{Influenster} Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Influenster sent me a VoxBox with this Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel moisturizer inside and I got to try it out for FREE.

I was skeptical. The gel kind of moisturizers aren't something I readily love. I love how quickly they absorb, but do they LAST?

It's light weight, sure. It feels kinda watery, sure. But it QUENCHES my skin. I have an oily forehead and nose, but right around the edges of my mouth and on my cheeks, it can get so dry that I flake.

After my morning routine, I've switched to using this as my moisturizer and buhbye flakes! Plus, my oily zone is not so oily feeling, while still feeling refreshed and hydrated!

I want to try the thicker cream one as I think I'll need that come winter, but this feels fantastic and keeps me moisturized throughout my day so far!

It should retail for $18.99 and I've found it at Walmart and Target for a little less. At my supermarket, it was a buck more. Comparing this to other gel moisturizers, this is far superior and I love that it is easily accessible at a grocery store or Target, etc.

Thanks, Influenster!

Newest Vox Box: A Keurig 2.0, 550!!!

I received the BIGGEST vox box EVER from Influenster today! 
Inside I found my Keurig 2.0! 
This sucker brews single cups as usual, but also can brew an ENTIRE CARAFE.  Four cups at once! So much nicer to have that option! 

Excuse the mess, but the above picture shows what came in my box! The Keurig 2.0 K550, a carafe, two carafe sample packs, one of Green Mountain Breakfast Blend decaf and one of mixed samples, and a mixed sample kcup package! Not shown is the water filter starter kit that is hiding behind the boxes of coffee. You also get the welcome pack which tells you how to register your new Keurig brewing system! 

When you do register, you will get a coupon for a FREE box of coffee (varieties can be limited). So this is an amazing, AMAZING way to go. 

The hazelnut was delicious. Can't wait to brew a carafe next! 

Olay Regenerist Luminous - Tone Perfecting Cream Moisturizer

In my latest vox box that arrived at the end of June (See unveiling post here: http://tiffyfit-tries.blogspot.com/2014/06/vox-box-unveiling.html), I received a full size sample of Olay's Regenerist Luminous tone perfecting cream moisturizer.

I was SUPER excited about this product. It promised to improve skin tone texture and fade dark spots in as little 8 weeks. Also supposed to help reduce redness, etc. I have a touch of rosacea in my cheeks and a few acne scars, so I was stoked!

Now, Vox Box reviews etc are usually done pretty quickly, closing within 4 weeks of receipt. I've been holding off on my review, trying to give this product its full due and trial period.

Full disclosure: Again, I received this product to try for free from Influenster in their vox box program.

Also, I'm a lifelong Oil of Olay enthusiast. My grandmother used their beauty fluid, my mother used their beauty fluid, I grew up using their beauty fluid. They changed their name to Olay, but the beauty fluid was pretty good still. I branched out to try something new and have been trying new stuff since.

The Good:

• pleasant smell and texture
• absorbs easily into the skin without leaving you feeling greasy
• leaves your skin feeling well moisturized for several hours
• you only need the smallest amount dabbed on your forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck to spread nicely. Love that it only takes a small amount!
• it DOES fade dark spots

The Bad:

My skin is WAY too sensitive for this stuff. WAY. TOO. SENSITIVE. If you EVER have a flare up of any kind with a moisturizer, I do not recommend this. 

• it made my rosacea sections worse. Brighter red, inflamed.
• the skin over my cheeks felt rougher and likely because of the peeling that was going on
• hard blackheads and whiteheads where I've never had them before

Let me explain the last bullet of the bad for you. There are normal blackheads that you can easily exfoliate and use one of those comedone extractors. And then there are those super-hard blackheads that make your skin feel rough and you have to really squeeze to extract. Do you know what I'm talking about? I rarely get them, but they usually appear after I've been too harsh on my skin. Using this moisturizer consistently for several weeks, I noticed a rough section in three places. Yup, those little hard blackheads. 

