What it means to be an Influenster

When I started this blog, I had in mind to create something of a place where I could share a bit of my buzz. My "buzz", as I so lovingly call it, refers to my reviews, thoughts, and whimsical musings on various products I've received free of charge, or for a steep discount, from the many tester and word of mouth marketing groups I am fortunate enough to be a part of. One of my favorites of all of these groups is none other than Influenster, and as you'll see if you change your line of vision just to the right there, I am proud to be part of the Influenster blogging network. 

This post will be a bit different, and rather than reviewing a particular product, group of products, or experience I've had, I want to buzz about what it is, and what it means, to be an Influenster. 

First and foremost, Influenster is a bit different than many somewhat similar groups, as pretty much everything is accessible, and communication is encouraged. Rather than limiting campaigns, information, and "buzz" to single groups fortunate to be in on a particular campaign, Influenster really embraces the sharing is caring rule. If you're not on any type of campaign, or you're not eagerly anticipating the arrival of your next VoxBox, you can still use the site to peruse through thousands of testimonials, reviews, and relevant information from brands ranging between Apple to those who make organic tea. Didn't get in on a campaign you wanted, or saw something great in a VoxBox you would have loved to try? Simply look up the brand, read what those who tried it had to say, find out what it costs and where to buy, and ask all the questions your little heart desires to experience products through the experts who've purchased on their own or used them during Influenster testing campaigns. Best part? It's free; every last little bit of it. 

It wouldn't be unheard of to compare Influenster to something more of a social media site for testers, buyers, and those with influence in the realm of retail products and opinion. The communication ability is what sets Influenster apart, in my opinion, from any other testing group or program. 

Next on the list is the ever coveted VoxBox. Ah yes, that thing that every Influenster wants to get their hands on. VoxBoxes come in all shapes, colors, sizes, themes, uses, and audience demographics, and, in many instances, you're not trying out a particular product with a VoxBox, but an experience instead. The seasonal beauty VoxBoxes are probably the most sought after, and inside there will be any range of different products ideal for use during the current season. Oh, and yes, you did read that correctly: productS, not product. While some VoxBoxes showcase one particular product, these delightful little seasonal beauty campaign VoxBoxes could include lip products, eye products, health and wellness products, facial masques, shaving goodies, fragrances, or just about any other combination of treats you can think into a theme and a few walls of cardboard. 

With VoxBoxes, you don't just try the products and be done with it, you're also given the opportunity to win badges, gift cards, and additional goodies as you go about doing your VoxBox tasks. Now, these tasks aren't jumping through hoops of fire or circumnavigating the globe, they're as simple as writing blogs, tweeting, reviewing, picture or video taking, Facebook sharing, or any other myriad of simple things done creatively to inform the public about what you're trying now. When it comes to the prizes, each brand with products making up the VoxBox will have their own set out tasks, and each set of tasks will have their own particular prize or prizes. To put into perspective, the blog I wrote about the Schwarzkopf Osis + Rough Rubber Paste was part of the Schwarzkopf Osis brand badge set of tasks, and I was one of the lucky winners to receive a package of hair products from the brand retailing at over $120. Not only was I thrilled to win, but it gave me another opportunity to try out some new things. The Schwarzkopf Osis+ Grip Volume Mousse and I are in love after a blissful 1.5 year relationship beginning the day I received that glorious Schwarzkopf box; I'm expecting the can to pop the question any day now.

For single brand VoxBox campaigns, you're also given the opportunity to win great stuff and earn brand badges, but just what is up for grabs will differ with each passing, single or multiple product,campaign! 

Alright, so just how do you score a VoxBox for yourself? Well, you'll first need to work on your reach, your impact score, and your badges. Impact score is figured out by linking your social media and blogging profiles, but you don't have to worry about the spammy stuff. Influenster won't post for you unless you tell them to, and they won't clutter your pages up with junk. What the information is used for is determining how much interaction you enjoy on each respective platform, and factoring this into just how far your reach will go. The higher your followers, friend lists, and blog activity, the  better your reach, and the better the reach, the more likely you are to be picked for a box. The badges I'm referring to are your expert or interest badges, and you'll earn these by answering questions, interacting with others, or leaving reviews on a vast array of different topics. Love beauty products and want the beauty badge? Interact with other beauty connoisseurs and earn that badge! Big in the techie realm? Leave some reviews about that phone or tablet you just got, and answer some questions others may have about their next tech purchase! Because the interaction is kept fun and simple, it's quite easy to start racking up these badges quickly. 

