Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Influenster VoxBox: Dasani Drops

I love water. Everyone who knows me knows I rarely drink anything but water, and when I do it's either lemonade or hot chocolate. When it comes to what I drink I'm not very experimental, but I have somewhat joined in on the new trend of using flavor enhancers. You know what I'm talking about, you have too, but if you don't, just walk down the juice aisle and you'll find a whole section dedicated to these new water enhancers. I was familiar with some of the brands, like MiO, MiO Fit, and Crystal Light. I never knew that Dasani also had their own form of flavor enhancer, which they call Dasani Drops. I was really excited when I received a complimentary box from Influenster, which included several of the Dasani Drops for me to try!


 What I Received in my VoxBox

First off, I have to say how colorful and fun the box design was. I was pleasantly surprised by how cute and summery it was, perfectly fitting for the products. In the box, I received two Dasani Drops flavor enhancers in the flavors Pink Lemonade and Cherry Pomegranate. I also received a 16oz Dasani water bottle to try out the drops with. They were also kind enough to include two $1.00 off coupons for one bottle of Dasani Drops. 

   


What are Dasani Drops?

Dasani Drops are very simple. They are a flavor enhancer, which means that they turn boring, tasteless water into flavorful, tasty water you actually want to drink. Dasani Drops come in six different fun flavors, these include: Cherry Pomegranate, Grape, Strawberry Kiwi, Pineapple Coconut, Pink Lemonade, and Mixed Berry. The bottles are 1.9 fl oz and each bottle is suppose to make 32 servings. A great bonus is that each 8 fl oz serving is zero calories! Dasani Drops are made primarily from water, but they do contain several dyes depending on the flavor.


Enjoying my water with some Cherry Pomegranate flavor!

What I Thought of the Drops

I have to say that I really liked the Dasani Drops. I love that you can decide how strong you want the flavor. If you only want a faint taste, add only a couple drops, if you want a really strong taste, use four or more. Keep adding drops until your taste buds tell you to stop! Personally, I love the flavors so much I really wanted a strong flavor so I normally added about five or six drops per water bottle. I also really loved how the flavors were true to their names. Sometimes with artificial flavors I've found that they taste artifical. The Dasani Drops did not taste artificial at all.I already have the next one I want in mind- Strawberry Kiwi. I love love love Strawberries!

The one thing I was not thrilled about was the use of dyes in the Drops, especially the red 40 dye. I understand that they want the Drops to be colored so the water will be colored and be more "fun" but honestly I would rather my water be colorless and not have any harmful dyes. The taste is still the same, and that's the only thing I care about! 

Overall though, I really like the Dasani Drop Flavor Enhancers. I will definitely continue to use them and may even pick up a few more! I would recommend them to anyone who wants to add a fun kick to their water.

To learn more about Dasani Drops, check out the Dasani Facebook Page and the Dasani Drops Twitter Page.

To see what other people thought about the Dasani Drops check out the Influenster Review Page.
 Take a look, the reviews are good :) 

 
 
Disclaimer: I received these products free from Influenster for testing and review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.
 





Sunday, May 12, 2013

Small Spring Haul


I recently went to Ulta and got a couple of new beauty products I've had my eye on for awhile. Since its finally warming up here, I wanted to get a few "spring" makeup items: light pinks and bronze are essential spring colors for me.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer: I've heard so many good things about this bronzer that I decided to give it a try. So far, I really like the bronze look it gives me. I find that I have to have somewhat of a light hand because on my fair skin a little goes a long way.

Benefit Dandelion Blush and Lip Gloss: These are both sample sizes I got for spending at least $25 on a Benefit product (Hoola was $28). I've been wanting to try the Dandelion blush for a while and I thought this would be a great opportunity to try it out. I really like it. It's a really light color that looks so natural on my fair skin. If you're skin is more on the fairer side, I would definitely try this out! I also really like the gloss. I wasn't expecting much because I have never tried any Benefit lip gloss and was thinking it would be sticky, but it is not. It is such a pretty color on the lips and is so smooth and glossy.

