Influenster VoxBox: Pampers Cruisers Diapers

I received some Pampers Cruisers diapers from Influenster to try out for free in exchange for honest reviews.

I really don't like writing less than positive reviews, it's not fun to bring to light the negatives of a product. But, because I'm honest, I'm going to share how I feel about Pampers so others moms can shop more wisely.


Every mom figures out what works best for her baby as time goes on. You find what's worth it, what isn't, what's necessary, and what you can do without. You also figure out what brands to stay loyal to, and what brands just don't work out for your needs.

For us, Pampers doesn't work out.

My son is almost 10 months old now, and by now, I have found out what diapers work for us. When he was a newborn, we had a huge stash of diapers from the baby shower, and we got to try out all kinds of brands for several months. Pampers, Huggies, Luvs, and all kinds of generic brands. I used them all with indifference, not really noticing any particular brand at first until I started noticing some leakage problems. I started paying attention more closely, and noticed the diapers most prone to leakage were the generic brands (some of them) and Pampers.

Nothing feels yuckier than picking up your baby and feeling his outfit is cold and wet because his diaper leaked!

When Influenster invited me to this Pampers Cruisers campaign, I was hesitant because of the history of leakage we've had with their brand. But, they insist the Cruisers are supposed to hold more liquid, resist sagging, and so on. I figured, hey, why not give them a try? Maybe we'll have better luck this time.

I put my son in a Pampers Cruisers diaper and shortly after, he dirtied it. I had no problems that time, I changed it as soon as possible. The second time in a Cruisers diaper, he wore it for a couple hours without any particular issues.

The third time, though.... We went about our day as usual, and we were on the bed and playing and cuddling. He was next to me, and suddenly I saw a huge puddle forming underneath him. What the heck? LEAKAGE! Pee! All over the bed! I immediately changed him into one of his regular diapers, and stripped the bed because it was soaked. UGH!!! He hadn't even been wearing that Pampers diaper for even 2 hours yet.

Two out of the three Pampers diapers were fine, but the third had major issues. I would just rather stick to a brand that works for us and doesn't have problems with leaking. At this point in the mommy game, I have found that Huggies and Luvs diapers work best for us. He can even wear them overnight without problems in the morning.

Sorry, Pampers. I gave you guys a fair shot, and I really hate to say that your diapers don't work for us. I have friends that swear by Pampers, but not us, unfortunately. I'm glad Pampers works for other babies, though.

Raspberry Pink Ombre with Ion Color Brilliance Brights

I felt like shaking things up a bit, and decided to do something totally different with my hair. I wanted pink!

I haven't had pink hair in a few years. Last time, I bleached my entire hair and colored it a bright cotton candy pink. Then I did a darker rose pink, and purple, cherry red, and so on and so forth. I like to take chances with my hair every now and again.

I have mainly kept to my dark brown or henna hair color for the past year and a half or so. I was missing pink, though...

I'm a stay at home mom now, and I figured, why the heck not? Let's get some colorful hair again!

I decided on an ombre style, because I did not want to bleach all of my hair, and I didn't want it to be TOO vibrant. I figured if I get sick of the pink, once it washes out I will be left with a regular ombre style.

I went to Sally Beauty Supply and purchased the tools I needed. This is what I used:

- Salon Care 20 volume creme developer (here)
- Salon Care Prism Lites Blue bleach (here)
- Ion Color Brilliance Brights in Magenta (here)
- Ion Color Brilliance Neon Brights in Hottie Pink (here)

...everything cost me under $15.

To prepare for bleaching, I did not shampoo my hair for 3 days. I conditioned it, and used deep conditioner a couple times as well.

I bleached my hair into an ombre style - I wasn't overly meticulous about this, I just applied bleach here and there on the ends and rubbed upwards. I left it in a little over 30 minutes, probably. I chose 20 vol because I didn't want a HUGE lift, I wanted something that lifted a little slower and a bit more gentle. I have henna in my hair, so I wasn't going to be able to lift to a blonde (I'll blog about bleaching henna soon), so I had a pretty orange-y result.

