. The L'Oreal is a very thick consistency but does apply very nicely. The smell is pleasant but not very strong. I have noticed less frizz, my hair is super soft, and has a nice shine. I also noticed that my hair is not super wavy if I let it air dry plus my hair was not weighed down. I would give it an 9/10 on quality 9/10 on effectiveness so I really like the L'Oreal oil as well.

So my opinion is there is not a clear winner in this case they are both very effective and do what they claim. The Suave Moroccan oil smells amazing while the L'Oreal has a pleasant smell but in this case I would not spend the extra for L'Oreal because the Suave is great and does exactly what I wanted it to do. With less expensive brands stepping up their game sometimes you can get quality effective products at a lower costs.

Stay tuned for more vs I will have a lot more coming. If this review was helpful, leave me a message. If you have used a different type of styling oil that you loved let me know.

                        Like alwaysblabbing on  FaceBook for the inside scoop on the best product testing sites and contest that are coming soon.

Nectresse' -- REVISED

 

 

 

When I saw this in my Influenster Voxbox I was super excited.  Like I mentioned earlier I drink a lot of coffee and sweet tea. I couldn' t wait to find a zero calorie sweetener because sugar has a lot of calories. I have tried SweetNLow and Equal and neither compared to sugar. So how did this one compare?

 

The first time I put two packets in my morning cup of coffee I thought hey this isn't so bad. Then I tried in my instant coffee and it had the nastiest taste. It wasn't even close to sugar and was not sweet at all plus it left a terrible taste in my mouth. My husband tried it as well and he did not like it either.  I tried it again in my regular brewed cup of coffee because the first time was good but the second time it was oddly bitter and left that same taste in my mouth. 

 

After that I gave up I figured I would not like the Nectresse and put it to the side. A few days later I was talking to my mother in-law and offered her the Nectresse because I didn't like it. She suggested before I gave her the box to try four packets in my coffee. She said she loves Nectresse and felt safe using it because it is made out of fruit.

 

The benefits of Nectresse not containing aspartame and being a zero calorie sweetener was enough to make me want to give it a second try.  So here goes a second try -- I woke up in the morning made my cup of coffee with four single serve packets and just a dash of sugar. By a dash I mean the top of the spoon had a small amount on it. Without high expectations and prepared to dump out my cup of coffee  I took my first sip. To my surprise it was very tasty in my head I heard the bells of a slot machine in a sense. I had found a low/no calorie sweetner for my coffee that taste good WOOHOO. For me this was like winning a small portion of the lottery. I mean I drink two to three cups of coffee a day and I know with the amout of sugar I use that adds a huge amount of daily calories so of course I was excited.

 

It has been proven the more sugar you take in the more you crave sugar and I have seen many more benefits from using Nectresse. I am snacking much less and find I have more energy hopefully next I am weighing much less. I am really glad I gave this a second try because I wanted to like it perhaps I will venture to baking with it next? I would recommend this product with this advice - don't be afraid to use more because the more you use the sweeter it gets. I purchased more and have using it ever since. There are lots of tasty looking recipes on Pintrest if you want to experiment with Nectresse'

 

 

 

I received this product complimentary from Influenster but the opinion is all MINE. I was given no additional compensation for this post.

 

 



Colgate Optic White Regimen

As you may know I received three of the Colgate Optic products in my Influenster SugarNSpice voxbox. I was so excited to try this because I have always hated that my teeth were not white. The second thing I notice on people is their teeth (in case you are wondering I notice eyes first) and I know a lot of people are the same way. There is nothing better then a pretty, white smile and I have tried lots of things to whiten my teeth with no results. I tried the paint on tooth whitener, that didn't work. I purchased the strips and didn't use them like I should so they didn't work.  I tried baking soda but lets face it, that is not the best tasting thing.
 
Although I LOVE it I have to give the trio a C and I will explain why. Please don't stop reading because once I explain I hope you will realize a C is not a bad thing, it's just I would change a few things if I could.

 

The first thing is the Optic White 360 toothbrush. As you can see it is not like most toothbrushes. I showed a picture of the back so you can see the cheek and tongue cleaner. I LOVE this toothbrush I give it an A++++. My teeth feel super clean after using it and I have noticed my teeth feel cleaner longer. Great product I would recommend everybody try this and I will be using this toothbrush from now on! It sells for $2.99 per brush.