Lastly, don't forget your snaps. Rather than bogging you down with super long (and dare I say super boring?) super-surveys, you'll get to enjoy snaps instead. Snaps are like little mini survey questions that you can complete and return to as your schedule allows, and the information you provide gives Influenster a way to figure out what you're in to, what you like, and what campaigns may be a perfect fit. 

All in all, I love Influenster, and I'm proud to be a member. When it comes to product testing opportunities, the brand is second to none, and engagement keeps things from ever getting stale. You don't feel like you're working, you feel like you're sharing, and the more you share will give you a better experience. If you're Influenster-ing on the go, they also have an app for that, so you can keep up with your stuff without being bogged down by a physical computer. 

So, what does it mean to be an Influenster? Well, it means using your own level of influence to have fun, engage with other consumer savvy individuals, and take the opportunity to try the hottest up and coming products just because you got that influential swag. 

If Influenster was an iceberg, this novel-esque post is an ice cube chipped from the tip, and the best way to learn more about what it means to be an Influenster is to visit the site itself at www.influenster.com

#Influenster #InfluensterBlogger #InfluensterApp #WhatItMeansToBeAnInfluenster 

ChapStick Dual Ended Hydration Lock From Smiley 360

Thanks to an awesome campaign from Smiley 360, I have had the opportunity to try the ChapStick Dual Hydration Lock for free, and the formula I was given to test was the night and day version with a special end for daytime use, and another end for overnight lip protection. 

My initial worry when beginning this campaign was the size of the product, as I am not a big fan of big lip products difficult to fit into a pocket (although, I should prefer them, as it'll be easier to realize when I've left one in my pocket before doing my wash :/ ). I was thrilled to see, however, when I received the product that the tube was pretty standard sized, and although a little long, it could fit into a pant or jacket pocket quite easily. 

This is a no-frills lip product, which is just what I wanted and just what I need for the oft cold and windy Pennsylvania fall season. The daytime end has an SPF of 15, I believe, so your lips remain protected from cold, wind, and sun, while the nighttime formula has extra moisturizing properties so your lips can soak it up and heal overnight. 

The flavor of the product is bland, it's nothing too special, and I found that both ends had something of an essence of subtle Vanilla which was quite pleasant. After using the product pretty regularly for around a month, I'm also pleased to report that my lips have experienced no chapping thus far! 

You can find this product at Walmart, Target, and all of your typical drugstores for around $6, and in my opinion, it's well worth the ticket price with the protection the stick provides.

A big thank you to Smiley 360 for allowing me to try this product for free, and if you'd like to test out your own products you can become a member of the Smiley squad here: Smiley 360

New From Skintimate: Mandarin Burst

Thanks to Crowdtap, I was lucky enough to receive a full sized bottle of Skintimate's new Mandarin Burst shave gel to give a try as part of the Crowdtap #SkintimateHappyLegs sampling. I'll preface this by saying, my skin is super sensitive, and even the smallest perceived "insult" to my legs will result in terribly itchy skin with the smoothness and moisture of the Mojave. Because of this, I'm always on the lookout for some type of new shave gel that will placate my angry legs, and give me that sweet sweet smoothness I'm perpetually yearning for.


When I first cracked open this new Skintimate variety, my initial impression was "YUM.". The stuff smells fantastic, and the aroma that Skintimate was able to create smells genuinely expensive. You're not getting the faux orange smell of a Dum-Dum Lollipop or kitchen floor cleaner, but one that is actually, genuinely, and legitimately reminiscent of fresh citrus. This was a good start, and it knocked off one category on my judge's panel, so I was eager to see if the product would continue to wow me.

As for application, the gel goes on nice and smooth, giving you a cream lather where a little bit can go a long way. The cream isn't too thick, however, and its richness isn't one that leaves you struggling to rinse the razor with each and every swipe. Once the shaving process was complete, but not yet dried off, I was happy with my results so far. I noticed no nicks, no cuts, and a nice ultra-soft slippery feel that sort of made me want to dolphin squeaks while in the shower...but I begrudgingly spared my family the Flipper impressions.

Next came the dry off and finished result, and this is the portion of the try-out process that typically gives me the most trouble. With a single towel wipe, I'll normally go from Flipper to Groot in a matter of seconds, and I'll have to follow my drying with a slathering of all of the lotions to achieve normal human skin again. After using the new Skintimate Mandarin Burst, however, that wasn't the case, and I had normal human skin after the course of drying. I will say, however, that the moisture I was able to achieve from the gel could have lasted a little bit longer, as I was forced to get the lotion out before bedtime in order to avoid scratching my legs to shreds all night; but I was satisfied as a single lotion application is a much lesser deal than my normal 85 bajillion.


