Swaggable

Do you like trying new things? Do you like free things? So what would be better than trying new things for free? I'm always telling you about the free things I try so today I'm going to tell you about a site that you can join to try new things for free. I have also told you about a few of my favorite sampling sites. Today I wanted to share another one, Swaggable. You get to try new products, some are full size and some are sample. Most of the products I have tried I never heard of until Swaggable.

A lot of people tell me they don't have time for sites like this because you need to do a lot of work. That is not true with Swaggable all you do is sign up, link your social sites, find the products you want to try, try the product, and do a review on the site.  If you take a few minutes to do the surveys you will have a better chance of being matched with products that suit your needs.

It really is that easy. It is up to you if you want to post pictures on your social sites. If you are like me you can't help but tell people about a new amazing product so spreading the word will come naturally. If you want to be more active you can. You can invite your friends, you follow friends on the site as well.  You can read their review and it lets you give them a few thumbs up.

I have gotten some really amazing things to try from Swaggable. I have tried sunscreen, soap, and a few other things. One of my favorite things I tried Brownie Brittle, that stuff is AMAZING! I ate the entire bag in two days and I have purchased it since I sampled it.

Joining is completely free so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning on joining? If you join, let me know if you do we can follow each other.

Mary had a Sleepy Sheep by Julia Dweck

 Author: Julia Dweck 

Illustrator: Wilson Williams, Jr.

Summary: “Young Mary had a little lamb.  His name was Sheppard sheep,
And everywhere that Mary went
That sheep was sure to sleep.”

This is not your average Mother Goose nursery rhyme. In this hilarious parody, poor Mary has one very sleepy, slumbering, snoozing sheep named Sheppard and Mary’s mom is not happy. Can Mary can keep her sleepy sheep awake?

Young readers will laugh along at Mary’s zany attempts, as she tries everything from spicy-hot fiestas to water fights. The humor is fast and fun in this easy to read rhyming adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of this EBook in exchange for an honest, uncompensated review. 

In rhyming verse this parody of Mary had a Little Lamb is very entertaining. It's also very amusing with poor Mary trying everything she can think of to keep her sleepy sheep awake.  Up until the end every page you turn shows Mary unsuccessfully trying another sleepiness antidote. 

My children laughed at all the tricks Mary tried and they enjoyed the pictures that went along with with them.  But wow, Mary sure is persistent so it teaches children to never give up. 

Once again Julia Dweck has a winner in my eyes with this page turner.  My children will no doubt make me read this again hundreds of times. I won't mind reading it  because it is quick and easy to read. Making it a perfect bedtime story. I see more Julia Dweck books in my children's future, maybe Humpfree the Humpless Camel that is set to be released October 2, 2013.  

Buy a copy of Mary had a Sleepy Sheep on Amazon 

Follow Julia on Twitter, 

Read more about her on Julia Loves2 Write 

Or follow her on FaceBook 

Stay tuned for details on how to win your own Mary had a Sleepy Sheep EBook. 

Lunchables Jr.

My oldest begs me for Lunchables every time we go the grocery store. He loves them but most of them are not extremely healthy and are not what I call an suitable meal. I do on occasion by them as a reward/treat because he loves them.  When I was offered to try Lunchables complimentary from Crowdtap he was so excited. He asked me a few times if they had come in so he was waiting for them. When I opened the package I knew he would be so disappointed because they are not for him. they are geared toward his little sister's age group.

The entire line of these look a lot healthier than the others and seemed to be geared more towards being a snack rather than a meal. They come in a very cute, slim container that looks very easy to carry. We all know that our young ones get HUNGRY at the worse time. Or we run late for lunch sometimes but my little ones remind me quickly.  Lunchable, Jrs would fit perfectly in a busy mom's purse and all the varities have nonperishable food so you can keep them in there all day.

The two we got were Very Berry Crunch and Ants on a Log.  One day when my daughter's friend (okay my friend and her daughter) came over I opened the Very Berry Crunch. It has Ritz Bitz crackers and cheese, teddy grahams, and dried apple pieces that are strawberry flavored. The portion size was very generous and I had enough to share a small amount with a total of five children.  The children immediately started eating the teddy grahams and Ritz. They ate the apple pieces but my very picky daughter said they tasted funny. That did not stop her from eating them all so they could not have been that bad.  After that I heard no complaints out of any of them.