Yes, yes, I know that others can't see it unless they are RIGHT UP IN MY FACE, but I'm neurotic about things like that and it drove me crazy. So, of course, I squeezed them. 

Also, broke out in whiteheads where I've never had them before. It's something I can only conclude that was caused by this tone perfecting moisturizer.  I'm lucky in that I don't break out in zits often. I have blackheads in my Tzone (mostly my nose) and an occasional zit on my cheek. At 36, I'm content with that. Not too bad! But this made me break out in zits I have not seen since puberty. 

My only conclusion is that whatever is supposed to help fade those dark spots and perfect the tone of my skin, is just too harsh for my skin and lead to peeling and open pores. 

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS?

Yes, I would. Since I got a full size sample from Influenster, I bought my mother one to try with me. It has faded some of her dark age spots that she didn't like, after about 8 weeks, and she hasn't had a problem with peeling, rashes, or breakouts. She LOVES this cream. 

So, yes, if you have normal skin. No, if you have sensitive skin like mine. 

{BzzAgent Campaign} Neutrogena Nourishing Longwear Makeup

About the Make Up: 
The vast majority of cosmetics simply stay true to their name; they cover up your flaws without actually correcting them. With NEUTROGENA® Nourishing Long Wear Makeup you’ll get 12 hours of silky, breathable coverage and start to see smoother, softer, more radiant and even toned skin in as little as 4 weeks.

The exclusive formula helps you look your best now, but makes your best even better. In fact, in a clinical study 100% of women saw improvement in skin’s natural tone or texture. Here’s what’s inside:

• Anti-oxidant rich soy smoothes and refines age spots and discolorations
• Vitamins A, C & E nourish skin and brighten skin tones
• Light diffusing powders camouflage imperfections and mask fine lines
• Broad spectrum SPF 20 protects your skin from the sun

I have a touch of rosacea in my cheeks, which I usually don't mind too much, but who wants to look super flushed all day long? My skin is strange: I have a weird blend of T-zone oily bits, super dry cheeks that can sometimes get a little rough, and my pores seem to be getting larger as I get older despite using salcylic acid cleansers, etc. So I'm always on the look out for something new foundation-wise. When this campaign was offered to me by BzzAgent, I snatched it up. I've used and liked Neutrogena products for a long time now!

I've tried Bare Minerals, didn't like it. I've tried Cover Girl, Maybelline, and other foundations and I still haven't found one that's JUST RIGHT. What I'm really hoping for is a foundation that, after simple moisturizer, would give me long lasting, breathable coverage that matches my skintone.

This foundation is a step towards that direction for me. It is supposed to improve tone and texture of your skin in as little as four weeks while leaving you with wonderful even coverage. So far, so smooth! The difference is subtle, but this is definitely a wearable, long lasting foundation. I've worn it for a couple weeks now (Thanks to Neutrogena and BzzAgent for the full sized sample!) and have had time for trial and error.

I was hoping that this foundation would let me skip steps in my routine (primer, powder, etc), but I find I have to make sure to still use the primer at least to fill in the pores. The foundation tends to sit on top of the skin, no matter how well I blend. I thought maybe it was my moisturizer so I switched that to make sure. I've tried it without, but it does tend to sit on the surface.

Really love how well this one matched my skintone. I chose correctly! Got a few friends to try it out, and the range of colors really works for all of us.

As you can see, my upper right cheek under my eye has the deepest red tone. And I have a matching mark on the other side. (Please don't mind my ungroomed brows. I've been lazy this week!) 

I made sure to moisturize and then used a blending sponge in this picture, skipping primer or BB cream. The bottom-left of the collage above is moisturizer and foundation. As you can see, it did a great job of covering that redness with minimal amount of product. I used a blending sponge and my fingers to apply the product. 

In the two + weeks I've been using this product, I haven't had any breakouts. The slight roughness on my cheeks where the rosacea is has seemed less rough and becoming smoother. And I love that it already has SPF 20 in it. Extra sunprotection helps! At only $15.99 for a decent sized bottle, I will be buying this again. 