All in all, for the price and the results, this is a product worthy of serious consideration. The scent is fantastic, the feel was lovely, and the end result was one I was satisfied with; when these factors are paired with price, it's a no-brainer.

At many drugstore or big box locations, you can pick up your own bottle of Skintimate Mandarin Burst for around $3, and a single bottle should last those that shave regularly for around a month to two depending on the areas the product is being used on and with what exact frequency.  In my personal opinion, $3 per month for the results I was able to achieve is far more than worth it.

A special thank you to Crowdtap for allowing me to try this product for free, and if you're interested in becoming a Tapper yourself, simply visit Crowdtap today to get started!

Crowdtap and the #DOAC Crew Atlantic City Sampling

As part of an awesome sampling done by Crowdtap, I had the opportunity yesterday to visit Atlantic City and "DO AC" the way it's meant to be done. However, due to Murphy's Law and certain other planning discrepancies...things didn't quite go as planned, but we still managed to get a nice taste of AC.

Courtesy of Crowdtap, the sampling came along with a 1 night's stay at Harrah's Resort in the Marina section of Atlantic City, an adorable little flip-flop bottle opener keychain, a DO AC Swag Bag which was available for pickup at the Crowdtap/DO AC cocktail party at the H2O Bar in the Golden Nugget, and passes to ride the small Jitney buses around the island and make the most of the evening.

The boyfriend and I started our day off early and headed out to hit the beach around 9am on Monday morning. Being in Pennsylvania, it's about a 2 hour ride to AC, and we wanted to have plenty of time to soak up the sun before checking in to the hotel. We got in to AC around 11am, found excellent and affordable parking at Harrah's sister casino The Showboat, and made our way on foot to the beach and boards. I say "made our way on foot", but really the Showboat's parking area is only about a block and a half from the beach, so our adventurous walking journey was, in reality, about 10 minutes at a leisurely pace.

From this vantage point on the beach, we were right next to the landmark and historic Steel Pier. AC boasts the oldest boardwalk in the country, and Steel Pier has been entertaining families since 1898, first as a theatre, then as an amusement park. As we relaxed on the beach, we were able to watch the rides on the pier and enjoy the festivities from a relaxing afar.

(Not a bad view!)

After spending the day on the beach, we packed up and headed out to our hotel at around 2:15pm to get ready for our 3pm check in. I had the mind to do a little research on the hotel beforehand, and many TripAdvisor reviewers said the check-in lines were on the long side, so we made sure to get there early as to miss the afternoon rush. 

Even with our early arrival...our wait in the check-in line was around 1 hour. Luckily, Harrah's Resort is a gorgeous place, and I loved walking through the casino area to get to the grand lobby. As you walk around Harrah's, you'll see stores, cafes, casino games, families, and plenty of super friendly Harrah's staff. 

However, it was at this point when things started to not go as planned. 

After the hour-long check-in line, we were at the desk and ready to check in. Now, I will preface this by saying that I know my own temptations, and I know how to most responsibly control them, so I do not own a high-limit credit card. I do have a major credit card, but I keep my credit line at a very-low level to ensure I can keep excellent credit without getting sucked into an interest-filled debt hole. What I wasn't aware of was, at Harrah's, in order to check in, guests are required to have a credit card with at least $100 available for hold as a security deposit, and if a debit card is used, the account should have at least $200 to be held. Unfortunately, to ready ourselves for our trip, we took most of our cash out of the debit accounts, and my credit account didn't have the $100 for holding (the credit line doesn't have much more than that, anyway), and we were turned away. We offered to give cash as a security deposit, since we had plenty of that, but to no avail. Not enough credit/debit = no room. 

After driving two hours and getting turned away at our hotel...we were pretty disappointed.  We debated on what to do, and then decided to try to get a cheap room someplace else (since we were in the area already anyway), and if we couldn't do that, we'd just head home. We did find somewhere to stay at a neighboring shore point, but we certainly didn't get the AC experience we were so excited for; we were unable to attend the H2O cocktail party (due to lack of shower/place to change), no swag bag, and no Jitney rides. 

To sum up, I do wish I knew of the deposit requirements and amounts, so I could have cleared my credit card account in preparation, or left cash in my checking to cover the necessary holding. However, I will say, that the staff at Harrah's were very nice, and the resort casino was gorgeous. 

