St. Ives Influenster VoxBox Overview

Helloooooooo!

Because I was lucky enough to receive not one, but TWO VoxBoxes from Influenster in the same DAY (crazy, right?!) I figured that meant two back-to-back blog posts going over what I was lucky enough to receive.

Here's a peak into what I received in the St. Ives VoxBox:

• St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Body Wash
• Retails for $2.99 for a 13.5oz bottle or $4.89 for a 24oz bottle
• Not a fan at all for citrus scents, so this was enjoyed by my mother instead
• St. Ives Refresh & Revive Pear Nectar & Soy Body Lotion
• Retails for $4.99 for a 21oz bottle
• Also not a fan of the scent of this, so my mother gladly took this as well
• St. Ives Nourish & Soothe Oatmeal Scrub + Mask
• Retails for $3.99-$4.79 for a 6oz bottle or $4.99-5.79 for a 10oz bottle
• OMG IN LOOOOOOOOOVE with this product. Definitely doing an in-depth review soon!

Check out the video above for a hands-on look into what I received inside this box!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post and be sure to look out for the in-depth review of the oatmeal scrub/mask either on here or my YouTube channel - you won't want to miss it!

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

*I received this VoxBox courtesy of Influenster for review purposes*

Product Review: Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant

Hey guys!

I noticed while getting ready to prepare this week's Motivational Monday that I haven't written a full-length blog post in a while. Well, it's time to change that!!

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant. I have a decent sample size at .25oz or 7.5g. The full size product retails for $78 for a 2oz or 60g bottle at the Dr. Brandt website. So the sample size offers 1/4 of the size that can be purchased.

I received this product in my April 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag. You can sign up for these sample bags that also occasionally offer full size products for $10 a month HERE. You will receive 4-5 deluxe samples each month.

My first impression was that I was glad to see a decent size sample of this product in the bag since although at the time I didn't know the specific price, I knew it had to be a high end product.

On their website, the product claims it "polishes away dead skin cells, leaving skin radiant". It was also a 2012 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner for Best Scrub.

I prefer using this product while I'm showering since my pores will be open from the steam. I use it once a week, two tops. Remember I have acne-prone, combination skin. I take only a little bit of product, since it's a pretty abrasive scrub and I have sensitive skin, and apply it all over my face in circular motions to massage the product over my face for a good couple minutes. It has a strong citrus scent, which isn't my favorite thing since I dislike citrus scents and tastes, but it's bearable. Once the scrub is rinsed off my face, there is an immediate cooling sensation that lasts only a couple of minutes. It can be refreshing to some or irritating to others, depending on your preference. I personally don't mind it. I also notice how soft my skin feels. Although, I have had similar results with smooth skin resulting after other scrubs, even from the drugstore.

Here are a couple other scrubs I like to use that offer similar results:

St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub: $3.79 at target.com

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub: $18.50 at michaeltoddtrueorganics.com

If you'd like more on my opinion on the Michael Todd scrub, that blog post review can be found HERE.

In the end, I do enjoy using this product and I feel like it gives me good results for what it's claiming to do. However, I will not be repurchasing it because although you only need a little bit of product for each use, the price tag is just too steep for a 20 year old college student. I'm sure I will still enjoy my decent sized sample for a while to come.

 
*Image from drbrandtskincare.com*

I hope you guys enjoyed this review and found it helpful in your pursuit to find the perfect facial scrub for you! :)

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

Product Review: Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub

Hey everyone!

I haven't been able to post on here much lately, so I knew I definitely wanted to review this product on my blog instead of my YouTube channel. I enjoy sitting down and doing written reviews every now and then. I also prefer reviewing the things I receive in things like Birchbox or Ipsy Glam Bag here. :)

So today I decided to review the Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub that I received in my Ipsy Glam Bag a couple months ago.

Photo Courtesy: Instagram

 Here's a quick run down of the pros & cons:

PROS

• Leaves skin feeling smooth
• Removes toxins
• Gentle exfoliation, but effective
• 70% organic
• Helps with mild acne

CONS

• Leaves dark residue on skin
• Slightly funny smell

I overall really enjoy this product. I like to gently exfoliate my skin for about 1-2 minutes. Then I rinse off my face so most of the product is washed off and I pat my face dry with a towel. I really do think this exfoliant is very good at removing toxins because charcoal is known to do just that. I've even taken charcoal capsules before to help clean out toxins in my digestive tract - easy, affordable natural remedy!

This is one of those exfoliaters where you can feel some abrasiveness, but not too much. It doesn't feel uncomfortable while working it's magic, but you can feel the work being done. It's just the right amount, in my opinion. I also noticed when I'm breaking out, it helps get rid of the acne a bit quicker than if I hadn't used it. I have mild acne, though, so keep that in mind. Too much exfoliating can be irritating, especially to acne prone skin. It's also a plus that this product is 70% organic! I always enjoy using more natural alternatives when I can.

The only have two little qualms. I've noticed that it's difficult to rinse off every speck of the black residue this leaves. Therefore, some product ends up getting patted onto my towel. It washes out just fine, but can be a temporary bother to some. My other issue is the smell. It's not a heavy scent and I actually like that it isn't "scented". However, it almost smells like, to me, a funky mint scent. It's the most bizarre thing and is more noticeable while exfoliating rather than smelling from the tube. But it's definitely not strong enough to deter me from using and enjoying the product.

I received a sample size of 1 fl oz and this product sells at a size of 3.4 fl oz for $18.00. So this is a more high-end skincare product in my opinion, but if you don't use it too often, it will last you. I like to exfoliate no more than twice a week. (Remember your skin naturally has a sloughing off process, so don't overdo it!)

Overall, I really enjoy this product. It does the job I'm expecting from it and I get good results. So if you are in the market for a new exfoliater, who knows, maybe you found the one! Either way, I hope you enjoyed this review!

Thanks for stopping by. xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

ENTER TO WIN A FREE TONER!

Have you guys seen me use the "Gold Dust" eyeshadow base by Motives Cosmetics? It prolongs eyeshadow wear all day, (even on my oily eyelids) doesn't crease, and makes every eyeshadow you own POP!

Check it out in action HERE!

The first 5 people to buy the ANY Motives Cosmetics eyeshadow base through the link below will be entered to win a free pH Skin Normalizer Toner by Skintelligence!

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Good luck! xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,

Lauren