Pros: lightweight, even coverage, improving skin tone texture. Long lasting - gets me through a full day. No breakouts! 

Cons: Bottle design -- very narrow neck, hard to pour. Tends to feel like it's sitting on top of the skin instead of blending into it. 

{BzzAgent Campaign} FIBER ONE mealbars

"Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to jump through complex hoops constructed from kale, quinoa and the like to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When hunger hits, pick up a Fiber One® Meal Bar to curb cravings and get the protein and fiber you need!"

I received two boxes of Fiber One meal bars to try: one Strawberry with Greek Yogurt and one Chocolate Peanut Butter. 

I ate them as meal replacements for both breakfast and lunch on the go and they were VERY filling. The Strawberry Greek Yogurt was by far my favorite of the two! Here is the nutrition info for you along with the ingredients. It's basically strawberry flavored cranberries in that bar (I thought that was weird, but I'm guessing that actual strawberries don't dehydrate into tasty, juicy little chewy bits like cranberries do!) with lots of almonds. I was surprised by the amount of almonds! Incredibly filling, I was surprised that this satisfied my hunger and kept me going til my next meal! 

I did not, however, like the flavor of the Chocolate Peanut Butter. It was jam-packed with peanuts and chocolate chips as you can see from my instagram pic below. What you can't see, is the layer of chocolate on the bottom of the bar. The chocolate really did satisfy my sweet tooth, but I didn't like the flavor over all. 

These are available in most grocery stores now, so if you're looking for a meal replacement bar for on the go breakfasts or lunches that are satisfying, filling, and hits your sweet tooth, check them out! I totally recommend the Strawberry Greek Yogurt. 

{BzzAgent Campaign} Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear Make Up!

Man, is that what I look like when I'm speaking to someone? Yikes. I feel so self-conscious now. Eep!

But yes! The newest BzzAgent campaign is for Neutrogena's nourishing long wear makeup! It is supposed to give you 12 hours of coverage, correcting your tone, and protecting your face with SPF 20!

This is Nude #40, which is very light. I'll be back with pictures showing if it covers my hint of rosacea and other funky mismatched discolorations I have on my face! :) 

I am a BzzAgent and received this product free from them to try! <3 

{BzzAgent} Fair Trade Coffee from Green Mountain Coffee!

 Mmmm coffee. Nectar of the gods. The reason I am functioning in the morning. And now with Green Mountain Coffee you can feel good about the great tasting coffee you are drinking. Why? Fair Trade, baby!

"Fair Trade certification gives farmers a fair price for their beans with a guaranteed minimum, which means they can invest in their crops, their communities, and their future. Fair Trade also lets Green Mountain Coffee® and farmers work closely together to bring the best tasting coffee to market."

So, yes, that cup of coffee you brewed in your Keurig helps the farmers DIRECTLY.

I got to try these flavors for free thanks to BzzAgent and was amazed at the delicious strong taste of the Three Continent Blend, but I think my favorite is the Sumatran Reserve. Rich, bold, and delicious, it was quite wonderful!

Check out the Fair Trade Story (http://choosefairtrade.com/fair-trade-story), Kelly Clarkson's travelogue, and get yourself some discounted k-cups directly from ChooseFairTrade.com!

BzzCampaign: LUSTER DISTINCTLY WHITE

A stunningly whiter smile can be yours with Distinctly White Dual-Action Whitening System:

• Visibly whitens teeth in as little as 2 days, with complete results in just 3 days
• Features a simple 2-step, dual-action whitening process
• Includes a gentle, cleansing mouth rinse to pre-treat teeth and whitening gel with active dental peroxide to whiten surface and deep stains
• Enamel safe
• Will not cause tooth sensitivity

Luster's Distinctly White is my newest BzzCampaign from Bzzagent! Everyone wants whiter teeth. It makes you look younger and healthier! I've had my teeth whitened by a dentist about a decade ago and while the results were amazing and lasted a while, they made my teeth ACHE. Holy sensitivity, Batman! It hurt to breathe! I couldn't sip a drink through a straw for a few days! Yikes! And then I went back to smoking and it all went to hell in a handbag. 

