Review: Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer

Hello, everyone! I'm back on the blog with another review of a Valentia skincare product. As you know, I am a big fan of Valentia products; I have tried serums, masks and moisturizers, and each has been high quality and nourishing for my skin. 

Today, I will be telling you about the Valentia Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer. This product comes in a bottle with a pump. I love moisturizers that come with a pump because it is convenient and prevents germs; I hate sticking my fingers into a moisturizer in a jar. The product inside the bottle is a lightweight, fast-absorbing cream that gives your skin a beautiful, healthy, and hydrated glow.

The Pure Glow moisturizer is supposed to lighten dark spots, restore skin's radiance, diminish fine lines and hydrate for 24 hours. After using the product for several weeks, I agree with all of these claims. My skin feels healthier and more illuminated, and I believe Valentia's key ingredients are to thank for that.

Firstly, the Pure Glow Brightening Moisturizer contains Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, which prodives skin with moisture, increased elasticity, and a plumped appearance.

The next key ingredient is Kojic Acid, which controls melanin production to prevent dark spots from forming.

Then, there is Ginseng, which boosts collagen, fights wrinkles, and brightens skin. 

Another key ingredient is Safflower Oil. This oil repairs your skin's natural moisture barrier.

Finally, this moisturizer contains Shea Butter, which contains vitamins and nutrients for hydrated, supple skin.
I love that this product comes with four ounces of moisturizer; it should last me a few months, and I will definitely repurchase when I've finished this bottle.

Check out more from Valentia on their Instagram and their Facebook. I highly recommend that you try out these products for yourself to see how they change your skin for the better.

FTC Note: Powered by BrandBacker.

Beauty Box 5 - August 2014 Review

THE SCOOP:

Hey everyone! Ready for another Beauty Box 5 review? The August BB5 theme is "Radiant and Remarkable," and the products are meant to celebrate the radiance of every subscriber and to help us transition into fall. 

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends out 5 beauty products each month. The box is $12 a month for a month-to-month subscription, but you can save money if you buy a quarterly or yearly subscription. BB5 also offers half-off intro boxes regularly, so keep an eye on my blog for upcoming coupon codes.

THE BOX:

The August box contains a good mix of makeup, hair products, and skincare. 

Nanacoco lip gloss in First Kiss: Full size, $3.99

This gloss has quickly become one of my favorite lip products in my collection! The texture reminds me of a NYX butter gloss because it is smooth, non-sticky, and smells delicious. The vitamin E keeps my lips soft and silky. This is definitely earning its place in my daily makeup bag!

Check out that pigment! The color of this gloss is opaque and bold. 

La Fresh Travel Lite makeup remover wipes: Sample, 8 wipes

I am currently on vacation in New York City, and these wipes have been so useful for me! They take off waterproof mascara with ease, and they don't leave a sticky or greasy residue behind. I love that they are oil-free so my skin stays clear. 

Novex Brazilian Keratin: Sample, 1.05 oz. 

This packet is truly "hair food!" My hair is dry and tends to frizz, so it eats up moisture. This cream is perfect to use during a shower. Massage it into your hair, leave in for 25 minutes, and rinse. Voila! Healthy, happy hair in a half hour. 

Pur-lisse Pur Protect SPF 30 sunscreen: Sample, 0.5 oz. 

I live in Arizona, so SPF is a pretty important part of my life. This lotion is lightweight and non-greasy, so it's the perfect SPF under makeup. I like the high SPF, too. 

NOT PICTURED:

Style Essentials nail polish: Full Size

This polish is so unique in my collection! The color is something I've never seen before. I love the high shine finish and thick brush that allows for easy application. This is my new favorite toe polish color!

THE RECAP:

I received 5 beauty products in the August BB5 that are useful to my life. Each item will be used. I've already finished the LA Fresh wipes, and I'm working on the Pur-lisse and the Novex. I am very pleased with the usefulness of this month's box. 

Make sure to subscribe by 8/21 to get the August box! Otherwise, sign up ASAP to get in on the September BB5. 

Disclaimer: I am a contributor to Beauty Box 5's review team. I received this box for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

Influenster Venus® Snap with Embrace Review

Hey everyone! With the Arizona summer in full swing, I find myself in public with bare legs often. I use the heat as an excuse to whip out my dresses, skirts, and shorts so I can stay cool and look cute. However, sometimes you don't have time to shave before you head off to run an errand. Or maybe you need to bring a razor on a weekend getaway, but you have limited packing space. Or perhaps you are a gym rat who likes to get their shaving over with in the gym shower.

