Newfound Skin & Hair Care Thanks To Influenster

I am really excited about this sponsored post by Influenster. It has been about a year and a half since I have participated in a campaign with them but since I am out of school and I finally have time to help them spread the news about products, I decided to sign up!

If you don't know what Influenster is, it is an app/website where bloggers and other influencers can sign up and apply for these Vox Boxes. I have received a few Vox Boxes over the years of being a blogger and I have enjoyed using and sharing the products. I received this Vox Box in November, so I have been using most of these products for a couple of months now. For some of these products, with the first use, I was amazed at what they did for my skin. If you have been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I have struggled with my skin in the past, so finding a skincare regimen that actually works and makes me feel confident is just wonderful. 

In the Holiday Prep Vox Box, I received:

Country Life Biotin Vitamin Spray in Sweet Lavender
Fountain of Truth Good Day Soufflé Hydrating Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30

ROC Eye Cream

VDL Satin Veil Primer 

Moroccan Oil Color Depositing Hair Mask in Cocoa

I have incorporated most of the products in my daily morning routine. Beginning with when I first wake up and wash my face, the very first product that I use is the Country Life Biotin Vitamin Spray in Sweet Lavender. When I am waiting for my toner to set in on my face, I spritz two sprays of the vitamin spray on my tongue. To be honest, I was a little wary of "spray vitamins". I had never heard of them before and it sounded a little odd to spray my vitamins into my mouth. They ended up being the best way for me to get my biotin! I see an improvement in my skin, hair, and nails! My nails are stronger, my hair is shinier than ever, and my skin looks hydrated and supple. I also think these vitamins have something to do with my skin maintaining clarity. I don't think I will go back to the gummy hair, skin, and nails vitamins. Country Life spray biotin vitamins are so easy to take, two sprays and done! They are 2,000 mcg of biotin, so they are comparable in dosage to other biotin vitamins out there. I was also worried about the Sweet Lavender flavor, knowing lavender is a very strong flavor, and I am not big on floral flavors, but it is delicious! They have another flavor that I decided to pass on: coconut, but I know others out there would love that coconut flavor.

The next products that I use after applying my micellar water is the Good Day Soufflé Hydrating Facial Moisturizer. When I received this moisturizer, I noticed the packaging first. A beautiful, clean, simple packaging with metallic accents in rose gold. The packaging looks luxurious! I saw that it has SPF 30 with each application and that is something I always make sure my morning moisturizer has, especially with living in the South where the sun can be very harsh. The actual moisturizer itself comes out in a light blush color and a little goes a long way. I do two small pumps on my finger and "dot it" all over my face to spread it out. Another thing that I love is how long this product lasts. I received this product in mid-November; I have been using it every morning and I still have a ways to go before I finish this moisturizer. It smells so good and it makes my skin feel and look amazing. It keeps my skin feeling hydrated all day and I love how I actually see a positive difference in my pores and I have also noticed how it balances my skin tone. There is a sticker shock that comes with this moisturizer but I say that you only have one skin to live in, so take care of it, even if that means spending a little more on quality products that make you feel confident. I will definitely be purchasing this moisturizer again. I only wish they had travel sizes for when I go back to Oregon to visit my family. The last thing about this moisturizer is it has a nice pump feature. You twist the top and the pump twists out and you twist it back down when you are done using it.

This is one of those "simple" makeup days. This moisturizer sets the tone for a confident day. You may also notice how bright my under-eyes look. I love the way that the Good Day Soufflé and the ROC eye cream work together to create a lovely base for my makeup. 

After I apply the Good Day Soufflé moisturizer, I apply the ROC eye cream under my eyes. I have heard of this brand before and have seen it in the drug store but I have never tried it. Since I am in my early twenties, I didn't think it was necessary to be using eye cream... I was so wrong. I had dabbled in using eye cream in the past but I would only use it once or twice and I would never continuously use the eye cream. This time was different. Even though I don't visibly have wrinkles around my eyes, I think it is a good idea to begin using an eye cream early on. It isn't just for wrinkles, it is also for brightening under the eyes and ridding of dark circles. When I use ROC eye cream, I notice that I look more awake, well rested, and my under-eyes look brighter! Eye cream is typically used at night but I use this eye cream in the morning under my makeup and in the evening after washing my face. There have been eye creams in the past that should only be used in the evenings, just because of the way it reacts with the makeup or makes one's face look oily during the day, but that is not the case with ROC. ROC eye cream absorbs beautifully and it doesn't have any weird reactions with makeup. I take two little "dollops" of eye cream and pat them under my eyes until the cream is absorbed. It comes in a travel-friendly squeeze container and it will last you a very long time. I use it twice a day and I have barely made a dent in the product. 

