Tuesday, March 31, 2015

#FeelingBeautifulin5 (VoxBox Review)

So the folks over at Influenster must have known that I was a new mom when making up their most recent product campaign. Or at the least, they knew I needed a little destress/pampering/"me" time. I think I sang a little happy song in my head when I got the email that I'd been chosen for this VoxBox... a collection of 5 (yes, FIVE) different facial masks.

It's a little bit of bliss for this tired momma.

About 10 days ago, I received 5 of the @FreemanBeauty Masks to sample, which has been a real treat. I received the Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask, the Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask, the Cucumber Peel-Off Mask, the Honeydew & Chamomile Facial Sleeping Mask, and the Coffee & Chai Energizing Paper Eye Mask.

I have tried out 4 of the 5 masks and would love to tell you about my experience with them. I can easily say this has been my favorite VoxBox to try and review!

The first I tried was the Honeydew and Chamomile Facial Sleeping Mask. It promises to deeply hydrate overnight and leave skin silky and smooth. You apply it on a clean face, go to bed, and rinse it off in the morning. Personal opinion: Meh. It feels good going on, smells heavily of honeydew (so if you love it, awesome... if not, stay away!), leaves a little tackiness to the skin overnight and didn't seem to make a substantial difference the next morning. I was glad it didn't leave any noticeable residue on my pillow. I think this product would be better suited for someone who has drier skin (mine is on the oily side).

Secondly, I tried the Coffee and Chai Energizing Paper Eye Mask, because if anyone needs to de-puff, reduce dark circles, and invigorate the eye area, it's the mom who's running after a 2 year old and nursing a 2 month old. Because I love you, I've included a post shower, no makeup, hair in a towel, before & after picture. Feast your eyes on this:
Can anyone see the red superhero mask I'm wearing in the "After" shots? It only got worse as time went on... in about 30 minutes, I was super red. There should be a note on the package that says "Do not use this product if you have someplace to be within the next 1.5 hours." About an hour after I removed the mask, the redness dissipated and left me with the same bags and eye circles that I was rocking pre-mask. Personal Opinion: Leave it.

Next, I tried the Cucumber Peel Off Mask. Up until this point, I'd only tried the light-duty masks, but this guy (and the remaining two) promised to remove dirt, impurities and dead skin cells. Bring it on!!!  This stuff was super thick and sticky and had a light cucumber scent. After applying, you let it dry and then peel it off. The package stated it would take 5-7 minutes, but after 20, I noticed there were still some sticky areas. However when it dried.... that's when the fun began. Did you ever smear Elmer's glue on your palms, let it dry, and peel it off??? This mask was the same consistency! It made the little 4th grader inside of me very happy to peel and pick it all away. It was pretty fun and my skin was smoother and a little brighter after using. Personal Opinion: I'd use this again.

Lastly, I have tried the Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask. I have yet to try the Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask, so I obviously can't review it quite yet. The Charcoal mask has definitely been my favorite so far. The activated charcoal is supposed to draw out excess oil while the sugar polishes away dead cells and debris. The consistency is thick and gel-like with sugar added, so it's not the easiest to apply. I basically had to put a little on my fingers and pat it exactly where I wanted it. There was a little warming sensation while it sat for 5-7 minutes and after "polishing" for 1-2 additional minutes, I rinsed it off to reveal smooth and glowy skin. It wasn't overly drying or too harsh. Personal Opinion: I'd enjoy using this again.

I'm looking forward to giving the last mask a try here in the next day or two. You can find this brand at Ulta and at Walmart and the price point is very reasonable. I'm seriously considering getting a full sized tube of the Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask. Many many thanks to @Influenster for giving this stretched-thin mom a few moments of pampering.

Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.


1 comment:

Kendra said...

I LOVE the charcoal one as well! My husband even noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin after I used it!

01 09 10