We did not try the Ant on a Log yet but I'm sure they will love that as well, it has honey graham sticks, raisins, and a small cup of peanut butter. They run for $1.97 and you buy them from your local grocery store. I would purchase them in the future because they are great for an on the go or after school snack.  Although they are geared towards younger children, they are great for children or really people of all ages. I see no reason us moms can't enjoy a few bites here and there.

I was given these complimentary to try from Crowdtap but no additional compensation was given for this post. As usual the opinion expressed are mine or in the case my kids. 

Klout

Klout is one of the sites I get asked the most about. Klout is probably the easiest to use but it can be very confusing at first. With Klout the only thing you HAVE to do for a good score is connect whatever social media you are using and post like you normally would or more. Another thing that is good to do is set up your area of Influence or topics. To do this sign in preferably on a computer, and go to your profile manage topics. You can pick from the ones they have available or create your own. You are limited to only 10, I guess they figure nobody is an expert in everything.   Every now and then they send an email asking you if you want to accept a "perk" how simple is that?  Once you get a perk it is up to you if you want to share it or keep it to yourself. You can also review the perk on Klout by clicking the perk tab at the top right side of your dashboard.

Now if you want to get more out of the site there are other things you can do. You can give your friends Ks - what is that you ask? That is like giving them a thumbs up on a certain topic, Klout says this does not increase your score but it doesn't hurt. You do this by clicking on your friend finding their topics at the bottem and click the orange give K. Then you can set up who influences you, this is done again in your profile. They can be anyone from a friend to a business but you are limited to 10 so choose wisely.  

If your score starts dropping don't be alarmed just post more. Just remember the lower the score the easier it is to raise but once your score is over 50 it's not so easy to raise. 

If you are not on Klout what are you waiting for? Go sign up. I have gotten awesome perks from nail polish and skin care to a $5.00 McDonald's gift card.  All of that just for doing what I would normally do on Instagram, FaceBook, and Twitter. Note: all of these instructions are for a computer, not a phone but there is a user friendly app. 

Product testing sites

I'm sure by reading my post you know that I am a member of a lot of product testing sites.  I can't lie they are very addicting. It's so exciting waiting for the mailman to see what freebies he brings for the day. I can't stand days when I don't get mail. With some of the sites the better you do, the more free products you receive. I have made friends with some amazing people in the process so I know we all feel the same way. One thing is unanimous we all strive to get better.  

Product testing sites are also a great way for you discover new things that you may not have tried on your own.  I wanted to share some of the tips that I picked up from others as well as some that I discovered on my own. I will also share links to some of my favorite Word of mouth sites. Hopefully these tips will also help you discover products you love. 

Chances are if you are selected to test a product you are or have used a similar product. Say you've been chosen to test foundation.  You put it on and you think it's perfect so that's great. You use it for  few days even weeks and it's time to write your review. A tip I have learned is try your old one again. This will give you and idea of why it is better than the one you were using before. You can also try your current brand on one side of your face and the one you are testing on the other. This is a great way to compare coverage. The same is true for anything you are testing. You can use a cleaning product on one side of the counter and a your usual on the other side, then take a paper towel and see if they are equally clean. 

When you are writing a review one thing I try to do is think of what I would want to know before I buy a product. I also think of why I loved the product. I also try to notice smell, constancy, color, different aspect of the product. You could love a product but not love the constancy or love the smell but not like the product. It's also easier if you think of it as having a conversation with a friend.

Then there's the dreaded this product is terrible. As much as I hate writing bad reviews it happens, nobody likes everything. When that time comes I always try to find something positive about the product. I also try to keep in mind that I may have not liked the product but someone else will. I like to keep them informed about why I didn't like it but not bash the product.  

I hope you find this post useful. If you have any other tips let me know. 

Here is is a list of some of my favorite product testing site: 


Bzzagent 
I have gotten so many amazing things from this site.  You test the product, share your opinion with your friends and social media, then write a report. 

