COVERGIRL Outlast & So Lashy!

I was lucky enough to receive a whole bunch of amazing products from COVERGIRL recently and I'm so excited to share them all with you!! You all know I've tried tons and tons of different makeup products at this point and let me tell you, these are pretty fantastic! I'm a little hesitant when it comes to some drugstore brands, just because I've used so many awesome premier brands.  But lately I've been trying to find things that are more affordable, because honestly I'm pretty broke from the holidays lol. COVERGIRL has always been one of my favorites and constantly delivers! That has not changed with this new line of Outlast All-Day products.  

I'll go through each product individually, as they all deserve equal attention! Above is me before using any of the products. I'm just wearing foundation. Man, those dark circles are something...

Ok, so this is the COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Soft Touch Concealer.  The applicator tip makes it easy to apply under my eyes as well as on anything else I need to cover (i.e. blemishes and redness.)  I used a small beauty blender to blend it in, but you could just as easily use your finger.  The coverage is great and it definitely lasted all day! My only qualm was the color; it seemed to be a little too pink for me.  So I may go out and buy the right color, but I've still been using it and mixing in a little bit of white to even out the color!  

This is the COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Matte Finishing Powder and it is my favorite. I usually go for a loose powder to set my makeup, but this pressed powder is so versatile! You can use it with the application it comes with for a super matte finish, which I like to do on my more oily spots, or you can use a big fluffy brush for a nice, even finish.  In this picture, I used the applicator on my whole face.  I don't really use it much like this because it's a little too much for my normal makeup. However, I would use it this way if I was trying to do a really intense, full face.  Overall, I really love this powder!

So this one isn't a part of the Outlast collection, but it is still COVERGIRL! I also got this one from Influenster and used it in this almost all CG look!  It's called the COVERGIRL So Lashy! BlastPRO Mascara.  Honestly, for this a picture is worth a thousand words.  I mean, look at my lashes! They look like falsies! They're long, voluminous, and well separated.  It's basically the Better Than Sex of drugstore mascara. But lets talk about that wand for a second. Weird, right? I wasn't sure about it at first, because it was a little hard to use.  But once I figured it out it worked wonders! Basically I just twist the wand as I'm applying the mascara to really get the full glory of the wand.  Plus, the little ball like end is great for grabbing those baby, lower lashes! Absolutely love this and would definitely recommend it!

The last, but definitely not least, of the Outlast collection is the COVERGIRL Outlast All-Day Color and Gloss.  First, this color is BAE.  I'm a sucker for coral and when I found out that was the shade I was getting (Coral Crave) I may have done a little happy dance.  This is a breath of fresh air in comparison to all of the dark, matte liquid lipsticks I've been wearing. The base color lasted pretty much all day but I did have to reapply the gloss once or twice. Nothing out of the ordinary.  The good thing is that the base color stays even if the gloss wears off so you always have a nice punch of color! I also got tons of compliments on it! I can't wait until spring so I can wear this regularly!

Here's the full look! I honestly love all of the products and they have made their way into my usual rotation! I felt great that day because my makeup looked great and lasted all day! Much thanks to Influenster and COVERGIRL for allowing me to try all of these wonderful things for free! As always, all opinions are my own.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? Comment and start up the conversation! 

XO, Briana

Crave Naturals Eyebrow/Eyelash Kit

Hey everyone!  Sorry I've been MIA for a while.  I've just been getting my life in order, putting my ducks in a row, whatever you want to call it.  I just started my job at Nordstrom (yay!) in the beginning of September, so I've been getting used to the crazy schedule and finding the time for family time, relaxing, and of course blogging!  So I'm going to try and get back on my usual track and post more frequently! Starting today!

I want to tell you about Crave Naturals! Crave Naturals is a beauty line that's mission is the give us tools to enhance our natural beauty and make our routines quicker and simpler!  The product I received from them is the Eyebrow and Eyelash Kit!

The tools come in super cute packaging that you'll want to hold on to!  Inside are two wonderful tools: The first is a double sided brush.  One side has a spoolie and the other an angled brow brush.  The second is a combination lash comb and brow brush.  These tools are great for getting the perfect brows and lashes all in one!  First use the brow brush to brush and place your brow hairs.  Then with the other tool use the angled brush to apply your brow color.  When you're done adding color, simply flip to the spoolie to blend it all in!

The last but just as awesome piece to these tools is the eyelash comb! After applying mascara, just slide the comb through your lashes to get rid of any clumps or the dreaded spider lashes!  It's super easy and handy!

I really love having these tools in my makeup kit!  It was one of those, "I didn't know how much I needed this" moments and now I'm glad I've found them!  Crave Naturals also have several other great products available on Amazon!  They also have their own webpage with extra information.