I have never used Ion Color Brilliance Brights before. I've seen them in Sally's, but I usually reach for Manic Panic or order Punky Colour instead. My vote has always been for Punky Colour, it's the best semi-permanent dye I've found for funky colors. I decided to get the Ion because it was $5ish a tube and BOGO half off. Two tubes cost less than one jar of Manic Panic. Having never used Ion before, I was a little unsure what to expect since I've read a lot of mixed reviews.

The product itself seems fine, my first impression of it is okay. The scent of the dye reminds me of Caress soap, kind of a flowery powdery soap scent. Not as great smelling as Punky Colour (which smells like grape juice, mmm) but it isn't awful either.

The Magenta color is a typical fuchsia shade, and the Hottie Pink from the new Neons range, was more of a cool-tone pink. Not really neon, but I bet on platinum hair it's probably stunning. I mixed them together about half and half.

The color result? Dark strawberry/raspberry pink. I like it, it isn't exactly what I pictured in my head, but I do like it. It's quite a change from what I've had lately.

Putting the pink on top of the orange resulted in more of a reddish pink.

Before and after

A note about the Ion Brilliance Brights color - this stuff is THICK. Very thick, like toothpaste - it isn't super creamy like I'm used to using with other brands. Many people complain that there isn't enough in the tube because it's so thick. The trick to using this stuff is to ADD WATER. Add water to the Ion and stir, stir, stir! Do not add conditioner like with other brands. Adding water doesn't affect the pigmentation of the product, it only thins it out to make it easier to work with.



I'm not sure if I would repurchase Ion Brilliance Brights or not... I will update once I've shampooed my hair a few times to see how long it lasts.

Pinky goodness!

Review: Menow Generation Liquid Lipsticks

I have had these products for months and months, and I've been meaning to post about them forever. But, you know, life and all...

If you've spent at least three or four minutes in the beauty blog-o-sphere, you have seen these lipsticks - they are everywhere. They are being touted as dupes for products 18x more expensive - supposedly, these are just as good as Kat Von D and Lime Crime liquid matte lipsticks. I have not tried those, myself (lolol you think I'm going to spend $18+ for a lipstick? Child, please.)

These are sold all over ebay and aliexpress - simply type in "lipstick" or "lip gloss", and it will be one of the first results. They are sold for about $0.99, often less.

I was curious about these, because these (allegedly) are lip glosses that dry matte, they last all day without needing re-application, and they don't transfer? You mean I can drink coffee and water, kiss my husband, kiss attack my son, and I will still have lipstick on? Well, say no more - I'm interested.


So, on to my review...

Click for more swatches and review details.

Review: Wet N Wild Fergie Lipstick - D'Vinely Chilled

Long time, no post!

Wow! I haven't posted in months. Pregnancy and being a new mom really zapped most of my free time. It's been a huge life change and my son has brought me a lot of joy (and sleeplessness).



My days mainly consist of diaper changing, sitting on the couch nursing, trying to find some sleep, and occasionally doing some dishes or something. Hmm.



While sitting on the couch nursing I also binge watch Netflix to help pass the time. My husband and I have been watching Breaking Bad. What an amazing show. It is totally not something I would normally like, but we've been drawn in and have been racing to finish the series. I haven't been this into a show since LOST.

I've really been missing blogging lately and decided I would post something. I actually meant to post this a long time ago - I've had these swatch pictures ready to go but never posted them.

So, today I'm going to talk about a Wet n Wild lipstick in the Fergie range. The shade is called D'Vinely Chilled. I loved the way the color looked in the tube - a warm shimmering wine shade.

D'Vinely Chilled

Oooh. Sparkly.

I'm not going to front. This is frosty. Frost has a bit of a bad reputation these days as being too dated or cheap looking. Well, call me cheap (it wouldn't be the first time), but I like a bit of frost sometimes - in the right amount, I think frost can be pretty and feminine. In astronomical amounts, you're veering into powdered donut lips territory. Not cute.



It definitely swatches frosty as well. It's got good pigmentation and you can layer the color if desired. I like the way it looks as a swatch. On me, though...