Influenster 
Your score on this site has a lot to do with your social media activity. You have to request a invite then be very active on their site as well to get a voxbox. But when you do get one all of that hard work is worth. It is a box of random products to test and review. Then you can win other products by being the most creative and original while sharing the products on your social media. 

Smiley360
This site has a lot of different products to test. It is also a site where you share with your friends, on social media, then do a report for Smiley. 

Arm & Hammer Advance Whitening Toothpaste

I remember when I was young I mixed baking soda with my toothpaste because it is a whitening agent but  man did it taste terrible plus it was a little gritty at first. When I was chosen to try Arm and Hammer Advance Whitening from Smiley360 I wasn't really sure what to expect. when I first tried it I hated the way it tasted it was just like I remembered. The only difference as was it wasn't the texture of my homemade baking soda toothpaste. I was using another whitening toothpaste before this so my teeth were not in desperate NEED of whitening. BUT I had a huge stain on my front tooth that is now almost gone. I did recently quit smoking so this may have helped but Arm and Hammer also played a part.

I didn't want to stop using it but I couldn't take the taste for much longer. That statement may sound a little dramatic but I have been a faithful user of Colgate because it's the only toothpaste that I like the taste. So this is what I tried, I put a dab of my normal Colgate Total and dab of Arm and Hammer on my toothbrush. This works great for me. I walked out the other night and my husband said wow your breath smells nice. This has been working great for a few days now. I get the benefit of Arm and Hammer and the taste is not unbearable to me.

I received this product for free from Smiley360, I was given no additional compensation for this post. 

Broadway ImPress Nails

When I first saw the Broadway ImPress Nails in my SpringFever Voxbox I was not excited. I thought oh great I have to try press on nails.  Press on nails are fake looking and they don't stay on, I will never like them.

The pattern I received was very pretty but the first thing I noticed was they were way to short for my nails so I decided to ship them to a friend that I knew would test them. The package cost between $5.99 and $7.99 comes with 24 nails that are various sizes to fit different nails. There are also lots of different colors and pattern to choose from. Most of them very cute in my opinion. 

I read lots of reviews and people love these so you know before I shipped them off I had to play with them to see what the hype is about.  I was very surprised at how flexible the nail is it is not like a fake nails at all. The application is super simple you pull the piece of paper off of the glue strip and stick.So that means no messy glue and the tab is on the cuticle side so there is no guess work.  I put one on my thumb nail because that was my shortest nail and it stuck perfectly.  It was a great natural looking length although it was too short for me.  It covered my nail completely and it wasn't the freaky long length that I associate with press on nails.

I was able to go about my normal day and the nail stayed on. In fact it never moved after I applied it. I had to pull very hard to get it off and there was no damage to my nail. I thought they looked somewhat natural and a great shape. They also conform to your nail so well you don't feel them on. Keep in mind I only kept mine on one day but I was very shocked that I really liked these.

Would I purchase them? Heck yes if they made a size that would fit my nails. Would I recommend them to my friends and family. You betcha !  Being super fast and easy to apply these would make a great manicure for every day use or a special night.  They also have tons of cute designs that I love.  Another plus is no drying time and they only take minutes to apply and I find these are easier then the nail stickers.  I noticed these were "short" so if you see longer ones let me know I want to buy them.

My kind tester gives them two thumbs up as well. Her exact words are" I liked the design and the pattern was gorgeous but they only lasted a few hours. I think for the price and ease of use they are very worth it. It will save you a lot of time and money going to the salon. And you won't ruin your own nails."  Influenster nation gives them a B- overall not bad this is the link to read them for yourself.

Visit the Impress website they have a $1.00 right now and you can see all the cute designs and patterns for yourself and join the ImpressRevolution. 

disclaimers -- I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes but the opinion is all mine and a friend's. Some of the pics were provided by a friend as well.

NYC Appleicious Glossy Lip Balm



App, app, appleicious so delicious make them boys go loco.... Oh wait sorry I got sidetracked a little. Appleicious lip balm by NYC may not make the boys go loco but it might make you want to sing because you will will have smoother and softer lips. I always use lip balm so I keep one in my purse, desk, and nights stand because I HATE when my lips feel dry or cracked.  So, as you can imagine I have tried a lot of lip balms, Carmex works but is super sticky after a little while and I have to wipe it off. I can't stand that sticky goop on my mouth.