Even though things didn't work out exactly as planned, we still had a very nice time in AC. Thanks again to Crowdtap for this exciting opportunity, even if we didn't get the chance to experience it fully, and I'd highly recommend a summer full of #DOAC! 

I was able to #DOAC thanks to Crowdtap, and if you're interested in becoming part of the #DOACCrew, check them out today at Crowdtap to get tappin'! 

Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask #powerofplants

I'd like to take a minute to give my favorite product from the Influenster J'Adore Vox Box a little spotlight of its own. This mask left my skin feeling completely cleansed and totally conditioned, and it was actually as easy to apply as it was to rinse off, which I found very surprising considering my past experiences with different clay masks! 

When putting this mask on, I first washed my face to present a blank canvas and allow all of the botanical  goodness to enter my pores. The consistency of this mask is a bit thinner than I'm used to, but this aspect actually really added to the ease of application. 

When applying the mask I put a small amount on 2 fingers and start with the apples of my cheeks. Bringing the product down towards my chin, I covered the cheek area and made almost a mask beard with the application. After these areas were finished, I then started on my nose, and  brought the product up the bridge and onto the forehead, connecting the forehead area down the temple and back down to the apples of my cheeks. 

I like to use these products as an all over pampering experience, so I'll typically put the mask on before getting into a hot bubble bath. I tend to leave the mask on for a little longer than the 10 minutes that the bottle suggests, and I'll rinse off after about 20 minutes or so. The directions call for a wiping off of the mask, but I found a quick rinse was far more sufficient, didn't dirty up a towel, and helped my skin to feel cleaner after the fact. 

Once the mask is rinsed off I finish up with a little moisturizer, and my skin is left soft, clean, and glowing from the nutrients this mask so graciously offers!

I will most certainly be buying this mask again, especially now that I've seen the botanical benefits. When I say that this is my favorite mask I have ever used, not only am I not exaggerating, but this is based on using over 10-15 different brands of facial mask. Boots, by far, gets my gold seal of approval!

Thanks again to Influenster for including this excellent product in the J'Adore Vox Box, and allowing me the opportunity to try it free! Never underestimate the #PowerOfPlants!

Introducing the J'Adore Vox Box Courtesy of Influenster!

Unfortunately, I tore into this Vox Box quicker than I could take a picture, so the image above is thanks to Influenster's own Instagram! 

First and foremost, this was a Valentine's Day themed box filled with goodies to eat, to drink, to wear, and to pamper, giving Influensters a fully delightful Valentine's Day experience. What caught my eye first was the Boots Botanics Clay Mask, as something of a mask connoisseur, I was really excited to see how this product matched up with others I've used. 

The Boots mask wound up being my absolute favorite product of the entire box, and it was hands down the most incredible mask I've ever used. With a slightly thinner consistency, it was really easy to apply and get on evenly, something that I've struggled with when using other masks in the past. When the product dries, it doesn't feel bizarre, or alien, or itchy, it actually feel comfortable. Because of this, I wasn't sure the product was working, but after rinsing off I could really see just how well it worked. The rinsing process was as easy as the application process, and all of the product rinsed off easy and clean even after fully drying. 

The only complaint I have with the Boots mask product is that it did leave something of a mess in my sink, and cleanup was a little difficult. 

My next most well-loved product was the FULL pound of Hershey's Kisses! In pink, silver, and red foil, this box surprised me with a huge bag of some of the greatest treats ever to exist. Classic, delicious, and as expected, this bag did not last long! 

A set of natural looking Kiss lashes was also included, and although false lashes aren't really my thing, these would be my first choice. They look real and have a really soft pleasant feel, but they still provide the drama one would seek when wearing lashes! 

For hair, John Freda's Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight Iron serum was in the box, and this too wasn't a product I would normally use. With very straight hair, I don't have much need for a flat iron or straightening product, but I did try the product a couple of times to investigate its quality. Like any other John Freda product I've used, it was a really stellar product and I could see it working wonderfully for those with naturally curly hair looking for a straight style. 

Lastly, included in my box, was the little packets of Red Rose Tea. In Creme Caramel and Lemon Chiffon, these teas put a whole new spin on freshly brewed hot tea. The Creme Caramel was really a stand out product for me, and I loved it with a little bit of actual cream and sugar! 

Thanks again to Influenster for allowing me to try this entire box of great products for free!