Well, I quit smoking and although I'm pretty pleased with my teeth, they still have some staining and I would love for them to be brighter! 

Here are some before pics, without make up and then with make up (lipstick, you know how it can make your teeth look different!)

 Not too bad, right? These close ups can make a girl self conscious! I"m now pointing out to myself that I have a zit there, some plaque build up there, yikes! lol 

Now the toothpaste NOW! is supposed to brighten your teeth in ONE brushing, a optical illusion of sorts. So I did that today and snapped a pic before trying the whitening system! 

What do you think? I think it's definitely brighter although that could be the flash! I then did the pre-treatment rinse and painted on the whitening gel. The rinse was a mild pleasant flavor. I made sure to swish the front teeth especially since that is where you want the whitening! I then painted on the gel and kept my lips pulled back from my teeth for 30 seconds as instructed until it dried. 

The directions say to do it for 12 treatments, so I'll check back in with you in a week to show the progress! 

The dual action system retails for about $12.99! Not bad at all! 

Zone Perfect Greek Yogurt Chocolate bar

My Good Life Vox Box included a chocolate Zone Perfect Greek Yogurt bar to try! This puppy has 12g of protein, 3g of fiber, 190 calories, and 6 grams of fat.

So this has 3 times the amount of protein you could find in a Snickers bar (I chose to compare to Snickers since it has peanuts = protein) and less than 1/2 the fat of a Snickers bar (16.4g) as well as 106 less calories.




Here's a photo of mine from instagram! I took it with me in case I got hungry while out and about. I must say...this is a dense little bar with a strong flavor of chocolate! It has a nice fudgy layer of chocolate at the top over the dense, almost brownie-granola like blend bar, and that whole thing is covered in a creamy greek yogurt. Delicious!

I can't wait to try the raspberry and the vanilla berry. I bet these keep me full longer with all that protein and yet still satisfy my sweet tooth!

Thank you to Influenster and Zone Perfect for letting me try a sample!

Influenster Vox Box: THE GOOD LIFE VOX BOX

How cool is it that I was approved for the Good Life Vox Box when I am JUST starting an exercise routine?! Operation MYFA, 2nd Edition (Move Your Fat A$$...my own little initialism) started three days ago. These are going to be wonderful to try out as I get more active!!

I filmed the opening of the box so you could see what was inside!




I'll be back to discuss each as I get to try them out. The New-Skin liquid bandage I'm totally psyched for as I have a blister from my new walking shoes. I've used New-Skin for years, but NEVER knew they had a liquid SPRAY. WOO HOOO!!!

FAGE Total Greek Yogurt

So are you a Greek yogurt person? Have you jumped on the bandwagon yet and tasted this protein-packed deliciousness?

My brother was telling me to get greek yogurt because it's higher in protein, helps keep you full longer, you want to diet and eat more healthy, right, so get this!

So I tried the brand he recommended and got it in the flavor he recommended (vanilla bean) and wasn't all that impressed other than it tasted like a warmer version of frozen yogurt (froyo!).  Meh.

Then BzzAgent and its latest campaign came around, this time for FAGE Total Greek Yogurt. Why not? I've been trying different brands of greek yogurt, they're all the same, right?

Wrong. So wrong!

Click to go to FAGE's Facebook page

So, greek yogurt is different from regular yogurt because it's strained through a cheesecloth to remove the whey, leaving a thicker yogurt somewhere in the consistency of a soft cheese. The other greek yogurts I have tried were still really wet, and while a bit thicker, they have NOTHING on FAGE.

I admit I've been confused these last few months as I tried greek yogurt after greek yogurt, all prepackaged with fruits or fruit-like jelly, or pre-flavored. Still, you opened them up and they had a bunch of water on the top and you mix it and it's still...watery like regular yogurt, albeit a bit thicker. "People cook with this? How? What the hell would I make with it?"