Here is your solution: the new Gillette Venus® Snap with Embrace!

Photo from Amazon.com

No matter the situation, Venus® Snap with Embrace is a perfect match for your lifestyle. We are all busy, and sometimes we need smoothness on-the-go. This portable razor will help you get a smooth shave #InASnap!

Recently, I went to the gym and wanted to take a dip in the pool afterward to cool down. I hadn't shaved my legs in a few days, and I felt self-conscious about the stubble. I pulled my Venus® Snap with Embrace out of gym bag, and I was able to go for a swim without any worry!

The carrying case for this tiny razor is so convenient and allows you to bring it on the go anytime. The mini handle has a grip on it so there is no worry of it slipping out of your hand. Also, the 5 Curve-Hugging blades provide a close shave, and the Ribbon of Moisture, activated by water, provides comfortable smoothness.

Overall, this razor has been a welcome convenience in my life. Are you planning to try it?

Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary of Influenster for testing purposes.

Beauty Box 5 - May 2014 Review

THE SCOOP:
Hey everyone! I'm here with another Beauty Box 5 review. The May BB5 theme is "Fresh and Focused," and the BB5 team created this box to help subscribers get back in the zone when all we can think about is laying on the beach with a good book and a margarita.

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends you 5 beauty products each month. The box is $12 a month for a month-to-month subscription, but you can save money if you buy a quarterly or yearly subscription.

CONTENTS:

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask: Full Size, $5.99

This sheet mask is paraben-free, vegan, and 100% biodegradable! I enjoy how eco-friendly the brand is, and I love masks of any type. This one has cute packaging and feels really moisturizing and soothing.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths: Sample, $0.87

The May BB5 came with three of these cooling cloths. I have never tried anything like these before, so I was really excited. They leave a nice scent and a powdery, dry finish. They work really well for the summer heat in Arizona.

H2O+ Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel: Sample, $1.35

This cleanser is made with sea salt and energizing marine botanicals. It is also oil-free and has gentle exfoliants. I have been using this while out of town, and I really enjoy how clean it makes my face feel.

Harvey Prince Hello Fragrance: Sample, $3.50

This perfume has notes of mandarin, grapefruit, and plumeria. It is my perfect summer scent. I have worn it every day since I received my box. It is so fresh and happy.

Cattiva Precisione Eye Liner: Full Size, $20

This retractable liner is waterproof and smudge-resistant. The swatch below stayed on my hand after vigorous scrubbing. It goes on smooth and dark. It's a great addition to my makeup collection!

May's Beauty Box 5 did not disappoint. The value is over $30, so I think it's a great deal. I will use all of these products. I can't wait to see what June has in store!

Disclaimer: I am a contributor to Beauty Box 5's review team. I received this box for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

Beauty Box 5 - April 2014 Review

THE SCOOP:
Hey everyone! I'm here with a review on the April 2014 Beauty Box 5.

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends you 5 beauty products each month. The box is $12 a month for a month-to-month subscription, but you can save money if you buy a quarterly or yearly subscription.

BB5 sends out some of the most useful products I've seen in beauty subscriptions.

This month's theme is Shades of Beauty.

CONTENTS:

Nicka K New York Hydro Lipstick in Begonia: Full Size; $4.99

This lipstick is an interesting color. It changes in the light from a bright pink to a bright red. It has a shimmery quality that reminded me of Dorothy's ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz! When I first saw it, I assumed I would dislike the shimmer because I am more of a cream lipstick lover. However, the finished look was gorgeous! It goes really well with a golden eye and peach blush.

Bonne Bell Lip Definer in Soft Brick: Full Size; $3.95

Boy, it has been a while since I have used Bonne Bell. This lip liner is not the smoothest in application, but it provides natural definition for the lips. I think it would be great for people who want to line outside of their natural lip line to give the illusion of fuller lips.

BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow Palette: Sample; $3
I have never tried BH Costmetics. This sampler was given away last summer in Ipsy bags, but I was not a subscriber at the time. I really enjoy these three colors, one from each California palette. The purple shade is unlike any other purple I own. It is a royal purple. The brown has gorgeous golden shimmer, and it goes perfectly with the golden color on the right.

Swatches of the BH Cosmetics California Sample Palette 

Blum Naturals All-Purpose Cleansing Wipes in Fresh Scent: 30 wipes; $2.49

I really love that BB5 included makeup wipes this month. I could always use more wipes because I use them to take off my makeup at night before washing my face. This little container has a keychain for on-the-go use, but it contains 30 wipes, which is a great amount. I am excited to use these!

Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer packets: Sample; $1.50

Although I have light skin, I decided to try out these packets, which are meant for medium to tan skintones. I have used the first two packets, and I am mostly impressed! I have a beautiful tan now that looks fairly natural. My only problem is that I noticed a few streaks. This is probably due to my application, and I will be more careful to make sure everything is rubbed in properly from now on. I will definitely purchase this in the light version.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Swatches of lipstick in Begonia and lip definer in Soft Brick

I did an eye look using all three colors from the BH Cosmetics sampler. The gold is on my lid, the brown is in my crease, and I used the purple as a liner by wetting an angled brush and dipping it into the shadow.

These shadows are very easy to blend. I'm very impressed!

Here is my final look, using the eye look from above, the lip definer in Soft Brick, and the lipstick in Begonia. You can see the beautiful red quality here, but when I move, the shimmer causes it to change color. It really is beautiful!

Overall, this month's box was worth about $16. The value here is very high for me because I will use all of the products! Keep it up, BB5!

Disclaimer: I am a contributor to Beauty Box 5's review team. I received this box for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

Beauty Box 5 April Spoiler

Voila! Here is the April spoiler for Beauty Box 5. All subscribers will receive a full-size Nicka K New York Hydro Lipstick. 

BB5 says, "These long-wear lipsticks are formulated with jojoba oil for moisturized, lightweight, full-bodied color." They are also paraben-free and come in a myriad of beautiful colors! I am hoping for a radiant orchid color, like Fabulous. Which color are you loving?

In case you haven't heard, BB5 is a subscription service that delivers five beauty products to your door every month. Make sure you sign up before March 31st to receive an April box!

Disclaimer: Photo and information provided by Beauty Box 5. 

Beauty Box 5 - March 2014 Review

Hey everyone! I'm here with a review on the March 2014 Beauty Box 5.

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription service that sends you 5 beauty products each month. The box is $12 a month for a month-to-month subscription, but you can save money if you buy a quarterly or yearly subscription.

This month's theme was Spring Cleaning, which is very fitting for a March beauty box.



I really enjoy Beauty Box 5's packaging. The box is very compact, but the products are packed nicely and the outside of the box is cute, too!

THE CONTENTS:



Bellapierre Cosmetics Makeup Base: .25 oz, $18



This is the product that was used as a spoiler for March boxes! I am so happy to receive this. According to Bellapierre's website, this base can be used as an eyeshadow base/primer, a concealer, or an all-over face primer. I have tried it as an eyeshadow base and as a concealer. It's not quite creamy enough for a concealer, but it covers well. I love using it as an eyeshadow base. It turns shimmery shadows into a matte finish. It's really useful for any shadows that are too shimmery on their own. You can also use this on days where you are not wearing eyeshadow to even out the skin of your eyelids.

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime: 2 oz, $2.50

I'm so excited to receive this product because I don't own any body butters! This has a delicious coconut lime smell. I am saving it for the summer months because I think this cream has the perfect summer scent! It feels extremely moisturizing.

H2O Plus Hand & Nail Cream: 1 oz, $2.50
I'm so excited to receive H2O products in this box. I think they make great quality products. This hand and nail cream has a nice, clean smell and feels very luxurious and moisturizing. I love keeping it in my purse!

Swissco Dual-Sided Facial Pad: $2
This is a two-sided facial exfoliator. One side is more rough (the one that is shown), and the other side feels more like terry cloth. I have used this several times, and I think I prefer it on my body rather than my face. It is really useful for the summer time when you're self-tanning and shaving more often.

Jane’s Pick All Natural Soap: $2
I am very happy to sample an all-natural soap! This is a beautiful handmade soap that smells delicious. The scent is called Patience, and it is described as having black spruce, fir needle, and rosewood notes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this box. It has a value of about $27, which is a great deal for the price of the subscription. I have subscribed to other beauty boxes, and oftentimes, the products won't be very useful. However, I will use each item from this box, and I am really looking forward to next month!
What do you think? Are you going to subscribe to Beauty Box 5?

Disclaimer: I am a contributor to Beauty Box 5's review team. I received this box for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

Influenster's Jolly VoxBox 2013 Review

Hurray! My second Influenster VoxBox has arrived, and I got a chance to check out each of the products before I wrote this review. I am very pleased with this box, especially considering it's my second box of freebies in two months! I previously received the Varsity VoxBox, which contained NYC lipgloss, Airheads Extreme Bites, Tide PODS, Clearasil face wash, and Kiss nail stickers.