I don't like the way it looks on me. I don't know, it feels matronly or something. It feels very dry as well. I feel like it ages me in an unflattering manner. I bet it would look great on someone with a deeper skin tone, I can see it reading as a gorgeous shimmering berry. On me...I'll pass.

I haven't even touched it since swatching the product for this post. Now that I think about it, I bet it would look and feel much nicer with some lip gloss on top. I'll give it a shot.

Review: Coppertone ClearlySheer products

Coppertone ClearlySheer

Okay, I am guilty of something: I don't wear sunscreens. I honestly can't remember the last time I used them, because I use them so infrequently. I know, that's really bad for the skin.

Why do I dislike sunscreens, you may be wondering? Well, first of all, I hate how greasy sunscreens tend to feel on the skin. I don't like that slimy residue they usually leave behind. They feel heavy on the skin, and they tend to smell really strong. I hate that "hey everyone, I'm wearing sunscreen!" scent they all have. Yucky.

However, I received some samples from BzzAgent of the new ClearlySheer sunscreens from Coppertone. These just may have changed my mind about sunscreens.

First, let's talk about the ClearlySheer "For Sunny Days" lotion, Broad Spectrum SPF 30 - this stuff is great, honestly. It's a lightweight lotion that absorbs into the skin super quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't feel greasy or sticky at all like most sunscreens do.
I feel it would be perfect to wear underneath makeup for added protection.

Also, the scent - it's so light and soft, and barely there at all. Just a slight "clean" scent. No obnoxious Sunscreen Smell. Thumbs up!

Second, Coppertone also released a ClearlySheer Sunscreen Continuous Spray. It's basically sunscreen in an aerosol spray form. It's Broad Spectrum 50 and protects from damaging UVA/UVB rays, and it's also water resistant. It's a light mist, similar to a body mist. I love that it has a "locking" cap - you can turn it on/off so that it won't leak or accidentally spray itself inside your bag (you know what I'm talking about - I hate that).

The scent, though... I cannot lie to you. The scent of the spray is disgusting. It reminds me of hair salons - all those chemicals, ugh. It made me have a flashback of the time my grandmother talked me into getting a perm when I was 9 years old.  Have you ever smelled those perm chemicals? Yeah, that's how bad it smells. SO, I just had to mention that, because I know some people are sensitive to smells. Thankfully, when the mist dries, it doesn't smell bad anymore and leaves a soft nice scent behind. It's a nice alternative to slathering on a lotion, and it's perfect for tossing in a purse or beach bag for quick SPF.

So, if you're looking to start stocking up on SPF for the impending summer, I would recommend the Coppertone ClearlySheer line, in particular the For Sunny Days lotion.

Disclaimer: I received the items in this review as a sample from BzzAgent.

Review: LA Colors Moisture Lipstick in Dusty Rose

LA Colors is a brand that I don't see many reviews on. However, they are one of my favorite bargain brands: they are available in almost any dollar store, and I've also seen them in discount department stores and even grocery stores. You can also find LA Colors online. Many people ignore LA Colors because of the cheap prices, and the non-fancy packaging. Yeah, the packaging isn't pretty or cute: but it's the product inside that counts, right?

I'll admit, I also passed over LA Colors for years, until deciding to try some of their products a while back as a broke student. Most of their products can be found for a $1, which is crazy. If you don't like it, you're only out a dollar, so why not try it? I've found many of their products to be quite good, especially for the price. I love their eye shadows, powder compacts, nail polishes, and also lipsticks.

I have several of these Moisture Lipsticks, but today I'll be reviewing the shade Dusty Rose. I may do some swatches of the other colors, soon. :)


LA Colors Moisture Lipsticks are enriched with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. They have an extremely smooth texture, they are lightweight and feel like wearing a lip balm. They do not feel heavy, aren't sticky, and are very comfortable to wear. Because they are so moisturizing and lightweight, the wear time isn't that long. But for $1, I'll sacrifice some longevity in exchange for a smooth, lip balm-style texture. They come in several shades, in creme, frost, satin, and shimmer finishes.

They smell awesome. Seriously, they smell like yummy vanilla ice cream. The scent reminds me of MAC lipsticks. I know, that sounds weird, a $1 lipstick that smells as good as MAC? Well, I kid you not.