In my Spring Fever VoxBox got NYC NewYork Color Appleicious, a tinted lip balm, in Big Apple Red.  Obviously the color is red but it's not a lot of color just a pretty tint that leaves a nice shine on your lips. I love that is smells a little like candy and it goes on smooth and it doesn't leave that nasty sticky residue. Although a color to my lip balm was never a necessity it's a nice touch.



This is the lip balm, isn't it cute?

With key ingredients such as Trio of Shea Butter, Jojoba and Avocado Oil your lips feel smoother and softer after the first time you use it. I use my Applelicious lip balm all day even though it's tinted I still find myself putting it on before I go to bed. Makes for a sweet good night kiss plus I love the way my lips feel so much softer. 

It sells for around $2.99 at WalMart or you local drug store which is around the same price as some other lip balms and there are nine other colors available.

I received this product free from Influenster but the opinion is all mine.



The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy

 

 

 

When SheSpeaks invited me to try this book I was over the top excited I want to lose weight and if I don't have to diet even better. I don't follow diets very well because I have little or no will power when it comes to food. I don't mean I eat EVERYTHING I just mean I don't like to deprive myself. I feel if I want a cookie, I will eat a cookie. I started reading this book and thought WOW this is great I may actually be able to follow this non-diet plan.

 

It's a 28 day process and there are four phases to follow, Haylie talks about eating every four hours and hey, I can do that,I do on daily basis. I have never done it like she describes but when I do snack I try to make it as healthy as possible. But she gave specific things with specific time frames to eat them and again I thought this won't be so bad. I like fruits and vegetables there is even a "phase" that allows for carbs.  Then she gives you exact foods you can eat during the phases. She also tells you what type of exercise to do during the phase.  There is one HUGE rule if it's not on the list don't eat it.

 

None of this is hard and I understand that but this is what happened. I started out with every intentions on following phase one to a T Monday morning then life got in the way. The first excuse I had was I forgot to bring the book or a list with me to the grocery store so I wasn't stocked up on phase one foods to eat, then you know I looked at the list and coffee was not on it OMG I can't live without my coffee, then the last thing was I forgot to eat within thirty minutes of waking.

 

So needless to say I never actually made it through any of the phases but I am hoping one day I will work up the will power and have the mindset to be completely prepared and work my way through all of the phases.

 

This books is very well written, easy to follow, with very basic instructions. There is no guess work on your part so if you are looking to lose weight and have the will power to eat only certain things this book would be for you. From what I see this is not a starvation diet it is just a "strictly limited to" these foods on these days. Sorry I really wish I could sit here and tell you -- or show you that I'm 20lbs lighter but I never even tried.

 

 



• I received this product free from SheSpeaks but the opinion is all mine.

 



Aveeno Nourish and Dandruff Control

I don't use dandruff shampoo all the time but I do need it occasionally when I feel the annoying itch. I usually use Head and Shoulders but I didn't like using it when it was a 2n1 because it never left my hair feeling conditioned enough. Then they came out with a separate conditioner and it was okay but I still felt like it was pretty harsh for my hair. When I got accepted for the Aveeno Nourish mission from Smiley360 I was very excited to try something new and I had not heard of it before.

Aveeno Nourish and Dandruff control is available in a 2n1 or separate shampoo and conditioner they sell for around $7.50 a piece and can be found at WalMart. I would say your favorite drug store but my CVS did not carry it. Of course, I choose the separates because I never feel conditioned with a 2n1.

 The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was the smell is fantastic, it is the second best smelling shampoo I have ever used. The shampoo was very thick but I didn't find the shampoo lathered a lot and that was a little disappointing. The conditioner was also thick and it didn't take very much to make my hair feel soft. I was very pleased because  my hair feels and looks great after using the Aveeno and I don't have that aggravating itchy scalp. Overall I give it a 4/5 because I wish the shampoo would lather more.

If you want to know what other Smiley members think check it out here.  I received this product free from Smiley360 but the opinion is all mine.