This box was supposed to have a "Naughty and Nice" theme... I'm not sure I quite get that theme, but I am happy with these products nevertheless. 

And on to the contents...

Here's a closer look:

First up is duck tape from the Duck brand. This is a mini roll in a blue and white floral print. I used it to give my phone charger a makeover. I will also use it for packages and other craft projects.

Retail: $3

This single pack of Puffs tissues is a great addition to my purse. I always find myself in need of a tissue while I'm out, yet I don't have one on me. These will be great because they have lotion in the tissues themselves, so my nose won't get irritated.

Retail: $0.49

Next up is the Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer. This is basically a liquid lipstick. The color payoff is amazing and opaque. The color I received is Luna, and it is a beautiful peach color. I will definitely use this up. My only complaint is the weird cucumber smell and strange applicator.

Retail: $5.49

This is the NYC HD Color Trio eyeshadow in Long Beach Sands.This is one of those products that has instructions for where to use each shade, whether it's on the brow bone, crease, or lid. I already have so much neutral eyeshadow, but I really like the colors.

Retail: $2.99

Finally, my sweet tooth had something to be excited about! These Skinny Cow chocolates filled with peanut butter cream are delicious. I have tried the caramel version before, and these are just as good. The peanut butter is a bit salty for me, but I love them otherwise. This box contains 6 packs of 3 candies each. I've already eaten 3 packs... oops.

Retail: $3.99

Overall, the Jolly VoxBox was a great box, and I am very happy that I received it. I look forward to continuing to use these products and review them on my blog and other social networks.

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary of Influenster. The opinions are my own.

The Jolly VoxBox is Coming!

Earlier today, I received an email from Influenster confirming my place in the Jolly VoxBox program! I had to send it to my parents' house because I will be on winter break until mid-January. I hope it comes before then. They are supposed to be shipping this week, I believe, so I should be getting a shipping notice soon.

I checked the "Cheat Sheet" section and here are the products that will be in the program.

Product
Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer
NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye Shadow
Ducklings Mini Rolls
Puffs
Skinny Cow Candy

I think this will be a pretty good box. I am hoping the lip lacquer is in a color that is unique to my collection, because I have a lot of lip products. I also have a lot of eyeshadow, so hopefully those are some fun colors, too.

As far as the duck tape, I don't really use it, but I like to craft, so I'm sure I can find a use for it on Pinterest.

The Puffs tissues will be used up, obviously. They will be good for my purse.

And finally, the Skinny Cow candy. I am sure it will be pretty good because I've enjoyed the brand in the past.

Well, there you have it! The 2013 Holiday VoxBox! I will blog about it when I receive it.

Beauty Box 5 Review - November Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review Beauty Box 5, which is a $12/month beauty subscription. The November boxes that I have seen did not contain these products, but I am still excited to try everything out!

The contents:

Every Beauty Makeup Remover Pads:

This package contains 5 pads. You just add water and then they act like makeup/face wipes. I am looking forward to trying these out tonight.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion:

I've used plenty of samples of this lotion, as well as several full size bottles. It is a basic moisturizer, and I will use it up.

H2O Oil-free Marine Moisturizer:

I have many face lotion samples, but I have been wanting to try this brand since it was featured in Ipsy and I didn't receive it.

BellaPierre Mineral Powder:

This powder came in Storm, which is a pretty light gray color. This is the only product that was actually featured in the official November Beauty Box 5. I saw many people get a blue color, and I'm so happy I didn't because I already have a blue loose eyeshadow from Ipsy. One blue mineral shadow is more than enough for me.

Nubar Nail Polish:

This nail polish is in the color White Tip. I really don't like it at all. It's white, but almost like an eggshell white... there is something off about it, like a grayish tinge. I don't like this, but I will give it a try anyway. It also appears to be free of any harmful ingredients.

Disclaimer: I received this box complimentary of Beauty Box 5 for review purposes. The opinions are my own.

Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer

I recently receieved this sample of Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer in the mail. I had completely forgotten that I even requested this sample.

I honestly don't even remember where I ordered it from... either Target or directly from Simple.

I was thrilled when I opened the box. This is a great sample size (1.9 oz.) and will last me at least a month.

When I first felt this moisturizer on my hand, it seemed light and not "rich" at all. However, once I applied it to my face, I could feel how moisturizing it really is. My skin feels so refreshed after using this.

This is my new favorite nighttime moisturizer. After my sample runs out, I will definitely think about purchasing it.