Friday Fashion Files - Rogue & Vogue

My fashion posts are few and far between these days but I wanted to mix in some cute outfit ideas with L'Oréal's new Signature lip colors I received from Influenster.

CoverGirl's TruBlend Matte Foundation & Skim Primer

I love receiving beauty products that actually work for my skin so I can do a rave review after testing for a few weeks and then have the products to use until they run out and I repurchase.

Bubble Away The Impurities

I was lucky to be introduced to the belif Pore Cleaner Bubble Foam which was a new-to-me skincare line and product. What I love about this gel-to-foam wash-off mask is that works for any skin type whether you have oily, dry or combination skin.

New Beauty Voxbox from Target

Another great VoxBox was received from Influenster a few weeks ago filled with some new beauty goodies from Target, which I've been testing and I'm excited to share my thoughts on.

Friday's Fave - The "Coolest" Thing in Skincare

I've never tried a tightening gel or firming treatment of any kind so Kate Somerville's Tight'N Cryogenic Tightening Gel couldn't have come at a better time as I approach my mid-30s and the fine lines have started to appear around my eyes and forehead area.

Easy Sweet & Sour Chicken Recipe

It's been a while since I shared a recipe. I usually aim for quick and easy meals that take under 30 minutes or can cook itself in the crockpot.

Marc Jacobs Eye-Conic Palettes

I'm a huge fan of Marc Jacobs fashion and have used several of their perfumes over the years - Daisy Kiss, Oh, Lola!, Dot, and I'm currently using Decadence.

Duncan Hines Carrot Cake

Duncan Hines Perfect Size for 1 is an individually portioned pouch of cake mix which comes in 18 varieties with flavors for morning, afternoon or evening indulgences.

Finding Balance for Your Skin Type

Has anyone tried Ole Henriksen products before? This skincare line was completely new to me so I was excited when I received 3 full-size products in the mail to test out. 

Although I have my tried and true favorites when it comes to skincare and hair products, I'm always keen on trying out new and possibly better products especially as ingredients become more organic or refined.

The Ole Henriksen Balance product line is specifically formulated for oily or combination skin so you can get that glow without the icky shine from oil-prone skin. The face moisturizer is particularly unique because it hydrates and mattifies at the same time.

I incorporated these three products into my AM/PM skincare routine over the past couple weeks with no breakouts, no redness, just healthier looking skin. The smell isn't my favorite but I think the natural ingredients keep it from being too fragrant plus these products contain no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

Key Ingredients

 Green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp) and Irish moss: extracts contain natural antiseptic properties which help to absorb excess oil and refine pores.

Salicylic acid + glycolic & lactic acids: help lift and loosen dead skin cells that clog pores.

Neem seed oil: a legendary ingredient in Ayurveda.

Rosehip fruit extract: helps reduce oil production and fights shine while minimizing the appearance of pores (only found in the face hydrator/moisturizer).

Oil Control Toner
A gentle astringent that removes oil and refines pores—without stripping your skin.

Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
Deeply cleanses and purifies pores reducing excess oil.

Counter Balance Oil Control Hydrator
Hydrates, controls oil, mattifies and reduces the appearance of pores.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions expressed in this post are true and honest based on testing out the products over a period of time.

Silky Hair & Stylish Gear

Healthy hair and cute yet comfortable clothing and shoes are a continuous improvement battle in my life. I often buy things that just don't work so I tend to stick with products for a lifetime when I do find something that works 100%.

A big part of the battle is finding products that are actually effective for my hair type which is naturally very thick and wavy. I blow-dry my hair after washing to get the straight look that I typically rock on a daily basis. On top of being thick, it can be very frizzy in the Florida humidity so hot tools and hair serum are a necessity for me!

I shared my torturous hair drying routine two years ago in this post but since then it became significantly easier when I discovered the Revlon Hair Brush Dryer. Having explained my hair type, I have to say all three of these products provided to me by Influenster couldn't be more perfect!

I received a VoxBox of goodies from L'Oreal Paris' new Extraordinary Oil product line and I was immediately shocked they sent full size bottles. I was excited to try them but honestly a little hesitant because the name of these products led me to believe they have a very oily consistency. That was definitely not the case.

L'Oréal® Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner 

I'll start by saying that all of these products contain lightweight oils which are nourishing for dry or damaged hair but not noticeable. The shampoo lathers up so well which is great for thick hair and I love how the conditioner left my hair feeling super soft and silky. I will definitely purchase again!

L'Oréal® Lusturous Oil Serum

This serum has ultra-light oils and absorbs very quickly in my hair to fix the frizz without leaving an oily look. I absolutely love this serum and use it after blow-drying to soften and style my hair.