 

 

Ok now the OpticWhite toothpaste is a little harder to grade. The taste isn't unbearable but it's not great either. I also find that I have a strange after taste immediately after using and it kind of foams in your mouth. With all of that being said I would still give the toothpaste a B-. The reason for that grade is I notice my teeth getting cleaner. I use it twice a day along with the mouth wash and have noticed that the stains on my teeth are going away and my gums are much healthier. So I can live with the taste not being great for the results I am seeing and will continue to use this toothpaste. I would also recommend it to my friends and family. Sells for $2.99 for a 4oz tube of toothpaste.

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  Of all three products the mouthwash is the hardest to grade. I feel I would it would be disservice if I didn't disclose that this mouthwash tastes HORRIBLE. It foams in your mouth so you have to be very careful not to use too much. You taste the hydrogen peroxide in the mouthwash a lot. So overall I would give this a C-. Since I'm using the three together I have to assume that they all play a part in the results I am seeing. I have seen whiter, healthier teeth in five days. To be honest, I am undecided if I will continue to use this mouthwash I will try the toothpaste and toothbrush without the mouthwash first. I would recommend it to friends and family because it does give the results it promises. Sells for $2.99 for an 8oz bottle.

This is my results after 9 days of use

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to see what other Influenster members think of the Colgate OpticWhite regimen click here  

 

 

 

 Why not whiten while you brush?

 

 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes but the opinion is all mine. For those of you who are not familiar with Influenster, check it out.  Influenster is a free-to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products. It's a very fun site and I think they rock!!

Sugar & Spice and everything Nice?

Hey y'all, I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive another voxbox from Influenster. For this one the Influenster members voted on a name and Sugar N Spice was the winner. I was so excited when I chosen to receive the Voxbox and I was even more excited when I opened my box and saw the products I get to try.

Nectresse' sweetener and I can't wait to try it. I love to drink coffee and tea but they have to be sweet so I use a good bit of sugar. I have tried SweetNLow and Equal but nothing compares to sugar in my opinion. I can't wait to see if Nectresse' can sweeten  my coffee without an after taste since it has zero calories -- that's right I said ZERO calories. With bikini  season just around the corner hopefully cutting down on calories will help get my beach body back.

                      
Suggested retail price of Nectresse is $6.99 for 5.9 oz container or $3.99 for a box of 40

 

Influenster's note: Nectresse sweetener tastes like sugar but has zero calories per serving! 100% all natural, Nectress is made primarily from monk fruit combined with other natural sweeteners.






Like influesnter's note below says I got not one but THREE products from the Colgate Optic White line, the Colgate 360 toothbrush, Optic White toothpaste, and Optic White mouthwash.  I am huge Colgate fan that is pretty much all I use at my house but I have not tried the Optic White or the Colgate 360 toothbrush. And since I just confessed I drink a lot of coffee and sweet tea I'm sure you can guess my teeth are not as white as they could be. I'm so excited to see if the optic white toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash will help whiten my teeth. I know I would love a whiter smile. Who doesn't want a beautiful white smile?  Then I can show off a bikini body and a whiter, brighter smile - I'm loving this voxbox and I'm only halfway through it!


Suggested retail price of the Colgate Optic White regimen is $2.99 for a 4oz tube of toothpaste, $2.99 for an 8oz bottle of mouthwash, and $2.99 per brush for the tooth brush

Influenster's note:  Your VoxBox contains not one, but THREE Colgate Optic White products in a new high impact formula. Use the Optic White toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash together for whiter teeth in five days (vs. brushing with an ordinary toothpaste alone)














I'm super excited to try the Vaseline Spray and Go moisturizer I use lotion throughout the day and love the thought of a spray the can. I can throw it in my purse and not have to worry about it getting ruined or I can keep it in the bathroom to spray quickly after I get out of the shower. I had to spray some on and it felt AMAZING ! This moisturizer is quick, easy to spray, and not greasy at all. It was dry in no time so I didn't have to wait to sit down because I feared ruining my sofa. I love that it has a subtle, clean smell that is not overpowering but smells a little like vanilla to me.

 

Suggested retail price is $7.99 for a 6.5 oz can of Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture

 

Influenster's note: New Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes and absorbs in seconds, and leaves your skin feeling instantly soft - not sticky or greasy. Now you won't have to wait for your lotion to absorb before pulling on those skinny jeans!