Dior Addict Lip Gloss in Rose of Attraction: I have another Dior lip gloss in Venus which I absolutely love. The consistency of these glosses is amazing. They are so smooth and silky on the lips. Although they are a bit pricey, these are definitely my holy grail lip glosses.

Essie Peach Daquiri: In the Spring, I love wearing pinks, and when I saw this color at Ulta, I was immediately drawn to it. It's such a nice, almost coraly pick, and I think it's great for Spring and Summer. I will definitely be using this polish a lot!






Finally, I got these super cute sandles from American Eagle. I love sandles in the spring, it's pretty much all I wear! I have a lot of purple in my closet so I thought these would match perfectly!


Also, I have a questions for you all. I want to know what kind of top coat you recommend. I've been using the Revlon top coat and recently I've noticed that my polish starts peeling. Like the polish will lift up in the corner and I can literally peel the polish off my entire finger. So let me know what top coats work for you!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Product Review: Colgate Optic White

With the summer months quickly coming upon us, I have been in search of something that will give me those much desired beautiful sparkling white teeth. I've had a hard time finding anything because I don't want to spend a lot of money for teeth whitening procedures at the dentist, but I've also had bad experiences with the Crest White Strips, primarily with making my teeth extra sensitive. So, I was excited to receive the complete Colgate Optic White system in my VoxBox from Influenster. I have been trying out the products a little over two weeks, and am here to give you my official review.


From the box, I received the Optic White toothbrush, toothpaste and the mouthwash. Before I start my review, there are a few things I would like to point out:
  • Starting this system, my teeth were already pretty white, so the changes I noticed were not as dramatic as someone else might see.
  • I only use these products in the morning. I have pretty sensitive teeth and I find that using whitening products more than once a day, really starts to irritate them.
  • Finally, using these products together is supposed to give you whiter teeth in five days (vs. brushing with an ordinary toothbrush alone).
Colgate Optic White Toothbrush: I really like this toothbrush, and I love that it comes in soft bristles. As I said before, my teeth are really sensitive, and I find that using a soft bristle toothbrush is so much better for them.The brush is supposed to be made with whitening cups and polishing bristles. I do like the toothbrush, I think it really helps to get my teeth looking and feeling clean. It felt a little bit rough on my gums for the first couple uses, but after a while I think the brush got worked in.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste: First let me say this: a little goes a long way. I can not use as much of this toothpaste as I can with my others. The first time I used it, the toothpaste got so foamy, it honestly looked like I was foaming at the mouth. Even with using less, it still foams, but obviously not as bad. As for the taste, it tastes like regular mint toothpaste. Overall, it leaves my teeth looking and feeling clean.

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash: This mouthwash is suppose to help protect against future stains, reach hard-to-brush areas, kill bad breath germs, and be enamel safe. First off, this mouthwash has a very unpleasant taste, I can't even describe it, the only word that comes to mind is unpleasant. It's supposedly suppose to taste like sparkling fresh mint, but I don't find that true personally. Second, because it has hydrogen peroxide in it, I find that after I spit out the wash, some remainder still foams in my mouth. It takes a couple of washes to feel like I've gotten it all out. Afterwards though, it does leave a clean, refreshing feeling in my mouth.

Did it Really Whiten My Teeth? I did notice some changes in my teeth after using it for a little over two weeks. As I said before, my teeth were already somewhat white, so the changes I saw might not be as dramatic as the ones someone else might see. I could tell that my teeth did whiten a little bit, and I was pleased with the results. I think it leaves your teeth with a very natural white color, not too white that they're almost blinding. Overall, I really like these products. They do everything I would expect in a teeth cleaning system, and I would definitely recommend this system to anyone who is looking for a whiter smile, but does not want to spend a lot of money to get it.

This is after using the system for two weeks

If you would like to learn more about the Colgate Optic White system, visit there website here.

And if you would like to learn more about Influenster, and start receiving free products to test and review, you can visit Influenster by clicking here.


I received the Colgate Optic White system free from Influenster for testing and review purposes. All opinions are my own and I am not being compensated for this post.