Outfit Details:

Off Shoulder Top (similar) * AEO Denim Skirt (similar)
Tory Burch Sunglasses * Kate Spade Glitter Stud Earrings
Alex & Ani Bangles  *  Tory Burch Thora Metallic Sandals 

L'Oreal Paris provided these products for review purposes via Influenster. This review is my true and honest opinion based on actual product use.

Cold Weather Favorites

The cold weather has hit us in Florida and there's some major essentials I've had to add back to my wardrobe and routine to keep warm and comfortable in this weather.

Faux Sherpa Vest  * UGG Slippers

Infinity Scarf  * Vaseline Lip Therapy

Military Wool Peacoat * Knee High Slippers

eos Body Lotion * Mossimo Shearling Style Boots

My lips and skin especially become dried out with the cold weather so I have to walk around lip balm and hand moisturizer in my purse to apply every few hours. The Vaseline Rosy Lips sent to me from Influenster has quickly become my favorite because it works wonders to heal my dried lips and smells good too.

Purse Essentials:
Sunglasses * Perfume Rollerball * Hand Sanitizer * Lip Balm * Hand Lotion * Lip Gloss

I received the Vaseline Lip Therapy from Influenster for testing purposes. My review above is my true and honest opinion.

Sally Hansen Airbursh Perfect Legs

Out of the blue, I received a package from Influenster with a sample of Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs lotion (pictured on the right). I already had the Airbrush Legs Spray-On (on the left) so I'm familiar with the product. I was excited to test out the lotion because the spray-on stuff I bought was a little too dark for my complexion and it dries very quickly so it's not easy to rub in to tone down the color.

The light color that Influenster sent is much better suited for my skin complexion (how did they know?) and looks really natural on my legs. My goal for this summer was to work on my tan but the past few weeks of rain has seriously put a damper on any outdoor plans so my legs still fall in the fairly pale category. After applying the lotion though, they have a nice sun-kissed complexion which I really like.

I much prefer the lotion to the spray-on Airbrush Legs because it's easy to rub in and spreads evenly for a more natural look. I feel like the spray is a little messier to apply but it also doesn't help that I purchased the wrong color. What I like about both products is that they're water resistant so it doesn't run or make a mess if you happen to encounter humid weather or sweat in the summer heat. 

I've worn the lotion out and about a few times and it lasted all day so I will purchase the lotion when the small tube runs out and probably give away the spray-on can to a friend with slightly darker skin (Kate, you want it?). Oh and yes that is an old faded tattoo on my ankle from college days, if you were wondering. It desperately needs to get a touch-up.

Have you used any of Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs products before? What did you think?

The sample size Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs lotion was given to me complimentary from Influenster to test and review. The review above is my own honest opinion.

 

Influenster Refresh VoxBox

I've been a member of Influenster for a while now and get VoxBoxes here and there to test and review if the products strike an interest with me. The #RefreshVoxBox didn't disappoint and included a variety of nutrition, beauty and personal care items; all of which I would use in my daily routine. 

Nutrition Snacks

Beanitos Chips: I wasn't familiar with Beanitos chips before receiving these two samples but I really enjoyed both - Restaurant Style & Nacho Cheese. They are full of fiber and protein and also gluten-free so that's good news for those that avoid gluten. I'll definitely purchase them again cause I think they are one of the better tasting chips out there minus the greasiness of some brands I won't mention.

 

Skinnygirl Nutrition bar (5 for $5 at Target): I love Skinnygirl products including their cocktails but haven't had a chance to try their Nutrition bars so I was excited to see a bar was included in the #RefreshVoxBox. I got the Banana & Oatmeal Dark Chocolate bar which was very tasty and the perfect on-the-go snack. I'm not a huge fan of banana flavored stuff so I will try another type when I purchase.

Beauty Products

Covergirl UltraSmooth Foundation & Applicator: This is the product I was most excited to receive because I recently noticed it on the shelves at the drugstore. Ultrasmooth contains Olay serum and is meant to provide medium coverage for a more natural look. The flat, rubbery applicator is not like any others I've tried but it does it's job and blends well. I plan on continuing to use this product because, luckily they sent me the correct tint for my skin tone.

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masque: I've tried a couple Montagne Jeunesse face products in the past and was never impressed enough to re-purchase but I did enjoy the experience with this face mask. You apply after washing/cleansing your face, let dry for 15-20 minutes and then peel. I loved the smell and how my face felt after so I think this is one of their better products for the face.

