Herbal Essences Naked Review

I am an Influenster as you guys already know. I've blogged about the program numerous times. After being chosen for the last Vox Box and completing all the tasks, I was chosen as a Badge Brand winner. This meant I would be getting some Herbal Essences goodies for free!! And, who doesn't love free products?!? I waited patiently for my prizes to arrive. They finally did about 5 weeks later. My box of goodies included full sized bottles of the Naked Shampoo, the Naked Conditioner, the Naked Dry Shampoo and the Happy Go Lather Body Wash. I couldn't wait to try them all out. First impressions are everything. I love this sleek and clean packaging for this Herbal Essences Naked line. I loved that the bottle for the shampoo and body wash were clear. Wished that the conditioner bottle was as well. 

I adore the body wash. It smells like roses and the scent lasts a really long time. For me, a good body wash or soap is how much it lathers. Happy Go Lather passed that test with flying colors. I was familiar with the dry shampoo since I used it before from a prior Vox Box. I am a fan of it already. The real surprise for me was how much I really enjoyed the naked shampoo and conditioner. They both smell great and lather really well. My hair felt squeaky clean after shampooing and soft after conditioning. This Naked line has a new fan in me. The fact that there are no parabens is a real draw for this naturalista. It's in line with products I already use in my natural hair. I loved everything in my prize box. I am still elated to have won it. This is why being an Influenster is such a great perk for me. Get into these products.  

"I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Influenster: Herbal Essences Naked Vox Box

I was so ready for my new Influenster Vox Box to arrive. I love anything that has to do with hair. Herbal Essences has a new product line. It is called "Naked." My Vox Box included a full size Dry Shampoo, two trial size bottles of volume shampoo and conditioner. The "Naked" line does not have any parabens or dyes. So, it is naturally and organically a better product for my chemical free hair. The packaging is nice, clean and simple. The colors are white, blue and green. So of the bottles are clear which I really like. It is aesthetically appealing to me. I love the smell. It has to smell good if its going to be in my hair. The Herbal Essences website states that the products are "infused with white grapefruit and mint extracts."

What I loved most about my experience with the "Naked" line is the feel. My hair felt good from beginning to end. I used the dry shampoo on a Monday night. It was easy to use. It did not flake up which is a problem I've had in the past with other dry shampoos. It made my hair look and feel as if I had just washed it with water. It extended my wash day by almost a full week. The shampoo and conditioner both are great products as well. The shampoo lathered really good, it smelled amazing and it covered every strain of hair. The conditioner was the same. After drying my hair, I was more than pleased with the outcome. So, this new Herbal Essences "Naked" line is a keeper for me. I will be purchasing full size of all. I really liked it and would recommend it to all those I know. Get into it!

Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Get Into It: Influenster Vox Box

Influenster is back at it with the newest VoxBox. This time, I received the Colgate Optic White system for free to try and review. I always love to try new products so being an Influenster is a win-win for a lady like myself. I received the Colgate Optic White & Whitening pen VoxBox earlier this week. It promises whiter teeth in two days. The instructions say to use the toothpaste, toothbrush and whitening pen twice a day. I've been using the products for 3 days and I do see a difference. I love the products. I was also sent 5 $3.00 off coupons for the Colgate Optic White toothbrush and whitening pen. I happily shared those with my family and friends. I think all of you should check these products. Also, check out Influenster if you are like me and love new and free products. Get into it. 

ETA: It's been a week since I started using the Colgate Optic White products. I see a difference in my teeth. They are whiter and brighter. What I love most about these products is that I feel myself smiling more because of this. I am very happy with these products. Colgate Optic White delivered on their promise of whiter teeth in just two days. I would recommend not eating or drinking for a few minutes after using the pen. I let it sit undisturbed for a while. This is a product I will be buying in the future. It is also a product I would recommend to others. You guys should get into it too. 



Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner (Part II)

There is absolutely nothing better than free. I LOVE free!! I mean, who doesn't? My lucky winning streak is still going strong. This time I won some perfume and natural hair products. I entered the Express Glam giveaway on Lianne's blog, The Makeup Girl. I was super excited to try this new scent. I have been searching for a new fragrance. My signature scent has been J'adore by Dior for years. I love it but I don't wear it everyday. I needed a new daily scent. This is clearly it. I love the way it smells. There was a little mix-up between me, Lianne and Express. But, she made it right. She also included two extra gifts for me. That made me feel super special. She has a very sunny disposition and great customer service. You guys should go check out her blog.

The second thing I won was a whole line of Obia Natural Haircare products. I entered the contest via Global Couture. I received  the Coconut Shea Shampoo bar, the Curl Hydration Spray, Curl Enhancing Custard, and the Twist Whip Butter. I finally used it on my hair last week. I am in love with the shampoo bar. It lathers so well. I love the smell and my hair was so clean. The Twist Whip Butter was used on a bantu knot out for Thanksgiving. I received so many compliments on my hair. I would say that is a win. The entire line worked extremely well for me and my hair. I will be including them into my weekly wash days. Naturalistas, get into Obia Natural Haircare! I am thankful for the free gifts. 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

I have been on a winning streak lately. I have won a few things in the last year. I am not complaining. Well, if only I could hit the Powerball, then all would be well :p I wanted to acknowledge how awesome my winnings were. I think that you have to show and tell people how much I appreciate it. Good customer service is the key to any great business. Even though I was a winner, I was treated with the utmost respect from all the parties involved. That means a lot to me. Ok, let's dish!

I followed the historical EBONY magazine on Twitter because I grew up reading the magazine. It was a staple in my house. I love it. I love their Twitter feed because of the weekly Ebony chat. It's always interesting questions about issues that affect my life and my people. Every Wednesday, there is also a giveaway called "That Thing" where a dope prize is given away to the first person to tweet the correct response. I won a pair of Nick Cannon and Monster products Ntune headphones. I was stoked!!! Because I have been contemplating getting some Beats by Dre. But, nothing beats free. The Ntune headphones are pretty dope. I love how much clearer my music sounds with them. I received a pair of the orange ones. I practically use them every single day. That's how much I love them. They retail for $129.95. I love that they do not have to be charged. they do not require batteries. They are cute and stylish as well as very functional. Thank you to Ebony for a great prize!!

And, there was the Instagram/Twitter contest I won. Global Couture teamed up with Natty Coco for a very dope giveaway which was the second thing I won. It was a natural hair care giveaway. Natty Coco was offering 3 different products: a herbal leave in mist, hair/scalp oil and whipped shea butter. All are products I was interested in using. I was pleasantly surprised when I received my package. I was sent the three products plus a handwritten note and a natural hair tee from Natty CoCo's tee line. It was unexpected. It is also a very cute tee. I wore it the other day and got so many compliments on it. I referred a few folks to her online store. Also, Global Couture has a store with dope tees. The Natty Coco hair products were amazing. I am loving my braid out after using them. I will be doing a review soon. Great products, great customer service from both ladies. Thank you guys!! I am digging my winning streak. I feel very lucky to win these great products. 

The Influenster MegaVoxBox

There are certainly perks to being an Influenster member. I've been a member for about a year and a half. In that time, I've received a few VoxBox's. These are the packages members receive to try out new products. It's always like Christmas when the boxes arrive. I never know what's inside of them. I am always pleasantly surprised when I open it. I will never get tired of receiving free stuff. This time it was even better. I won a MegaVoxBox for my participation in a retail challenge this summer!! I was too excited to get that email. I waited patiently for 2 weeks for it to arrive. It was worth the wait. Inside the box were 12 items and I couldn't wait to use each of them. Influenster has been very good to me. And, could be for you as well. 

• SinfulShine nail polish in "Under 18" which is a very gorgeous coral. I am a nail polish fanatic so I can never have too many. 
• Also, loved the NYC eyeshadow palette and lipstick. I'm also really into eyeshadow so this was a lovely surprise. I buy NYC cosmetics all the time. I really liked both of these products. 
• Shea Moisture baby eczema bar soap. I used it on my face. I love the way it smells and the way it made my face feel. Great product. 
• The fruit smoothie face masque was everything. The smell and feel were exquisite. I will definitely purchase this idea in the future. 
• I haven't used the Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner yet. But, I did test the smell and feel. Both were very good. 

(Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.")

It's My Hair: I Won Curls Unleashed!

I have long said that the power of Twitter is an amazing thing. It can connect you to people you never would've known. It can introduce you to new products, websites, writers, artists and thoughts. I have found some amazing people/things because of it. I've purchased items from small businesses that I would not have found if not for Twitter. I've won a few contests because of it as well. That was the case a few weeks ago as well. On April 10th, I won the above Curls Unleashed products through a giveaway by Ebony magazine (@EBONYmag). The question was simple for a natural chick like me. I was the first person to tweet with the correct answer. I LOVE free things. And, free products for my natural hair journey makes it all even better. I couldn't wait to get the product and try them out.  

Curls Unleashed is a company that offers 7 products for natural hair. They are: Lavish in Lather Sulfate-Free Shampoo, No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner, No Boundaries Leave-In Conditioner, Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse, Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly, Second Chance Curl Refresher, and Take Command Curl Defining Creme. I won 6 of the 7 (plus a great cup). Also, I will be buying the leave in conditioner to try it out. Let's review them. 

• Lavish in Lather Sulfate-free Shampoo - I haven't used shampoo in months. So, I was curious to try this. I love the way it smells and the feel of it. It has more than enough slip so I felt like all of my hair was covered. I did notice that my hair felt a little dry. My hair and scalp felt so clean afer I was done. 
• No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner - This smells amazing. I kept it on under a plastic cap & the dryer for 25 minutes while I was on the phone. So, it was kind of a deep conditioner. It felt great after I washed it out. I felt like this product definetely moisturized my hair.
• Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse - This was one of my faves. I loved the way my hair felt after applying it. The look was great too. 
• Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly - The smell is not a great one. The product works though. I love the look it gave my hair. I didn't have to use a lot to achieve the look. I just am not a fan of the scent. 
• Second Chance Curl Refresher - Very dope product. Used it on 3rd day braid out and it revived my curls. 
• Take Command Curl Defining Creme - I do not like the smell of it. But, I loved the way it made my curls look. This was also a fave. I know I will be using this on a daily. 

All in all, I've had a great first experience with this line. My hair felt soft and  manageable for days after the inital use. I am proud to say that Curls Unleashed is a win for this naturalista. I love getting free things. This was right up my alley. I am really happy with the way this line worked with my hair. I will be blogging about it soon when I try a new hairstyle. Natural girls, if you haven't tried Curls Unleashed, please do. Get into it. 

Influenster Sugar n Spice Vox Box Review

Influenster is a great product review program. I am really glad that I am lucky enough to be a part of it. I have written about my other Vox Box experiences. The first time was last year. I could not wait to dive into the new Sugar n Spice Vox Box. I received it more than a week ago. I started using it that night. This Vox Box was full of things I was really interested in. Items like Vaseline's new Spray and Go lotion, Colgate's Optic White Regimen which includes a toothbrush, toothpaste and mouth wash, Nectresse sugar, Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Controlling Towelettes and belVita Breakfast biscuits. I took a week to try each and every product so I could give an informed review. And, that's what I will give below. Let's dish.

° Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer - This is the product I was most excited about trying. The commercials were cute & I was intrigued. From the moment I received my Sugar n Spice Vox Box, I've been using the Spray & Go. It goes on quickly. It's easy to use. It covers me just like regular lotion. It's absorbed easily I to my skin. It's not oily or greasy. It smells incredible. And, the coverage lasts all day. I will definitely purchase this product again. I want to try the other scents.

° Colgate Optic White (Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash) - All three products are great. I love the taste and feel of the products. I am a convert when it comes to the toothbrush. My mouth and teeth always felt so clean after using. This regimen boasts a claim to whiten teeth in 5 days. I decided to take them up on it. I used the regimen twice a day for five days. My results were

° Nectresse - I didn't think this particular product was for me. I've never used a supplement. But, I was open to trying it. I am a tea drinker. So, I used Nectresse instead of honey for a week. I was very impressed with it. I didn't miss my honey at all. I haven't stopped using it.

° Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes - These towelettes are life savers. I love how clean and refreshed they male my face feel. I keep them in my purse. I've shared them with my friends. We all love them. They clean makeup, dirt and also keep the oil under control. I love the clean scent the towelettes have. I've never heard of this product but I will be buying some more soon.

° belVita Breakfast Biscuits - These are interesting. I ate them for breakfast a few days in a row. I was not very found of them. I think they are an acquired taste. I actually shared this with a family member who loved them. So, I guess its different strokes for different folks. Try them for yourselves and let me know.  

(Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.") 

Influenster: Sugar 'n Spice Vox Box

 

It's that time again. The new "Sugar 'n Spice Vox Box" has arrived. For those of you that do not know, I am an Influenster. That means I am a person that gets a chance to try new products in exchange for sharing my opinion on these products. They send me free things, I use and post my opinion. I use my blog, my Twitter and my Tumblr to get my opinion heard. The "Sugar 'N Spice Vox Box" is my second free box. I've been patiently waiting for it to make its way here. This is a unique program that I am honored to be a part of. I had a great time with my first Vox Box. I LOVE to get free things. So, this is my type of company. This Vox Box is totally different from the first one. II love the variety that comes with these boxes.  

 

 

The products are: 

• Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture®New Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture® is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes and absorbs in seconds. Skin feels instantly soft – not sticky or greasy. Now you won't have to wait for the  lotion to absorb before pulling on your favorite pair of skinny jeans!
• Colgate® Optic White® Regimen
  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).
• NECTRESSE™ NECTRESSE™ sweetener tastes like sugar but has zero calories per serving! 100% all natural, NECTRESSE™ is made primarily from monk fruit combined with other natural sweeteners.
• Dickinson's® Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes 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 pores while nourishing even the most sensitive skin. The result is a clean, refreshed and blemish-free complexion even when you’re on-the-go. 
• belVita Breakfast Biscuits
  belVita Breakfast Biscuits are made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that lasts 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!

This Vox Box was filled with really great things I cannot wait to try out. I have already used two of the products last night. I was impressed with both. One was a product that I have recently seen on tv. I was intrigued by it. So, this Vox Box was right on time. I will be doing a review of all the products soon. I cannot wait to share my thoughts about them . I am working my way through this box. So far, so good. Let me influence you :)

(Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.")

Get Into It: Free!!

I have a decent online prescence. You can find me here on my blog, on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest amongst other social sites. I am a social person. And, now I've found a way to be rewarded for this. It is a program called Influenster. Ironically, I discovered the site via Twitter. I was intrigued by the name. So, I had to check it out. I was blown away by the simplicity of it. The way I could use what I was already doing via social media to my advantage. I love getting free things. I mean, who doesn't?

What Is Influenster? -- 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.

I went to the site to check it out. I read the About section to answer all of my questions. Anything that involves me getting free things works for me. I joined and received my first Vox Box on Christmas Eve. I am loving all of the goodies that were inside. My Holiday Vox Box included: 

• NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City which I truly loved. The color is perfect for me. It has great coverage and shine. It lasts a long time and doesn't get sticky. I've already picked up another one.
• EBoost Natural Energy packet in Pink Lemonade is a great tasting treat. And, it works wonders. I felt a surge of energy after drinking it. 
• A Montagne Jennesse Deep Cleansing Clean Up Mud Mask. This smelled so good. My face felt so refreshed after using this. I wish the sample was bigger. 
• Kiss Nail strips in black and gold are my new favorite thing ever. They're essentiallyy stickers for your nails and toes. Fast way to change your nails. They stick really well and they last a long time. 
• Cherry Pistachio Oatmeal sample was not good to me. I just didn't like it. 
• Goody hairbrush is awesome. Especially when doing a blow out on damp hair. Great product. 

All things a girly girl like me can indulge in. I am in LOVE with the liquid lipshine. The color works with my skin tone and it lasts. I cannot wait to see what is in the next Vox Box. Request an Influenster invite today. Influenster is a great program that you all should get into.

(Disclaimer: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.")