SUPER SPECIAL BONUS!

For reviewing this product, Crave Naturals has been kind enough to offer not only me but also YOU, my readers, a coupon for 25% OFF YOUR ORDER of their products through amazon!  So go snag yourself one of these awesome brow kits or try something new!  Just go to the Crave Naturals section on Amazon, add your item(s) to your cart, and then enter the code QQMSRCOC ! They would also love to  hear from you!  Don't forget to write an honest review on their Amazon page once you've tried it out!

XO, Briana

Napwell = Nap Well

Hey everyone!!

So I recently came across some new technology that I just had to share with you all!  Now, I know that I personally am a huge fan of naps.  I just love to sleep in general.  And I'm sure a lot of you do too.  I also know that sometimes napping doesn't always go how you want it to.  For example, you say, "Oh I'll just lay down for 30 minutes!"  And then you end up sleeping for 2 hours and wake up feeling groggy instead of refreshed.  I've been in search of the right way to nap through Googling and searching Pinterest and various other sites.  Some things seemed to help, but not to the extent that I wanted.

Then I found Napwell.  Napwell is a prototype sleep mask that not only times your nap, but gradually wakes you up with a simulated sunrise.  The key to a good nap is not waking up abruptly in the middle of your sleep cycle, so when you wear the Napwell sleep mask, you can sleep soundly without worry!  This thing is really cool.  I promise.  Created by an MIT student, this is the first one of it's kind!  See it in action for yourself and read more in depth info here, on their Kickstarter Page.

XO, Briana

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Workout Ready! (Influentser Violet Vox Box Pt. 2)

To complete my series of Violet Vox Box posts, I'll be reviewing the last three products in my box: the Cranberry Soy Joy, the Goody Athletique Yoga Headband, and the Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo.

All of these products are great for your time before, during, and after the gym! So here is the Workout Ready review and how you can implement these great products into your routine!

Pre-Workout: Soy Joy Cranberry Bar

I'm not sure about everyone else, but I know that when I'm about to go to the gym I sit for a good 10 minutes trying to decide if and what I should eat before working out.  Now, I know something with proteins and nutrients will give you energy, but I don't want a heavy stomach and I need to get going.  Enter, Soy Joy. These bars are your new favorite pre-workout snack!  This little bar not only fills you up, it gives you a boost of energy and it tastes great! Not like those yucky protein bars health nuts are always pushing.  Step aside kale shakes, we're having soy!

Soy Joy bars are made with all natural ingredients: ground whole soy and real fruit!  They also fit into just about any diet.  The bars are gluten free, vegan, and low in carbohydrates.  Soy Joy bars also have several health benefits: they are packed with nutrients, they help keep your hunger in check, and they also help maintain weight. 

In my Vox Box I had the cranberry flavor bar and I absolutely loved it.  The taste was great and it kept my appetite down for a good deal of time. I would recommend anyone to try it!  For more information about Soy Joy, check out their website! 

During Workout: Goody Athletique Yoga Headband

My whole life I've had issues with fabric headbands.  Whenever I put one on, they seem to slip right off of my head, usually resulting in me throwing it across the room and grabbing a toothed one.  That was until I tried the Goody Athletique Yoga Headband.  The headband has a Velcro closure that helps to find that perfect size, especially if you have a little head like me.  While working out, the headband stayed on and did its job of keeping my hair out of my face.  It also looks super cute and will make you feel good during your work out.  The last thing we want to worry about is hair in our faces and all over the place, right ladies?! The other awesome thing about this headband is the moisture-wicking fabric. Unlike other fabric headbands, this one doesn't make your forehead hot, it actually helps to keep it cool! Perfect for a great workout!

For more hair ideas, check out my Good Hair Day! Pinterest board.  For more information about Goody products, check out their website!

Post-Workout: Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo

I know how much I hate the post-workout sweaty hair.  I'm guessing everyone else feels the same. I've tried many different ways to make my hair look decent when it obviously is not and I have failed more often than I've succeeded.  Failed being I wind up with a hat on my head.  Through my endeavors, I've concluded that dry shampoo is my best bet.  The next step was finding the right brand.  Thanks to Influentser, I have found it.  The winner is Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo.  

If you don't already know, dry shampoo is a gift from the beauty gods.  It's like washing your hair without all of the pain of actually washing your hair and re-styling it.  It takes about 10 minutes total and doesn't require your full attention for about 9 out of those 10.  You can use it in three easy steps:

Step 1: Spray.  Keeping the can about 3 inches from your head, spray the area where your hair is greasy until it turns slightly grey.

Step 2: Wait.  For about 8-10 minutes, leave the spray in your hair.  Do something else while you wait.  Have a snack, fix your makeup, check Facebook, whatever floats your 10 minute boat.

