Influenster: Better Skin Foundation

Hello everyone! It's that time again where I review another great box sent to me for free by Influenster. This time I received Maybelline's Superstay Better Skin foundation in 90 Warm Honey.

When I first received the survey for this box I was told I wasn't a match for it and ended up having to do three other surveys for other boxes, in the end I was sent this one. At the end of the survey there was about five different shades, with no labels, to pick from. This foundation has vitamin C and claims to reduce the appearance of spots, dullness and unevenness to give you brighter and more even skin in three weeks of wear.

First Impression:

I honestly didn't think that I would be sent a color that would match my skin. Not only did it match, but it did a better job than my previous foundation, Maybelline Fit Me Matte Poreless. The biggest difference was that this foundation has a pump, which my old foundation did not. A pump helps you control how much foundation you need. 

Left: Better skin. Right: Matte Poreless

Looking at the two foundations they look nearly identical. The Matte Poreless dries completely matte, almost instantly, is full coverage and becomes darker and orange when fully set. Better Skin is not as matte, medium to full coverage and dries true to color. 

Wear:

With my oily face, I can wear this foundation a good seven and a half hours without shine. It instantly became my favorite because I can chose which type of coverage I want. It's slightly moisturizing, but it does cling on to my dry patches. 

Skin Improvement:

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the most important part, but I believe it did work for my skin. I had a dark patch on my left cheek, it looked like I always had heavy contouring on that side, and some small dark spots on the right. Now when I do my makeup I've realized I don't have to do as much color correcting as I did before, because they aren't as dark. 

I do plan on purchasing this foundation once I'm finished with it because it has been the best drugstore foundation I have used. 

wearing Maybelline Better Skin Foundation 

I received Maybelline Better Skin Foundation complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Thank you Influenster!

I have gotten two Voxboxs from Influenster in the past few months and wanted to share what I did and did not like about them.

 For those who are not familiar, Influenster is a website where you go to write reviews on products. You can also answer peoples questions, and/or ask questions. Every so often, they send you an email saying you've been selected to take a quiz to see if you are a good match for the upcoming box. If you are, they ask for your mailing address and will later receive an email telling you that you are getting one. If not, they tell you that you are a better candidate for the next upcoming box and to watch for the next email. Everything from signing up to getting a voxbox is completely free, which of course is the best part. I'm not completely sure if its still the same to sign up, but years ago when I first joined you had to be invited by someone else who was already on it.


CAMPUS VOXBOX

I had a lot of trouble doing the questionnaire for this, so I ended up just clicking anything and submitting.

• Candy: The straws were good, it had flavors I have never tasted before, like lemon and blueberry. The Punches, bag, were really good. They taste just like the straws obviously but without the sticky mess.
• St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub: I used this face wash for many years until I was told how it is too rough for your skin. I liked it because it felt like it got my face extremely clean. I did not use the one from the box, I did give to a relative who still loves it.
• L'oreal Smooth Intense: Even though I should use this on my hair I tried it out. I did not feel or see a difference like most other shampoos/conditioners that I have used in the past.
• Softlips Cube: I was completely blown away with this product, I usually use the Vaseline lip balm to keep my lips soft, this product is almost just as good. The only down side to this is the packaging and the slight waxy feeling it leaves.
• Jergens Instant Sun self tanner: I have not used this product. I do plan on trying it out and will update as soon as I get a chance!

MARY KAY VOXBOX

The Mary Kay box was the one most unexpected. The questionnaire asked about oily skin, which I have, so of course I said I do. What I didn't pay attention to was that it said oily/ance-prone, even though my face is extremely oily I do not have acne. What was included in the box was the full set of Mary Kay's Clear Proof Acne System, retail price $45.

Unfortunately, I did not use any of the products. I didn't want to stop the routine I had going at the time and was scared it would dry out my face, like many other products do. I did, however, give it to a friend who loves it.

Favorite Products of 2014

I know we are half way through January, but... oh well. These are products that I used the most and loved in 2014. There are some things that I discovered in December, but they were so amazing that I used them every day from the moment I got them.