Dickinson Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes

I received a box of Dickerson's Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes they sell for $5.99 for a 20 count box. You can find it at your favorite local drug store.  I was very excited to try these because mid-day my forehead starts to shine almost as bright as a light bulb. I apply powder but it never makes it go away. I can't stand that oily look so this was something that I thought would be very useful and I couldn't wait to try them.  



Excitedly I ripped open one of the individual packets, the first thing I noticed was the towelette is nice size, it also is pretty thick and with it being individually wrapped it stays very moist. Witch Hazel can be used in so many different ways I wasn't sure how to work the towelettes into my skin care regimen.  I started using them in the afternoon after my toner and on lazy days I used them as a make-up remover wipe.  Then I followed with my regular moisturizer and eye cream.  I have seen where others replaced their toner with these wipes. I'm sure there is no wrong way to use them, whatever fits your lifestyle best. They are great to bring with you to the beach, gym, or on your morning run to refresh your face.


When I first open the wipes the smell was not my favorite but after a few uses I started to get used to it.  I love the way it makes my face feel cool after using it reminds me of an old toner I used when I was a teenager. After a few uses I saw the bags and dark circles under my eyes starting to go away and my face did not shine like a light bulb mid-day.

So what are the perks of Dickinsons Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes? They make my face feel cool and refreshed, they have lessened the appearance of the bags and dark circles under my eyes, they have stopped the mid-day light bulb on my forehead, and they are very portable. The only con is the smell but I got over that quickly.  Plus Pintrest has tons of great uses for witch hazel, it's good for sunburn, diaper rashes, and insect bites.

Overall I think these get an 8/10 and I would purchase these again.  I would also like to try other products from this line.  Check out the Dickinsons website for products and skin care tips.

I received a box of in my SugarNSpice VoxBox complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. The product was free to try but the opinion expressed in this post are all mine and I was given no additional compensation for it. 





Suave vs L'Oreal Styling Oil

What is hair oil? what does it do? These oils are said to heal, banish frizz, condition, and protect hair while adding shine without weighing hair down. To me that was a wow factor because I have to use three to four products to get protection, conditioning, and less frizz so trying a hair oil was a must for me although I never knew it until I was chosen to test one.  There was a little part of me that was very afraid to use the oil because my scalp is naturally oily while my ends are dry but I am pleased to let you know neither of the oils in this post made my hair oily or greasy.

Now if you are anything thing like me once you have decided to try a hair oil your shopping trip goes like this. You are standing down the shampoo isle looking at all the different brands thinking which one is a good one? You grab one or two and there's the little voice in your head that says "but wait this one is half the price of the other one". You're skeptical of buying the less expensive one because you have been burned before. You know the one -- the bottle says "compared to" but it doesn't work anything like that the other one. How do you know? You went back and purchased the more expensive one because you weren't getting the desired results. Although we all know its worth the extra cost if works better there is always that thought... but what if the less expensive product really does work the same?

Lots of people believe the more you pay the better the quality of the product but is that isn't always true. I tried both the L'Oreal Eversleek Precious oil sold for $12.99 and Suave Moroccan oil sold for $6.99 both are intended to cut frizz and add shine. The instructions are almost identical, dispense two pumps in your palm and rub them together then rub evenly through damp hair avoiding the roots. You can use one spray of both in dry hair as a frizz serum.  I thought it would be fun to compare. So going with most people's thinking the L'Oreal would be better right? Lets see.

When I was chosen by All You to test Suave Moroccan Infusion styling oil I was very excited. I couldn't wait to see how it worked. The first thing I noticed is the Suave has a nice consistency but is not very thick and applies very nicely. The minute I put the Suave in my hand I notched the smell was amazing but it's not overpowering. There have been days when I can still smell it in my hair hours after application and that is a huge plus to me. I have noticed an extreme amount of shine and my hair is super soft after using. I have also noticed less frizz with the Suave and my hair was not weighed down.  I would give the Suave an 9/10 on quality and a 9/10 for effectiveness I really like product.