Another product that I now use on a daily basis is the VDL Satin Veil Primer. I had never heard of VDL before this campaign and I am so glad that I now know about this brand. In the past, I have used primers under my makeup and I haven't had the best luck with them. They made me break out, they clogged my pores, I didn't see the point in using a primer because my face would get oily and my makeup wouldn't last long. 

On the left is my bare face with the VDL primer. It blurs imperfections and pores to create a smooth finish once makeup is compl

I was nervous about trying this primer because of my experience in the past. It ended up changing the way I do my makeup for the better. After I wash my face, put on my moisturizer and eye cream, I spray some rose water with witch hazel on my face and let it dry just a little bit. I use a good amount of the VDL Satin Veil Primer on my skin and I wait three to five minutes before applying my makeup. In the time that I am waiting for the primer to set in, I do my eyeliner and mascara if I am not using eye shadow that day, usually I do simple eye makeup on the days I go to work.

This primer has enhanced my morning makeup routine, making it easier for my foundation to just glide on my face and making my makeup last all throughout my 12 hour shift at the hospital.

 I have also seen the way it lasts through a rigorous workout! Not that you should keep makeup on for very long after a workout, but my point is that if it lasts through sweat and a workout, it can last through pretty much anything else. This primer also works as a eyelid primer for eye shadow and it keeps the eyeshadow from rubbing off. This product has made applying makeup more fun and it truly makes your makeup last all day! 

I am SUPER impressed with how this primer keeps my makeup in place during a workout and through sweat. Since I have been doing the eliptical for 30 minutes daily, I am pouring sweat! VDL keeps my makeup in place and doesn't leave those gross sweat lines running down your face. 

In the Vox Box, I also received a temporary hair color and deep conditioning mask from Moroccan Oil. I was familiar with these masks before receiving one in the box but I had never tried one myself. I had chosen the Cocoa color because I thought it wouldn't be too crazy of a color to use, especially since I can't have crazy colors in my hair for work. After thinking about it a little more, I also didn't want to darken the lighter pieces that I have had put in my hair through balayage, so I asked my sweet boyfriend to help me review this hair mask.

Though this mask may be temporary hair color, please take caution in applying it! It will stain your nails, it will stain your hands, and any fabric it comes into contact with, temporarily. We applied it in his hair and I was worried it was going to stain his scalp, the tops of his ears and his side burn area... but it didn't! It only stained the palms of my hands and my nails. After a few washes with dish soap, the stains were removed. All Moroccan Oil products smell so good, so of course this hair mask has a delightful smell. John even liked it! It wasn't too "girly" smelling, it smells clean and luxurious.

We let it process for the amount of time that the Moroccan Oil website said to wait, which was seven-eight minutes and then he rinsed the mask out. I could tell that his hair was slightly darker and he loved the way it made his hair feel. It looked shinier, bouncier, and healthier! John already has pretty healthy hair but doing this mask enhanced his already healthy hair. This hair mask also inspired him to do a regular hair mask from now on. The Moroccan Oil Color Depositing Mask comes in other colors and I think I want to give the mask for platinum hair a try. It has a purple pigment to boost the blonde that is in my hair, so I think I'll do that in between hair color appointments to keep the blonde looking "ashy". I would have totally chosen the platinum mask if it was offered to me through this campaign.

On the left, that is John's hair before the mask. On the right is John's hair after the mask. You can see a slight darker color, shinier and bouncier hair. You can also see in the side-burn area that it is darker than the side-burn area over on the left. He also loves the way his hair feels! 

I have always thought that participating in sponsored posts and campaigns are so fun because it introduces new products that I probably would have never tried on my own. It's pretty lucky that I have only experienced positive outcomes from each of these products. I will be a continuous consumer of these brands and of course these particular products. This was a great Vox Box and I am so thankful that these products have improved the way my skin looks and has added to my skin health. I am excited for the next campaign!