VoxBox: Real Techniques (Compliments of Influenster)

Though I have a kick-ass set of makeup brushes from my affiliate BH Cosmetics, sometimes a girl just needs a smaller set for on the go, like when she's travelling to see her boyfriend in Florida. This being said I am sure you have guessed I had been in the market for a compact brush set that would pack easily (since we know how I prefer to pack light for my trips). Well luckily for me, right before I left for my trip to visit John, my sponsor Influenster pulled through with yet another awesome VoxBox for the holiday! This time Influenster has sent me a set of brushes as well as a makeup sponge to review from the brand Real Techniques, and I have to say, this whole set was exactly what I was searching for.

Real Techniques

If you are not familiar with the brand Real Techniques, this is the part where I will give you a little background info. Firstly Real Techniques is unique due to the fact it was founded by sisters Samantha and Nicola Chapman. The girls got their inspiration and interest in makeup from a young age due to the fact their aunt was a top makeup artist in London working with the likes of people such as David Bowie and Princess Diana. Due to this both the girls developed a great love for makeup. Then after some time Samantha and Nicola began to collaborate and that is how Real Techniques was formed. 

Now that you know the story, here are a few facts from their FAQ: 

Multitask Set + Miracle Complexion Sponge Review

Again, before I start this review and big thank you to my sponsor Influenster for providing me these brushes and this sponge free of charge, they were seriously just what I needed to complete my collection!!

So first I just have to say once again that this set of brushes is absolutely perfect for travelling. Due to the fact they come with this nifty little case, and since there are only three it really saves you room in your suitcase or carry on bag. 

The other great thing about this brush set is that they are incredibly soft, are very affordable, and work just as well as any high end makeup brushes, which is great because you aren't sacrificing quality for the price tag. I also noticed that these brushes work great with my BareMinerals foundation and actually pick up the product better than my Dior blush brush! This being said, these brushes have become my go to brushes for my everyday makeup looks for around the office, giving my BH Cosmetics brushes a break except for big events that require more effort on makeup. I would say that these Real Techniques brushes are great for anyone who enjoys makeup whether you're just a beginner or a seasoned pro.  

Next up is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Honestly, though I enjoy doing my makeup as much as the next girl, I myself am not a seasoned pro (I totally envy the makeup skills of my former college classmate Bailey, her work is stunning.). But I know the basics about brushes and a handful of techniques but that's about it, so this was my first time ever using a complexion sponge. With that said, for my readers that are like me, here are the nifty things this little thing can do/how to use it!

  • The large rounded side are used to blend makeup on the larger areas of your face. To do this blend the areas needed with a dabbing or stippling motion.
  • The tip of the sponge of the "precision tip" is used to cover blemishes and other small imperfections.
  • The flat edge is used to blend the contours around the eyes and nose.

So when I used this product the first time, I chose to use my Dior Airflash Foundation along with my Dior "My Rose" blush and Dior's "Blazing Gold" eye shadow. Considering I never used a tool like this before I have to say I was surprise in was a difference it made! Though I generally don't have issue with blemishes, sometimes my skin shows signs of irritation due to the chilly weather and cold wind which is sometimes hard to mask with makeup. However I feel this sponge was perfect for hiding those imperfections and I am so happy I have learned how to utilize this tool and wish I would have sooner! 

Final Thoughts

Much like every product I've received from Influenster, these  Real Techniques products are no different! I would totally recommend them to a friend and obviously to all my readers as well. So how about you, have you ever tried any of Real Techniques products? If so which one is your favorite? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Would you rather give me a visual of your favorite product? Just tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic

Xx, Bree

ZAK Body: New Elevate Super Smooth Formula

Hi everyone, I hope you are all having as great (and productive) as a week and I am! Firstly, if you haven't noticed some of the updates I've made to my site's security, I encourage you to poke around and right click on some things, you'll see what happens! And in short, the reason I have upped my security so much now is because though I never wanted people plagiarizing my work to start with, now that I have my photography work on here too, I just figured it would be best to take some extra precautions. 

Anyways, aside from the nifty coding I learned recently thanks to many web design and coding bloggers on Reddit and a few other forums, I'm also happy to announce that once again ZAK Body and I have partnered together and that's why I'm writing this post!