Friday, April 5, 2013

March Favorites

March is officially over, technically 5 days over, but whose counting? I am because I love April! It is seriously my favorite month ever. For me, April signifies the beginning of Spring, and with that, the beginning of warmer weather, longer days, colorful flowers, and just a happiness that it seems only April can bring. But before I fully embrace this new month, I have to say goodbye to March, and what's the best way to do this? By showing my March Favorites of course!



Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette: I have been loving this collection of eye shadows this month. All of the colors are so wearable and I've been loving the matte finish most of the eye shadows have. If you haven't purchased the palette, I highly recommend it.

CoverGirl Eyeshadow Trio in Shimmering Sands: I mostly only use one shadow from this trio, I'm not sure of the name, but it is the lightest color on the right. My go to eye this whole month has been this color paired with several of the colors from the Naked Basics Palette. It's a great wearable color, and it stays on for a looong time.

Nivea Lip Butter: Love, love, love, this lip balm. It is super moisturizing, stays on for a long time, and has a pretty glossy look on the lips. Did I mention that they also smell amazing! I currently have them in Vanilla & Macadamia Kiss and the Raspberry Rose Kiss and I want to pick up the other two flavors.

Maybelline Color Whisper: I also can not say enough about these lip products. They are so build able, have gorgeous color and feel very light and moisturizing on the lips. I have about six of the colors from the line, and can't really justify buying anymore since I already have way too many lip products, but I highly recommend these if you are looking for great color, but also a moisturizing lip stick.

Benefit's The Porefessional: I've had this product for a while and never really used it, and now I can't really figure out why. It helps so much with minimizing pores and really helps my foundation go on and look a lot smoother on my face.


Colgate Optic White Toothpaste: I actually received the whole Optic Line in my VoxBox complimentary from Influenster, which included the toothbrush, toothpaste and mouth wash. I have been loving this line, and have noticed that my teeth have become visibly whiter. What I love most about the line is that it gets my teeth white without leaving them sensitive like other whitening products I have tried have. Look out for a full review coming soon on these products!

Victoria's Secret Body Spray in Pure Daydream: I think this is such a great scent for Spring. It's described as having Pearl Orchid and Pink Currant. It also seems to last for quite a while, but being a body mist, the scent isn't too overpowering or strong. I also have the lotion to pair with it.


Buxom Mascara: I received this in my last PopSugar Must Have box and I absolutely love it. If you are looking for a mascara that really lengthens your lashes, this is it. It doesn't really do much to volumize lashes, but I prefer long, thin lashes anyway, so this is great.

Let me know what you think if you've tried any of these products before!


Thursday, April 4, 2013

I ♥ Spring Tag!

I can't believe it is April already! April has got to be my hands down favorite month. I love the longer days, more sunlight, no snow, capris, bright colors, and flowers. There is so much that I love about the beginning of Spring, and that is why I am doing the I ♥ Spring Tag!

Favorite Spring Nail Polish: I couldn't pick just one for this questions, but in general I love mints, pinks and pastels. My favorites are Essie's Turquoise & Caicos and Splash of Grenadine and Sephora by OPI's Arm Candy.


What is your must have lip-color this Spring? I love anything bright and fun. I normally stick to bright pinks or go for nudes when I want to make my eyes bright and colorful. My top lip colors would be Maybelline's Color Whisper in Pink Possibilities, Estee Lauder's Pure Color in Candy and Covergirl's Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon.


Show us your favorite Spring Dress: Unfortunately because of the still cold Midwest temperatures, my Spring dresses are still packed up with all my other summer clothes, waiting for warmer weather to lure them out. I will say though, that for Spring I love high-low dresses. My favorite is a blue and purple thin striped high-low dress I bought from Target. I love pairing it with some of my brown wedges!

What's your favorite flower? I love tulips! They always remind me of Easter and Spring and warmer weather. My favorites are definitely the bright yellow ones. 


 









Favorite Spring scarf or accessory? My favorite scarf is my pink and white striped infinity scarf. I love it because it is still a little bit thick, which is perfect because it's always still a little bit chilly where I live in early Spring. I love the bright pink, it really adds a pop of color to any outfit.
