Step 3: Brush.  After you've done your waiting, grab a brush and brush the area where you sprayed until all of the grey is gone.  I used the Goody Tangle Fix Hairbrush (another product that I absolutely loooveeee.)

And viola! Your hair looks shiny, but not greasy! Like you just did it!  This dry shampoo is great and really gets in there to get out all the gunk in a pinch.  

For more information about Clean Freak and the other great Not Your Mother's products, check out their website!

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That's a wrap on my Violet Vox Box courtesy of Influentser! I loved all of the products I received and will probably purchase some of them myself!  Keep an eye out for the possibility of future Vox Box reviews!

XO, Briana

SPA NIGHT with Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spas & Sally Hansen Triple Shine Polish!

Hello again!! Back with my first set of reviews for my #InfluentserVoxBox !!  As you no doubt guessed from the title, this post is a review on the Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spa and the Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish that I received!

The MJ Red Earth Clay Spa

In my Violet Vox Box, I received the MJ Red Earth Clay Spa.  It's a mix of Mediterranean clay, pomegranate, and cinnamon! This is the first time I've ever used one of these spa masks and I have to say it was a very positive experience!  I've seen these around different stores for years, like almost as long as I can remember, and I'd only ever thought about buying one.  Personally, I don't tend to do masks in general so that's the only reason I didn't buy it.  But it did stand out to me enough to make me want to buy it.  Apparently, Influentser beat me to it.  

The masks are pretty easy to use.  The only thing that was a pain was positioning it.  That kind of threw me off, but in the end it didn't really matter.  So here is the easy step-by-step!

Step 1: Wash your face.  I recommend a gentle cleanser just to wash away any excess oils.  Also if you're wearing makeup, make sure you get that off first!

Step 2:  Put on the mask.  When I took it out of the package I was surprised.  I initially thought it would be like a cream that I had to squeeze out, but then I realized it was actually a "mask."  So once you get it out, just position the holes in alignment with your face as best as you can.  Like I said, I had a little trouble but it still worked.  Make sure you smooth it down to get maximum coverage!

Be prepared to look ridiculous. Did I do it right??

Step 3: Relax!  Leave the mask on for about 10-15 minutes and just chill out! Listen to music, read a book, stare at the wall, whatever floats your boat!  I recommend not doing anything that will make you laugh.  I had this happen while I was wearing mine and it kept peeling up and tearing on the open areas.  So stay serious.  Very serious.  

Step 4: Massage.  First remove the mask, then just rub the remainder of the mask goodness into your face.  Do this until your satisfied and then rinse your face with cold water, and pat dry.

And that's it! You're done!  I really enjoyed my time with my spa mask.  It felt really good on my face and smelled amazing!  And as I'm writing this it's been about an hour since I did it and my skin still feels smooth and taught.  Like I had some botox done. (haha)   I 100% recommend this product and I will definitely be trying the other spas that Montagne Jeunesse has to offer!!  

Keep up with Montagne Jeunesse!!

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

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Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish

Also in my Vox Box, I got the "Pixie Slicks" Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish!  It's an adorably girly bubblegum pink color and I'm in love.  I decided to paint my toe nails using the polish, and it looks so nice!!

The polish has bright color and great shine!  I also decided to top it off with my China Glaze "Pizzazz" glitter polish!  I call it my Pink Candy Pedi! I even made an Instavideo of how I did it!  

As you can see, the polish is wonderful! I will probably go and buy myself some of their other colors! You can never have enough nail polish!!

Stay tuned for the rest of my Vox Box goodies!! :)

XO, Briana

The Influentser Violet Vox Box!

At the beginning of the month, I had the honor of receiving my first ever Vox Box from the Influentser team!! After signing up for the site and completing all of the necessary tasks, I made the list!! So now I have a little box full of wonderful products to try out and review to all of you!! I'll be splitting them up a bit, so here is how the whole shebang is going to go:

In my #VioletVoxBox, I got one #GoodyAtheltique Velcro headband, one #SoyJoy Cranberry baked soy bar, one #SallyHansen #TripleShine nail polish, one #NYMCleanFreak Dry Shampoo, and one Montagne Jeuness Clay Spa Mask (#MJClaySpas).

So, I'm going to review the headband, the soy joy, and the dry shampoo together and then the spa mask and nail polish in a separate post.  That totals to three Vox Box posts (including this one!)

On every post with products from Infulentser, you'll see this little badge.  This just shows that, "Hey, I got this from Influentser! Yay! Thanks!"

So that's basically it for this introductory post.  Don't want to give away all of the fun stuff!! ;) In the meantime, here are all of the links to the Pinterest boards I made for this box! Have fun, and check back soon for post number 2! 

Vox Box Board

Spa Day Board

Good Hair Day Board

XO, Briana