ZAK Body: An Overview

Image Provided by ZAK Body

Image Provided by ZAK Body

For those of you that missed my post about ZAK awhile back, here's a quick list of what you need to know:

ZAK's Website States:

  • IT IS OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE HEALTHIEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE DEODORANT IN THE WORLD, TO EMPOWER YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT NON-TOXIC, NATURAL BODY CARE PRODUCTS, AND TO HELP YOU DISCOVER YOUR NATURAL WELL BEING.

They are also:

  • 100% Cruelty Free
  • Vegan Friendly
  • Paleo Friendly
  • Non GMO
  • Recyclable 

The New Super Smooth Formula

Image Provided by ZAK Body

Image Provided by ZAK Body

Now that you know a little bit about ZAK, you're probably wondering what the difference is between their original Elevate formula that I first reviewed, and this new Super Smooth Formula. Well, after solely using both products as my deodorant of choice, I have to say that the Elevate Super Smooth formula is just the new and improved version!

The new Super Smooth Elevate deodorant that ZAK representative Ria once again generously sent me, has the same fresh and feminine sent as the original formula but just goes on a lot smoother--as I'm sure you imagined.

Image Provided by ZAK Body

Image Provided by ZAK Body

Not that the original formula isn't great, it leaves no stains and works every bit as well, it's just I prefer how easily the new Super Smooth Formula just glides on to your skin. So though it's not much of a switch, I will now be using my Super Smooth Elevate instead!

Just as I stated in my last post about ZAK Body, I would 100% recommend their product to any of my readers and just anyone in the market for a new deodorant! It smells great, is all natural and is cruelty free, what more could you want? 

Final Thoughts

So have you tried ZAK Body yet? If you have tell me what you think in about it in the comments below! And if you haven't tried ZAK Body yet but want to you're in luck: if you'd like to purchase your own ZAK deodorant to try out you can get it for 20% off when using my special promo code "ZAKSTARK20"! Treat yo'self babes! 

Xx, Bree 

Caress Skin Care (Compliments of Influenster)

Ah, Influenster you know me too well. First you send me some pretty lipstick, then an awesome hair care routine, followed by some great perfume, and now some wonderfully scented body wash?! You spoil me.

Influenster?  

To my readers, you're probably wondering who/what my sponsor "Influenster" is. I know I've mentioned them a few times but it slipped my mind to share the deets with all of you! So this being said, before I dive into my Caress Skin Care review, I'll give you a quick overview of what Influenster is and how it works. 

Firstly Influenster is a website that allows it's users to discover, review, and share different products that they are interested in. The reason Influenster is so great for bloggers is because it enables you to connect with brands as well as get awesome full sized products to review 100% free. These free samples are called VoxBoxes, and all you need to do to recieve one is make an account, specify your interests, and fill out a quick survey, it's that easy! After that Influenster will send you surveys to see if you're a good fit, and if you are,  Influenster will add you to that specific campaign. So once you're part of a campaign, Influenster will send you the products that you were interested in. And all you need to do in return is write a review and mark it as a sponsored post, so everybody wins!

Caress Pure Embrace Body Wash

The first thing I noticed about my Caress Pure Embrace Body Wash, was the incredible smell. This body wash is incredibly fragrant, as soon as I popped open the lid all I could smell were aromas of jasmine, wisteria, and just a little hit of roses. Honestly, it was heavenly. This body wash also lathered very nicely and felt great on my skin. It had a soothing feel to it and moisturized my skin as it cleasned it. After I washed off and dried, Caress' Pure Embrace scent still lingered and left my skin feeling very soft to the touch.

Final Thoughts

Since this was my first time trying a Caress product (I'm normally a Dove kinda girl) I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely recommend this product to a friend and would be apt to purchase it too, mainly just because I absolutely loved the smell. 

Have you ever tried any of Caress' body washes? If so, what's your fave? Tell me about it in the comments below or tweet at @StarkRavingChic. Later dolls! 

Xx, Bree

P.S. Also note, that though I prefer cruelty free skin, hair, and makeup products, Caress is NOT cruelty free. Caress is owned by Unilever, who claims to no longer test on animals, but they still sell in China where animal testing is required by law. So though I love this particular body wash, it unfortunately cannot be considered cruelty free.