Dusty Rose is a soft rosy mauve/pink color, with shimmer. Yeah, I know, that was a weird description, LOL. It's an every day kind of color that would look great with a variety of makeup looks. The shimmer doesn't bother me, since I rather like shimmery lip colors, but if shimmer isn't your thing, I'd try another shade.

For $1, I definitely recommend LA Colors Moisture Lipsticks. You can find them in pretty much any Dollar Tree or Dollar General store. The packaging definitely isn't pretty, but overall, I like the lipsticks anyway.

Disclaimer: The item in this review was purchased by me.

Review: Special K Coffeehouse Protein Breakfast Shakes

Being familiar with Special K products, I was looking forward to trying these. I love Special K cereals (the Vanilla Almond cereal is my favorite) and breakfast bars. Special K offers low calorie cereals, snacks, and drinks, while still providing plenty of yummy flavor.

Instead of having my usual cup of coffee this morning, I decided to try Special K's new Coffeehouse protein breakfast shakes. I received the flavors Chocolate Mocha and Vanilla Cappuccino for review.
The Coffeehouse protein breakfast shakes are no different from Special K's usual quality. Chocolate Mocha has a smooth, creamy chocolatey flavor, with just a hint of coffee taste. Fans of chocolate will love this flavor - it reminds me of chocolate milkshakes or brownies.
My favorite flavor of the two, though, is Vanilla Cappuccino. I love vanilla flavors in general, so I'm not surprised I gravitated more towards this flavor. It has a soft, sweet vanilla flavor, with just a hint of the cappuccino taste coming through. Personally, I love coffee, and I would have preferred a stronger coffee taste. However, people who aren't huge coffee drinkers will be pleased that the coffee taste in these drinks are very subtle.
I also like the slightly thick texture of the shake, it provides plenty of "substance".
My husband is the type who runs off to work without having breakfast, and I can imagine that these Coffeehouse protein shakes would be great for people like him. The 10 ounce bottle is shaped perfectly to fit into your hand. Grab one of these, fly out the door, drink on the go, and start your day.
I let my hubby have a sip of the drinks, and he really liked them, too. He preferred the Chocolate Mocha flavor (hey, whatever, more Vanilla Cappuccino for me!) He also mentioned how these taste so much better than your average protein shakes - he likes to have protein shakes a few times a week, especially after a busy day or a workout. Sometimes those protein shakes have a gritty texture and gross flavor - I'm sure you know what I mean, if you've ever had a protein shake, sometimes they can be hard to finish. But these... they're good.
They have 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and under 200 calories. With as much caffeine per serving as a cup of coffee, I definitely would not mind occasionally switching up my usual morning coffee routine and drinking these. They taste awesome!

Disclaimer: I received the items in this review as a sample from BzzAgent.

Swatches: Digging out forgotten, unloved makeup

I don't know how this happened.

I wanted you. I needed you in my collection. I purchased you, brought you home...and then forgot all about you.

I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional, it just...happened. I lost interest. You now sit in the bottom of my makeup kit, all dusty, unused, and neglected.

Don't look at me like that. Sometimes growing apart happens, I mean --


Okay, does this happen to anyone else? You get all excited about a product, can't wait to use it, and next thing you know...something more exciting comes along. You forget about your old stuff.

I'm totally guilty of this. It's like I have Makeup Attention Deficit Disorder or something!

So, I decided to dig out some old products and try to get reacquainted with them. Sad to say, I probably haven't used any of these in at least a year. Bad!

I'm kind of sad I ignored these little dudes because they're actually good products! As far as I know, none of these are limited edition, and are still on the market.

Brands are: Hard Candy, Sally Girl, NYX, and ELF.

Swatches ahead.

Review: Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick in Dollhouse Pink

Pretty much every lipstick fiend has already tried the Wet n Wild Megalast lipsticks. They are known for their matte finish, smooth texture, high pigmentation, and long lasting time.

For a tiny price tag of $2, you really cannot find a better lipstick for the money.

