Let me start this post by saying I got all these products super free for review and trial from Influenster. I’m not paid or anything, I just like to write about free stuff. And to get free stuff. Yayyy free stuff
I’ll start by thanking #Influenster for their site and the fun things it lets me try (and a couple less fun things, but not everything is a winner.)
So, like Brad Pitt in Seven, I be you’re wondering:
WHAT’S IN THE BOX!!!
* Ecotools Styler and Smoother Hairbrush
* Red Vines Fruit Vines Bites (Cherry Flavor)
* No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum.
* Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.
* Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner (This one made me sad)
* Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea (How did they know I was off caffeine? Spies!)
* NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum (Another lipstick to try. Pucker up!)
* McCormick Gourmet Thyme
First let’s talk about the brush I got from #Ecotools – #LoveMyEcoHairBrush – They ask we use that tag, and I like to meet expectations, but I would not if it was something I didn’t love, and I totally love this brush. VERY lightweight, about 1/5th of the weight of my Conair paddle brush. My hair is down to my belt, so I’m a very demanding hairbrush user. The handle is comfy, the brush is light, the brush gets air through it with ease, and the bristles don’t dig into my scalp. (My scalp would not dig that.) My only complaint on this item is the bed for the bristles is very soft, so it gives in easily under pressure. While that prevents me from shearing my hair from my head at an alarming rate, it also limits the resistance I can get when I really need to get a bad knot out.
Next comes the Red Vines Fruit Vines Bites. Not much in this world I like as much as free candy, but I’m also very picky. These tiny bites smell amazing and taste equally good. I was a little nervous about the free-ness of it cause so othen you get nasty old candy, but this was soft and super fresh. It didn’t stick to my teeth either. I took these into work to attempt to share, but got greedy and stowed them back in my purse. That is MY free candy, and I don’t wanna share! #SweetLife
The NO7 Serum I have mixed feelings on, and will be writing into a separate post tomorrow. Here’s the thing. It’s supposed to make things less wrinkly in two weeks, but they sent a super mega tiny sample, and surely not enough for two weeks to see if it works. Gonna use it tonight, and I’ll report back tomorrow on my findings.
This isn’t my first rodeo, reviewing some free Rimmel Products. I really enjoyed the lipstick last time, so when I heard more makeup was headed my way, I got giddy. UNFORTUNATELY, the eyeliner pencil was open in my box and got mushed on the tip pretty severely. Now, when I worked at Eckerd at the tender age of 20, I took a class (being the only girl manager, I had to take the makeup specialist role on. But it was really fun) about makeup recommendations and precautions. Obviously, never put eye makeup that was opened by anyone but you on your eye. Eyes are delicate and precious, so let’s be safe.
Now, good news is it’s still a pencil, and I like to draw, SO I drew with the eyeliner on my hand, and I removed it with the eye makeup remover.
So I drew this little eye on my hand (fitting, right?). I waited about 1 minute, and tried the remover. Here’s what happened!
The eyeliner went on easily enough, but wasn’t as dark a black as I was hoping for, but I reckon it’s because it’s a kohl liner? I dunno. I like dramatic eyes, so I probably would skip over the less-intense black. If I wanna go muted, I usually go with a brown pencil. It got a little clumpy, but seeing how it opened in shipping, these things do happen. It did feather nicely and I could do a cute cat-eye line with it easily.
Next comes the Rimmel Makeup Remover. It said it was gentle, but I had no idea how truly gentle it was!
It was even gentle on eye makeup. After scrubbing at my hand for a minute I realized it was even gentle on eye makeup and I would have this eye on my hand forever, or until i get my normal eye makeup remover out. Least I drew something cute.Maybe it would work better with a better vessel, BUT it did pretty much nothing.
The Celestial Seasonings Green Tea in Candy Cane Lane will also be fully reviewed in the tomorrow post. But something tells me it will be good. 😛
Next up: NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum. I’ve always been skeptical of NYC brand cosmetics. Have had my share of not good with them. The lipstick smells like cherry chapstick. The pigment wasn’t very strong, and the transfer capability was something to marvel at. Comes off on absolutely everything. The Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover could actually remove it!! It can’t take of eye makeup of its own brand, but it can sure take off lipstick! Might let my little niece play with this one when she wants to get into my makeup next. Skip it.
The McCormick Gourmet Thyme was actually pretty dang awesome. It smelled fresher than the organic stuff my mum-in-law had. Turns out most of what I cook comes out of a box, and the box arrived too late for holiday cooking, so I recruited Mary for this experiment with her yummy beef stew recipe.
Mixed a little bit into everything, I was so delicious. I forgot to take the money shot of the soup finished. OOps!! More tomorrow guys!
Panda Squares 