Always being on the go makes it hard to have a good breakfast so I love the idea of BelVita breakfast biscuit. They give you four biscuits in the pack which is a lot more than I was expecting. The flavor I got in my box is Cinnamon Brown Sugar and of course I ripped it open and ate one. The are so delicious, it tastes like a cinammon gram cracker.  
Suggested retail price $3.69 for a box of 5 packets each with 4 biscuits in them

Influenster's note: belVita breakfast biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that last all morning. They are a good source of fiber and B-Vitamins, contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18 - 20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great - perfect for on-the-go

 Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes. They smell a little different but the wipe size is great it's not small at all. I wiped my face with one and it left a cool sensation on my face. I wanted to keep wiping my face because that sensation felt great. They also come in individual packages so you can throw one or two in your purse to use throughout the day. I am so excited to try these because my forehead gets extremely shiny during the day and no amount of powder seems to get rid of the shine. I can't wait to see if these help.

Suggested retail price $5.99 for a 20-count box of wipes

 

Influenster's note: Introducing Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes - The soothing blend of Witch Hazel and aloe on these facial wipes rejuvenates your skin by gently lifting dirt, oil, and impurities from your pours while nourishing even the most sensitive skin. The results is a clean, refreshed, and blemish free complexion even when you're out and about.




I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Those of you who are not familiar with Influenster, it an extremely awesome site where trendsetters review products and possibly get to try products for free.  They also do fun things like twitter parties and brand challenges where you can win products from some of your favorite brands.Click the word Influenster above to check it out for yourself.

The Taste Tuesdays on ABC 9/8c continued

As I told you earlier I was recently introduced to the Taste on ABC by Influenster  and I've been hooked ever since. I'm here to give you an update as the competition continues to heat up and to let you know it's new time is 9/8c. Catch up soon because there is only one episode left until the finale.

  

 

The Mentors Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludovic Lefebvre, and Brian Malarkey judge blind meaning they pick the best and worst dishes based on taste alone. As you can imagine when they find out their worst dish was cooked by somebody on their own team, they are not happy and the other judges rub salt in the wound.

The challenges are proving to be more difficult then the contestants expected  during The Art of the Sandwich episode one of them said "If you can't make a sandwich then what the hell kind of chef are you?" But when their hour was up a few of the contestants couldn't take the heat and  Huda and Mia were eliminated.


Last Tuesday's episode Nose to Tail Episode was not for the squeamish as the contestants cooked with offal, a variety meats or organ meats, refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal. You can bet the preparation had vegetarians and meat eaters alike squirming and turning their heads.  But when the contestants were finished cooking the spoonfuls were beautiful and it caused an internal debate on whether or not offal would be that bad to eat.

As if cooking with offal was not adventurous enough Gregg blew up a pressure cooker but still managed to win the immunity challenge. Then he seriously cut his finger while cooking for the solo competition. When it came for the judges taste test Gregg's dish was an epic fail but with immunity the judges could not send him home.  His mentor Ludovic Lebebvre, gave him a heavy tongue lashing for his lousy dish (in his an extremely heavy accent which Is hard to understand when he gets excited but fun to try) so maybe that will bring Gregg back down to earth.

 

No team has is completely intact but Nigella Lawson's team has been sliced and diced leaving her with one contestant who was almost elimiated last night. Three people were elimated and Lauren on Team Nigella had one of the four worst dishes. After deliberation that was almost as heated as Gregg's pressure cooker the judges eliminated Uno, NinaMarie, and Mia. Leaving Lauren in the competition to fight alone for the Nigella Lawson's team. I can't help but to cheer for her and hope that Lauren wins it all. This also left Anthony Bourdain with one contest, Diane, to finish the competition.


I hope Gregg from team Ludo does not win this competition but unfortunately he is a force to reckon with.  He has won two out of three immunity challenges but he seeems to have a hard time when it comes to individual challenges. The contestants seem to have a little bit of an issue with him and it's not hard to see why. He has this very cocky attitude but I guess that is expected since he has won two out of three immunity challenges.

Next week's episode is named Seduction I'm looking forward to Tuesday night to see what this episode brings.

Here is a sneak peak of the show