Today I'm going to discuss the shade Dollhouse Pink. This is a cute bright, cool pink that Barbie would feel very much comfortable with wearing. Unfortunately, I don't feel like this particular color works on me.

I have yellow undertones in my skin, and I feel this color clashes rather badly. I love bright lip colors, especially pinks, but I don't think I can pull off Dollhouse Pink.

I'm not going to lie, I found this color difficult to work with. I looks patchy on my lips, even with lip balm underneath. It was hard to take decent pictures of this color, especially on my lips...eek.

I love several of the other Megalast shades, Just Peachy and Mauve Outta Here being two of my favorites. As much as I want to wear Dollhouse Pink, it just doesn't seem like a good fit. I feel like I have to check the mirror often to ensure my lipstick isn't all patchy and uneven. Not cool.

What do you think of Dollhouse Pink? Is it wearable, or too much of a novelty color to wear out of the house?

The item in this review was purchased by me. 

Review: Maybelline Vivids Fuchsia Flash lipstick

I was Valentines shopping for my hubby, when I suddenly found myself in the cosmetics section. Funny how that happens...

I was eyeballing the Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids lipsticks and the shade Fuchsia Flash caught my eye. I just can't resist a bright lollipop hued pink!

I have several of the Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks, and they are honestly my favorite drugstore lippie. They come in a huge amount of shades and finishes, they last a good amount of time, and they're super affordable at around $5-7 a tube. Come to mama!

 The lipsticks rival MAC in terms of color payoff and texture. These lipsticks have a soft honey-vanilla fragrance which I find pleasing and inoffensive. They are not drying and last about average time for a lipstick, a few hours.

Maybelline wasn't kidding when they called these Vivids. Hello, pigmentation! This lipstick means business in the color department! Fuchsia Flash is a super fun color. It's a yummy bright cool pink that makes a statement.

This color packs serious color and does leave a stain after it wears off. That's a plus, for me.

Depending on the lighting, it looks purply-pink, or hot pink.

I'm very impressed with this color and plan on buying more Vivids very soon.

 

Click for more pictures and lip swatches...

Review: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Hot Gossip

Ahhh, again, I am getting behind on posting! I do apologize.

I started a new job (and quit the other one I blogged about previously) over a week ago. I am now working in retail (oh, Lordy!) and even though it's supposed to be a part-time job, my hours are looking an awful lot like full-time.

So between working and school, I've been fairly busy every day. When I get home, I'm so tired, and I just want to plop down in a chair and watch something from Netflix. I'm really into watching Bollywood movies lately - they are just so upbeat and carefree. Sometimes I just want some cheerful entertainment to lighten the mood.

Anyway! Let's talk about one of my favorite things: lipstick.

Today I'll be reviewing one of my favorite MAC lipsticks in Hot Gossip.

MAC Hot Gossip Cremesheen lipstick

Hot Gossip is part of the permanent line, and is described as a "mid-tone pinky plum"; it is sold in the Cremesheen formula for $15.00. Personally, having tried a few other finishes, Cremesheen is my favorite MAC lipstick finish. Not everyone likes the finish because they find it drying - I, on the other hand, find it quite the opposite. I find it to be quite moisturizing and my lips feel soft even long after the lipstick has worn off.

True to its name, the Cremesheen finish applies with a creamy feel and a slight "shine" without looking too glossy. I find I get a decent amount of wear from it, about two hours before it fades to a slight pink tint on my lips.

Hot Gossip is a medium pink with a slight purple tinge to it, it leans oh-so-slightly "cool" if you ask me - but it isn't too cool that warm skin tones couldn't pull it off. I have some yellow skin undertones and I love this color.

The color is a cream with no shimmer. It looks great with a variety of makeup looks. It's a nice, soft pink that is noticeable without being too loud.




















If you are not familiar with the classic MAC lipstick scent, oh, I adore it. It is a lovely vanilla scent that reminds me of vanilla ice cream, vanilla cupcakes, vanilla pudding - all things deliciously vanilla. Makeup companies, please take note. A lip product's scent will make or break it for me sometimes. But I love vanilla scented products!