Then I got the  L'Oreal Eversleek Precious oil treatment in a compensation package for a product testing I completed through the L'Oreal consumer test panel. The L'Oreal is a very thick consistency but does apply very nicely. The smell is pleasant but not very strong. I have noticed less frizz, my hair is super soft, and has a nice shine. I also noticed that my hair is not super wavy if I let it air dry plus my hair was not weighed down. I would give it an 9/10 on quality 9/10 on effectiveness so I really like the L'Oreal oil as well.

So my opinion is there is not a clear winner in this case they are both very effective and do what they claim. The Suave Moroccan oil smells amazing while the L'Oreal has a pleasant smell but in this case I would not spend the extra for L'Oreal because the Suave is great and does exactly what I wanted it to do. With less expensive brands stepping up their game sometimes you can get quality effective products at a lower costs.

Stay tuned for more vs I will have a lot more coming. If this review was helpful, leave me a message. If you have used a different type of styling oil that you loved let me know.

                        Like alwaysblabbing on  FaceBook for the inside scoop on the best product testing sites and contest that are coming soon.

Nectresse' -- REVISED

When I saw this in my Influenster Voxbox I was super excited.  Like I mentioned earlier I drink a lot of coffee and sweet tea. I couldn' t wait to find a zero calorie sweetener because sugar has a lot of calories. I have tried SweetNLow and Equal and neither compared to sugar. So how did this one compare?

The first time I put two packets in my morning cup of coffee I thought hey this isn't so bad. Then I tried in my instant coffee and it had the nastiest taste. It wasn't even close to sugar and was not sweet at all plus it left a terrible taste in my mouth. My husband tried it as well and he did not like it either.  I tried it again in my regular brewed cup of coffee because the first time was good but the second time it was oddly bitter and left that same taste in my mouth. 

After that I gave up I figured I would not like the Nectresse and put it to the side. A few days later I was talking to my mother in-law and offered her the Nectresse because I didn't like it. She suggested before I gave her the box to try four packets in my coffee. She said she loves Nectresse and felt safe using it because it is made out of fruit.

The benefits of Nectresse not containing aspartame and being a zero calorie sweetener was enough to make me want to give it a second try.  So here goes a second try -- I woke up in the morning made my cup of coffee with four single serve packets and just a dash of sugar. By a dash I mean the top of the spoon had a small amount on it. Without high expectations and prepared to dump out my cup of coffee  I took my first sip. To my surprise it was very tasty in my head I heard the bells of a slot machine in a sense. I had found a low/no calorie sweetner for my coffee that taste good WOOHOO. For me this was like winning a small portion of the lottery. I mean I drink two to three cups of coffee a day and I know with the amout of sugar I use that adds a huge amount of daily calories so of course I was excited.

It has been proven the more sugar you take in the more you crave sugar and I have seen many more benefits from using Nectresse. I am snacking much less and find I have more energy hopefully next I am weighing much less. I am really glad I gave this a second try because I wanted to like it perhaps I will venture to baking with it next? I would recommend this product with this advice - don't be afraid to use more because the more you use the sweeter it gets. I purchased more and have using it ever since. There are lots of tasty looking recipes on Pintrest if you want to experiment with Nectresse'

I received this product complimentary from Influenster but the opinion is all MINE. I was given no additional compensation for this post.



Colgate Optic White Regimen

As you may know I received three of the Colgate Optic products in my Influenster SugarNSpice voxbox. I was so excited to try this because I have always hated that my teeth were not white. The second thing I notice on people is their teeth (in case you are wondering I notice eyes first) and I know a lot of people are the same way. There is nothing better then a pretty, white smile and I have tried lots of things to whiten my teeth with no results. I tried the paint on tooth whitener, that didn't work. I purchased the strips and didn't use them like I should so they didn't work.  I tried baking soda but lets face it, that is not the best tasting thing.

Although I LOVE it I have to give the trio a C and I will explain why. Please don't stop reading because once I explain I hope you will realize a C is not a bad thing, it's just I would change a few things if I could.

The first thing is the Optic White 360 toothbrush. As you can see it is not like most toothbrushes. I showed a picture of the back so you can see the cheek and tongue cleaner. I LOVE this toothbrush I give it an A++++. My teeth feel super clean after using it and I have noticed my teeth feel cleaner longer. Great product I would recommend everybody try this and I will be using this toothbrush from now on! It sells for $2.99 per brush.

