Monday, July 6, 2015

Vox Box Review: I Do Vox Box

Well, I guess it's time to break out the ol' blog again because I needed a platform to review the #IDoVoxBox I received from @Influenster. I joined Influenster, a product discovery platform and review site,  about two months ago for their Vox Box program, and I must say, it's pretty neat. Essentially, how it works is that you sign up and take little surveys (called "Snaps"), and if you qualify for what they're looking for, they will send you a particular box of free goodies for you to review. Neat, huh? From what I've read, apparently some people don't have much luck and don't receive them often (or ever), but I was fortunate enough to qualify for shortly after I signed up. You have to put in a little effort with staying active on the site, reviewing items and doing Snaps, but if you have some time on your hands, it can be a way to get some neat items for free. And as a grad student, I'm all about the free stuff since I don't have much money to experiment with new makeup or other treats.

The boxes tend to have themes, and this one was wedding-themed. (Well, loosely based -- it was mostly makeup and some snacks, which could really be useful for almost any occasion!)


Here's a quick overview of each of the products (and the approximate retail value):

  • Sahale Snacks: Grab & Go Almonds with Cranberries, Honey + Sea Salt ($1.52): These almonds were a tasty snack. They had a hint of sweetness but were not overly sweet and contained almonds and dried cranberries that were seasoned with honey (and other sugars) and sea salt. Several of the ingredients were organic, which is a plus. 
  • Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bar: Lemon Swirl ($1.25): This was a fairly standard granola bar with a tasty lemon flavor. I wouldn't say that it was particularly filling though and I wouldn't classify it as healthy although it's marketed that way (but it contains 8 grams of sugar and quite a lot of ingredients). I enjoyed it fine but wouldn't necessarily purchase them myself.
  • URGENTRx Ache & Pain Relief ($1.39): Single dose of flavored powder that is supposed to help with muscle pain, headaches, etc. I haven't had a headache since I received my Vox Box, so I haven't yet had a chance to try it out. 
  • Indeed Labs Nanoblur ($19.99): I was excited to try this product, airbrushed looking skin, because I have fairly large pores and am always looking for something to reduce their size or appearance. So far I have tried this product three times, once on its own and twice with two types of foundation. I wasn't extremely impressed, perhaps because I already use a foundation that gives me a fairly airbrushed, matte look, and Nanoblur did not work well with that foundation at all. I put the Nanoblur on over the foundation (as per instructions) but had to take it off because it messed up the foundation. With a liquid foundation, it did okay. I also tried it on its own, and while you could still see my pores close up, it did help give my face a more matte look without fully putting on foundation. I would be curious to try this with a powder foundation, which I think it may do better with. #Nanoblurred @IndeedLabs
  • Covergirl Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation ($11.30): I usually don't use liquid foundation (mine is a mousse texture) but this one matches my skin color well and blends in nicely. 
  • Covergirl Outlast Lipstick ($9.30): This lipstick came in a "Plum Fury" shade that is darker than I would normally pick out for myself. But it would be good for a special event, and I've found that if I put it on lightly, it really doesn't look like too much for everyday wear. I've worn it several times, and it stays on quite well (or at least until I eat). 
  • Neutrogena Hand Cream ($3.99): This is a thicker hand cream than I usually wear (it's similar to Avon's Moisture Therapy), and thicker than I tend to prefer. I wouldn't buy it normally just because I prefer something lighter but it did help my dry hands and feet. 
Total approximate value: $48.74 (But I got it for free!!)

Favorite products: Sahale Snacks & Covergirl Outlast Lipstick
Least favorite products: Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bar & Nanoblur

I really enjoyed receiving this Vox Box, and if you like receiving free products in return for your input, I would highly recommend checking them out. Here's hoping I get another one soon!