L'Occitane Shea Butter Comforting Cream: I've never heard of this brand but the cream is formulated with 5% shea butter and made for normal to oily skin.  I really liked how it made my face feel after I applied to a clean face after showering at night. I'm going to keep this in my skincare regimen as a night cream (and I'm pretty picky with my facial products). 

Dental Care

Listerine Pocketpaks: I've never been a huge fan of Listerine mouthwashes. I use gentler mouthwashes but the pocketpacks aren't a bad gig to keep in your purse to freshen your breathe on the go. I like these!

DenTek Floss Picks: I've used floss picks before but always resort back to traditonal dental floss. I really liked these ones though. They were effortless to use, easy on my gums and give off a minty flavor. I'm excited I have 30 count pack for many more uses.

I don't have kids so I'll be giving away the DenTek Fun Flossers to a friend for her to test out with her kids but I'm sure they work just as effectively as the adult flossers. 

I received these products free from Influenster to test and review. 

Have you tried any of the above brands?

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Hair Products

I've tried almost all major hair product brands out there but I had never heard of or ran across the Frederic Fekkai hair care brand before Influenster sent me the above sample products to try out. 

The Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Starter Kit runs for about $15 at ULTA just so you know the retail value. 

My Thoughts

My hair was noticeably shiny and healthier-looking after I washed with Fekkai's brilliant glossing sample shampoo and conditioner. I have thick hair and was only able to get one wash out the sample size, however the glossing creme will last me a while, which I'm excited about!

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Shampoo:

 I really liked how well this shampoo lathered up and went a long way, which I need for my thick hair. It deep cleans very well and my hair looked great for several days after. I will purchase this shampoo once I'm done with the 5 or so bottles of various types of shampoo I already own.

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Conditioner: 

The conditioner was slightly opposite as there wasn't quite enough in the sample packet for me to do a complete detangle and moisturize but I made it work. (My thick hair is a conditioner gulper.) The results were exaclty as advertised: it did improve shine and make my hair feel super silky smooth. I don't think there's anything particularly special about the smell but, other than that, I thought these were quality products.

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Styling Creme: 

I liked the glossing creme the best out of the bundle and glad I have a big enough tube for several more washes/styles. I applied a small amount throughout my damp hair after washing and before blow drying to provide a layer of protection from the heat. It's infused with olive oil to help with texture and shine. Once again, it did live up to it's standards by decreasing frizz (which I have a lot of) and making my hair look healthy and shiny.

The Fekkai line of hair products gets a thumbs up in my opinion!

I received these haircare products complimentary from Influenster to test. The above review is my honest opinion and experience with these products.

Influenster's Violet VoxBox Product Reviews

I found out several weeks ago that I got selected to review the Violet VoxBox and it finally arrived in the mail with lots of free goodies to test!

Inspired by this season's dark, moody florals, the Violet VoxBox is for the beauty queens of Influenster Nation. If you're not familiar with Influenster, it is a free service that sends goodies for you to test so you can share your thoughts with your social networks. The Violet VoxBox is the second box I received and I'm loving being an Influenster member so far.

These are the items I received in the Violet VoxBox:

Sally Hansen Triple Shine: ($4.99) This is a great quality nail polish that I'll definitely use often. The orange color isn't ideal for the holidays but it will definitely be great for the Summer and Fall months. The polish texture dries shiny/glossy, true to it's name, and doesn't chip easily so it's perfect in my books.

Goody Athletique Adjustable Headband: ($6.00) I'm happy that they sent me a headband because I use them regularly to pull back my hair to wash my face or for working out. This one is great because it's adjustable unlike all the other ones I own.

"Not Your Mother's" Clean Freak Dry Shampoo: ($5.99) I use dry shampoo weekly since I only wash my hair every couple of days. I find this dry shampoo works just as good as another brand I was using from ULTA. It has a nice smell which is hard to find for dry shampoos so I'm really happy I received this item to test and will use again as the price is affordable.

SoyJoy Dark Chocolate Cherry: This baked whole soy & fruit bar is all natural and gluten free. I'm more of a savory than sweet person so I'm not the best person to review SoyJoy bars but I saved it for when I was craving something sweet after dinner and I really enjoyed the rich chocolate taste at only 140 calories.

Montagne Jeunesse Red Earth Clay Mask: ($2.49) I tried this mask tonight after taking a shower and it left my face feeling "baby soft". The mask is different to all others I have tried because it's looks like a paper cutout that's saturated with the red earth clay. You place the cutout over your face for 10-15 minutes. I really liked how the clay made my face feel afterwards but the cutout was slightly too big for my face so it was a little awkward applying it. I'd be interested to try more of their masks.

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes and all reviews are my true and honest opinion of the above products.*