I only have a handful of MAC lipsticks because the price is a tad steep for me. I'm not one of those bloggers that has tons of MAC lippies (woe is me!). I also do not have a MAC counter anywhere near me, so I am left with online purchasing. So when I do decide to buy a MAC lipstick, I research shade reviews and swatches extensively before I decide to make the plunge and order some. I hope my review helps if you are thinking about buying this shade!

Review: Star Crushed Minerals

Finally, a beauty-related post!

I have for you a review of a relatively new indie cosmetic company - Star Crushed Minerals.

I found this etsy shop a few months ago and ordered during the grand opening sale. The prices were too good to pass up.

I was pleased with the service. The owner was very kind, and my items were shipped promptly. Everything arrived quickly, and she thoughtfully sent me a free sample of eye primer. Score!

I bought some eye shadows: Meteorite, Moon Dust, Earthy Gold, Teal, and Neptune Star. I also bought two blushes: Peachy Sheen, and Apricot.

The shades are all very beautiful. They are pigmented, with rich colors. The texture is super smooth, and blend easily. No weird clumpy texture like some loose shadows sometimes have.

Alright.... let's see some pictures! 

Click for more. 

Review: Rimmel Stay Gloss 3D lip gloss

Let it be known, I am a self-proclaimed lip gloss junkie. I have so many, you'd think I have 10 pairs of lips (now there's a weird mental image...).

So whenever a new lip gloss hits the drugstore shelves and I can actually find it in my small town, I snap it up. Today, I'll be talking about Rimmel's new Stay Glossy 3D gloss.

 This is a new version of Rimmel's regular Stay Glossy product. I rather like the Stay Glossy line because for the price, it's a really nice lip gloss. It claims to last up to 6 hours - well, I think we all know that isn't going to happen with ANY lip product. But for me, they normally last on my lips at least a full two hours, so I think that's pretty sweet.

Rimmel says the Stay Glossy 3D glosses make your lips look fuller, thanks to "multi-colored shine" and "color-changing sparkles". Count me in!

 I found my gloss at CVS, and it was about $4-something. I believe you could find this cheaper at, say, Walmart, but either way, it's a good price for this gloss.


When I saw the display, my eye went directly to the shade, "Lights, Camera, Action". I love peachy-orange shades, and the beautiful sparkles intrigued me.

This has the same packaging as Rimmel's regular Stay Glossy lip glosses, with a long spatula-style applicator. It also has the same scent, which I would describe as sort of a powdery floral scent. At first, I didn't like the smell - but it has grown on me and I almost do not notice it. I actually like it, now. It's different from all the usual vanilla or sugary scents many lip products have.

 

On the lips, this shade shows up as a sheer peachy pink color, with noticeable sparkles. The sparkles are thankfully not gritty at all - you do not feel them on your lips. This looks bright in the tube, but no worries - this would be a great everyday kind of shade.

I almost want to say that these make me think of MAC Dazzleglass. Oh, snap - Yes, I  said it. It's way cheaper version, though, for a similar finish - for $4 you can have the same super sparkly duochrome look from Rimmel.

 

 

Well, the verdict is - I like it!

Disclaimer: The product in this review was purchased by me.

Review: ELF Studio 144 Piece Neutral Palette

What is it: e.l.f. Studio 144-Piece Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette

Where to get it: ELF website 

How much: Regularly $30, but often on sale for $15 or even $7.50

 This is my first-ever beauty review post. I hope to do many, many more. :)

Okay, let's be real for a second. I love makeup. I love makeup more than life itself - okay, wait, that was a bit extreme. But makeup is definitely something I am enthusiastic about; all the makeup junkies out there know the feeling. Makeup is just fun.

For my first product review, I wanted to talk about the ELF 144 neutral palette. I caught a great 50% off sale on ELF's website not too long ago (but honestly, it seems like ELF is always having some amazing sale every week), and one of the items I was most excited to try was this palette.

This palette is huge. There's something especially yummy about palettes, isn't there? All those lovely colors all in one place; it gives you that childlike feeling of being in art class. What color to use first?! Well, with this palette, there is no shortage of colors - with 144 different colors, you will certainly find plenty of inspiration for your makeup routine.