Polishes

• Essie "Butler Please" - The most amazing blue ever. 
• Zoya "Jacqueline" - cream, very similar to OPI "My Vampire is Buff" but this is a bit more yellow.
• Zoya "Godiva" - Nude Pixie Dust, honestly I started using this when I wanted something on my nails but did have a lot of time, since pixie dusts don't require a bottom or top coat they became my go to polishes.
• Zoya "Bar" - Nude Magical Pixie Dust, same reason as above, but when I wanted something a little more sparkly.
• Zoya "Cosmo" - Silver Magical Pixie Dust, this polish is what made me what to try the magical pixie dusts, it looked so amazing, and it is so amazing! What I love about this line of pixie dusts is that you get all the beautifulness of mega glitter, but it come off like a normal polish, no soaking your nails in acetone for 5 minutes to hopefully get half off.

Makeup

• Wet n Wild "Mocha-Licious" - Red/brown matte, I really don't know what to say about this other than its so perfect and affordable. 
• MAC "Russian Red" - Red matte, I mean, this color looks great on anyone.
• MAC "Flat Out Fabulous" - Pink retro matte, retro mattes are a lot more matte than the normal matte collection, very drying. Some reason, I love the drying, it helps the staying power, if your lips aren't chapped.
• MAC "TAUPE" - Peachy Nude, okay, I guess I don't know what to say about any of these colors, they are all so amazing. After getting this lipstick it was really hard for me to use other lipsticks, this is definitely my all time favorite! 
• Honorable mention: MAC "Styled in Sepia" I thought would change my life because of beautifulness, turns out its basically a dupe for Mocha-licious.

• L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara in Blackest Black - I've never loved a mascara more. My eyes are really sensitive so really popular mascaras don't work out for me, but this!! I recommend this to everyone that I can. The brush is a little weird but after a few uses you get the hang of it. I've heard that other L'oreal mascaras are really great to, but I have yet to try them because I don't want to use anything but this.

Skincare

Before I start, I want to mention that all of the L'Occitane products were given to me as a gift in the middle of December, so I only used them the last few weeks of 2014, but they are some of the best stuff I have used.

• L'Occitane Precious Cleansing Foam - My skin is very oily, usually when I wash my face my skin gets even oily-er, but not with this. At first I was very skeptical because it was a foam wash and I have always felt I need something in my face wash to scrub. After using this wash my face didn't get oily... at all. This is a sample size of 1.7 fl oz. after using every day since, about a month, with 2-3 pumps each time I still have maybe around 60% of it left. The only downside for me is the full price for the full size, $28 for 5.1 fl oz. not that its bad, I couldn't justify paying $30 for a face wash. 

• L'Occitane Supple Skin Oil with Almond Oil - All the skin oils I have used always left me a little greasy afterwards, but this one did not. So, I started dabbing some on my fingers and massaging it into my face after washing it. Again, this product didn't leave my skin greasy feeling, it didn't feel like I had a layer of something on my face and my face didn't get as oily as usual after using it. This sample size is 0.5 fl oz. after a month of use, on my face only, I have about 90% left. Full size is 3.4 fl oz. and is $42, which to me is reasonable, a little lasts a long time, and it could easily replace my moisturizer. 

• L'Occitane Hand Cream - My reason for loving this is basically the same as above, it doesn't leave my hands greasy and a pea size drop can be worked for both hands, unless they are extremely dry, then I add a little more. Right now, I carry the almond one in my purse and the cherry blossom in my locker at work. From left to right - Almond, Shea Butter, Arlesienne, Cherry Blossom, and Verbena. Sample size : 10 mL/0.35 oz, full size 1.0 oz $12 or 5.2 oz for $28. I think $12 for 1 oz is great, this stuff lasts forever.

• QTICA Sweet Citrus Sugar Scrub - Most sugar scrubs I have tried are very floral and heavily scented, which I cannot handle. This one, being citrus, easily became my favorite. Also, it works great, doesn't leave my hands oily, and makes my nails and cuticles look very hydrated. I'm not completely sure if this was discontinued, I can only find it on amazon and eBay, but it was a gift from Zoya for purchasing a certain amount.

Perfume

• Marc Jacobs "Daisy Eau So Fresh" and "Daisy Dream" - I cannot explain what these two smell like because I don't really know, the only thing I can say about them, like I say about everything else I love, is that they are amazing. When it finally came down to buying one, I couldn't choose between the two, so i just got the rollerballs instead. I used to be deeply in love with Dot, until these two were released. The only thing that is noticeable is that these are floral, yet fruity.

That's all! 2014 wasn't a big year for me with beauty, but if I did use something it would be most of these products. One thing that I left out that I loved, but only used one time, is the Lorac Pro 2 palette. I am looking forward to 2015, to expand my collection, try new brands, and hopefully, use up at least one eyeshadow or lipstick!