Ok now the OpticWhite toothpaste is a little harder to grade. The taste isn't unbearable but it's not great either. I also find that I have a strange after taste immediately after using and it kind of foams in your mouth. With all of that being said I would still give the toothpaste a B-. The reason for that grade is I notice my teeth getting cleaner. I use it twice a day along with the mouth wash and have noticed that the stains on my teeth are going away and my gums are much healthier. So I can live with the taste not being great for the results I am seeing and will continue to use this toothpaste. I would also recommend it to my friends and family. Sells for $2.99 for a 4oz tube of toothpaste.

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  Of all three products the mouthwash is the hardest to grade. I feel I would it would be disservice if I didn't disclose that this mouthwash tastes HORRIBLE. It foams in your mouth so you have to be very careful not to use too much. You taste the hydrogen peroxide in the mouthwash a lot. So overall I would give this a C-. Since I'm using the three together I have to assume that they all play a part in the results I am seeing. I have seen whiter, healthier teeth in five days. To be honest, I am undecided if I will continue to use this mouthwash I will try the toothpaste and toothbrush without the mouthwash first. I would recommend it to friends and family because it does give the results it promises. Sells for $2.99 for an 8oz bottle.

This is my results after 9 days of use

If you want to see what other Influenster members think of the Colgate OpticWhite regimen click here  

 Why not whiten while you brush?

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes but the opinion is all mine. For those of you who are not familiar with Influenster, check it out.  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. It's a very fun site and I think they rock!!

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Mega Gloss True Color

Hi, ladies back in September Smashbox Cosmetics had a Facebook contest where if you were one of the first so many people to answer three questions correctly you would win a full size product. They gave away a mascara, lip gloss, and primer. I was lucky enough to win the LipEnhancing Mega Gloss that sells for $19.00 on their website and is available in thirteen different colors. Costomers on the website give it a 5 of 5 star rating.

I hadn't been a fan of lip gloss but as with any freebie (or new product) I was super excited to try it.  It only took around four weeks once the contest ended for me to receive my package, I thought that was VERY good compared to other sites I that won freebies. When I got my package in the mail I was very impressed with the size and color of the lip gloss. The color I received was StarDom and I really like it. It is a shear shade that has lots of shine to it.

The applicator is a great size and helps deliver a smooth even application. I usually dip it in the bottle a second time to get enough for me.

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

A down fall to me which could be considered a plus to other people is it has little or no smell. I have since tried other lip glosses that smelled so good you could eat them, but this is not one.  A huge plus is the color I received can go with any make-up and can be worn at the office or for a night on the town. It can be used it alone for a glossy tint or over your favorite lip stick to give you a different look and a little bit of sparkle. Another thing I really liked is it has no taste and does not feel sticky like some glosses do and it stays on for a decent amount of time.  I truely like this this lip gloss over all I would give it an 8 out 10. When I run out I may purchase another but the price is a little steep for me.

This product was free with no conditions I decided to blog about it because I enjoyed wearing it and wanted to share my opinion.





Clear Scalp and Hair

I received a full size bottle of Clear Scalp and Hair shampoo and conditioner from SheSpeaks. It’s a total care nourishing Gently shampoo that cleanses & nourishes scalp and hair. Formulated with Nutrium 10™, an advanced moisture complex of vitamins and nutrients including vitamins B5, C & E, sunflower, almond, soybean & coconut oils and aloe vera.

When I opened the bottle the smell was intoxicating it smells sort of fruity and after you wash your hair the smell stays all day. There were times when I would move and catch a whiff of the smell.

The shampoo is very thick and does not take much to create a wonderful lather. The conditioner is also thick and does not take much to cover your entire head. It makes your hair feel so soft after one use.

I have been using it for about a month now and I noticeably have less strands of hair falling out on a daily basis. And as an added bonus it helps control frizz. I have unruly fly-aways but with this shampoo and conditioner I got away with only blow drying my hair after washing -- NO strengthener needed. Of course I don't do that all the time but it was a great perk when I was in a rush. I give Clear Scalp and Hair a 10 out of 10 and will purchase this product again.