  

What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? I don't know that I have a specific trend in mind. I just really enjoy the bright colors: bright lips, bright nails, bright clothes. I think it is so refreshing from the neutrals and dark colors from winter.

Favorite spring candle? My favorite spring candle is definitely the Bath and Body Works Tiki Beach candle. The candle is described as having "a scent as warm as sun-rays- a luxurious blend of toasted coconut, vanilla musk, orchids and resort glamour." I grew up very close to the beach and would go quit often, so for me, this candle definitely reminds me of lazy afternoons on the beach. 

Favorite body spray/perfume for spring? My favorite body spray would be Victoria Secret's Pure Daydream, which is described as having pearl orchid and pink currant. My favorite perfume would be my long time favorite, DKNY Be Delicious. I love this perfume! It smells just like green apples and I love it for Spring. 


What is spring like where you live? Short. Honestly, living in the upper Midwest, our Spring seems very short. Right now it supposedly feels like 43 degrees. Also, living in the city, it can look mildly unappealing with all the melting snow and with the melting snow comes mud and beer bottles, and any other trash that's been stuck under the snow for months. Overall though, Spring is a welcome change from winter!

What's your favorite thing about spring? Warmer weather, no huge winter coats, bright colors, flowers, sunshine.

Are you a spring cleaner? Not really, I normally just clean whenever I feel my apartment needs it. Also, the apartment is pretty small, so it relatively easy to keep it clean all the time. I'll probably do a little dusting and clean out my closet when I bring out my Spring/Summer clothes.

Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation? I just had my Spring Break a couple weeks ago. I went home to Virginia Beach which was a nice change. Now I'm just looking forward to my next break when the semester is over.

And there you have it, my I love Spring Tag. I hope you all enjoyed reading this tag and if you decide to complete the tag, leave me a comment so I can check out your answers!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Versatile Blogger Award


I have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger award! I was nominated by two lovely ladies: Emily at Beauty and the Budget and Rachel at beautyqueenuk. Make sure to check out their blogs, they both have great content!

The Rules Are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Include a link to their blog.
3. Select 15 new blog/bloggers you've recently discovered or follow regularly.
4. Nominate those bloggers for a Versatile Blogger Award, leave a link to their page and a comment on their latest post to let them know they've been nominated.
5. Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.
 
My Seven Things: 
 
1. I love playing games on my phone. My favorites are Song Pop, Plants vs. Zombies and MiniGolf. 
2. I am a magazine hoarder. I always get sucked into buying one while I stand in line at the grocery store. I think that's how they make their money :) 
3.  I could eat the same thing for dinner everyday: chicken piccata and oven potatoes. I think my boyfriend hates that he ever even introduced me to this heavenly meal.
4.  Yoga pants over jeans any day!
5. I love painting my nails. I always try to branch out, but most of the time they are either pink or red. 
6. There is nothing cuter than a Husky puppy
7. The Parmesan garlic wings at Buffalo Wild Wings are the bomb.com!

I nominate:
 
 
 
Make sure to check out all of these blogs. They all are great reads! Also, make sure to leave a comment if you choose to participate. I love getting to know other bloggers better!
 

Friday, March 29, 2013

It's Friday!

Hey Everyone! This isn't going to be one of my normal posts, but these pictures are so pretty I had to share them with you! So, last week I went back home to Virginia Beach for Spring Break! Such a nice change from the still cold temps of the Midwest. Anyways, while I was home, we took a day trip to the Outer Banks. It was a bit of a cloudy day, but the temperature was nice and with almost no one on the beach, it was very peaceful.


The area is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. You can see piles of sand shoveled up in people's front yards. The house pictured above and below is one of the few houses still standing so close to the beach. Most of the others were destroyed during the hurricane.


The beach also had so many beautiful seashells. I collected quite a bit and am planning on using them for decorations for the apartment!


And finally, I had to include this picture. I saw this and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. I mean come on, a "baby dune," how is that not picture worthy?



I'm also linking up with Whitney for #backthatazzup Friday

 
 
Taking it back to the 90's this week. I love this song

Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms on Grooveshark