I received this product to try for free from Shespeaks but the opionion is mine and I was given no additional compensation for this post.

Join the voices of SheSpeaks women who share what's hot in blogs, polls & giveaways, plus create and share reviews & recipes - we're your go-to.
(Psst..Active members also get to try free products and give feedback.)

Pantene Age Defy

I was recently chosen for the Pantene Age Defy Tryology from ExpoTV, in my kit I received the shampoo, conditioner, and advance thickening treatment. The shampoo and conditioner are designed to fight the 7 signs of aging 1)breakage 2) spilt ends 3) frizz 4) unruly greys 5) lackluster color 6)thin look and 7) dryness. I have been using it for almost 2 weeks. The shampoo has a smells different but not bad but it lathers very nicely. The conditioner is thick but has the and smells the same as the shampoo. When I rinse the conditioner out of my hair it does not feel soft but my hair feels super soft once it's dry. The thickening treatment comes in a pump with very little smell. The instructions on the box tell you to pump 15 sprays from the ear line up, the instructions on the pamphlet inside tell you to part your hair in sections and spray the treatment in the part. I have done it both ways. The thickening treatment can be used in wet or dry hair and does not weigh your hair down with use.

After a few months of use I am very impressed with this trio. My hair is super soft, I have seen less falling out, I have less frizz, and my hair looks and feels thicker. I don't know if it makes my hair look younger but with the improvements I have seen it is worth trying out.

The shampoo and conditioner sell for around $9.00 a piece and the thickening treatment sells for around $20.00. It is sold at your local WalMart or favorite drugstore.

L'Oreal Consumer Participation Panel

 I signed up for the L'Oreal consumer participation panel site a few months ago.  It is free to join and you complete and application of sorts. Then you are emailed a user name, password, and link to sign in.  Once you sign in you complete a few start up surveys and wait for a survey to appear on your profile. Sometimes you get informational surveys or product testing surveys. They even send you products just for taking five informational surveys. If you are chosen for a home study they mail you the product you test it for the duration they specify then they send you additional product(s) as compensation. What could be better then testing beauty products for free THEN getting paid with other beauty products? They also do In-House studies in their facility but it is way too far for me to drive.

After about what seemed like a million surveys. I was so excited to finally be chosen for a home study. It was a foundation that I was sent to test for a week. It was more like a BB cream then a foundation but under another foundation I really like it. Too bad I will never know what I tested because it made my face feel amazingly smooth and soft. After a week of use they sent a final survey that took about 5 minutes to complete. The best part is they send you products as compensation the product I received a L'Oreal True Match Blush in Natural and I really love it. I just recently qualified for a ten week BB Cream study. I received ten sample sized BB creams to test and complete a survey each week and at the end of the study I will be compensated with a bag of assorted products. I can't wait to see what my compensation is.   Click here to sign up and let me know if you are chosen for a product test.

Sole Society

 I received a promotional code from Influenster in my Holiday voxbox for $25.00 off a pair of shoes from SoleSociety. I recently received my shoes and I am so impressed. They are made of a great, soft material. I can wear an 8.5 or 9 so I was very worried that I made a mistake when I ordered an 8.5 but they fit perfectly. They are very sexy and have a nice heal that is comfortable to walk on. This pair was only $24.95 after the Influenster discount plus SoleSociety charged no shipping or taxes. I will definitely by another pair from SoleSociety and they have been running a buy one get on free deal but it cannot be combined with the Influenster code. If you are interested the promo code expires on January 31, 2013 just sign up Sole Society and use code Influenster25.
If you are not familiar it is an exclusive online community where tastemakers and trendsetters (such as yourself) come to share the latest and greatest news, places, products, and reviews with each other. 2. The hotspot you just bookmarked on your web browser that turns your social influence into sweet rewards. And As a member, you prove your influence by gaining Expert Badges and show how you live by earning LifeStage Badges...both of which are won in a variety of ways, such as: completing surveys, writing reviews, creating videos, and engaging in other social media. http://www.influenster.com/invite/request

I received my Holidayvoxbox complimentary from Influenster this is my honest opinion of the product and I received no additional compensation for my opinion.