Enter the BzzAgent campaign! I was able to get a 17.6oz tub of FAGE Total 2% for free thanks to this campaign. I admit to some trepidation as I was in the store. Your choices are 2%, 0%, and classic. Yes they have smaller ones with add in flavors such as berry or honey, but at my store, these big tubs came in just those flavors. I've had plain yogurt before and was preparing myself for sour beyond sour.

That's not what I got.

Thick. Creamy. Incredible texture. Slightly tangy but not pucker your face sour. Delicious.

I added fresh strawberries to it and I had a wonderful amazing breakfast. The flavor combination of the yogurt and the strawberries was delightful: light but filling, refreshing, and then I started thinking about desserts. Could I substitute the yogurt for cheese in a cheesecake? (What? I'm not healthy by any means. I need to work on it, but I like my desserts, okay!?)

And look at all the ideas FAGE has on their website:

Honey scented fruits? Mmmmm
Greek Yogurt Cheesecake? I KNEW IT!
Lobster Club with Watercress Sandwich? OH THE DECADENCE

I'm going to start substituting greek yogurt in place of other things in my daily cooking and see how dips, sauces, sandwiches, soups, etc., taste!

What's your favorite recipe that uses strained yogurt?

Influenster SpringVoxBox NYC Color APPLELICIOUS

In my Spring Vox Box I received a full sized NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm. The scent is fantastic, the color is perfect for summer, very moisturizing and non sticky!

THANK YOU Influenster and New York Color! This is AWESOME for spring and summer!

Influenster Spring Vox Box - Broadway Nails IMPRESS press on nail manicure

Hey everyone! So I'm making my way through my vox box and am trying out different things. This video isn't very good quality and for that I apologize, but I did want to post it anyway to show you how to put on the Impress Press-On Nails manicure! The spring color I received was SEXY FRESH which is a pretty tie-dyed look of oranges and blues.  I've tried these before and really do love them. They stick for about 10 days. I have no problems with them coming off in the shower or while doing dishes. I do recommend you follow the instructions re: cleaning your nails and using their prep pad and then making sure that you press down firmly for a few seconds to have the nail take hold.  They come in multiple lengths, although I'm a fan of the "short" as I don't like long nails. 

If you look at my thumbnail on the right hand side of this picture, you'll see some of my nails sticking out. The product comes with 24 nails to mix and match and try to find the right size to match your nail bed. I happen to have a really wide nail bed. However, in every day use, this is NOT very noticeable at all and the only thing I had to do was to make sure I placed the nail in a natural way so it wasn't askew. I've seen these at walmart for about $6, $7 or so at drugstores. I'm not a fan of getting acrylics, so these are PERFECT FOR ME. Seriously. I love them. They also have pedicures, which at first I was making a face like WHAT? WHY WOULD I WANT PRESS ON TOE NAILS? Then I tried THOSE and...SOLD. Perfect for flipflop days! :D  Again, I got this in my vox box from Influenster, which means I'm a product tester and got to try this for free! 

UPDATE! June 13th It's been one week now since I put the Impress nails on and they're still going strong! I had to replace one forefinger nail as the edge caught when I was cleaning the stove (SCRUBBING!), but other than that all is well. There is the tiniest bit of fading at the top of the nail as if nail polish is lightly wearing off, but that's the first time I've experienced this. I think it is because of this particular pattern. Love these things. Saw them on sale at Rite Aid tonight and picked up a few more! 

SPRING FEVER! Influenster's Spring Vox Box!

 Over the next few days, you'll be seeing posts and (probably crappy) videos of me trying stuff out, telling you about stuff, etc. LIKE THIS SILLY VIDEO BELOW!!!! PREPARE THYSELVES!









Yeah, I know. I'm falling short of the mark on video coolness. Sorry for the funky camera noises, etc. I'm using a very basic point and shoot and that's probably all I'll ever use. lol



More to come as I try these things out!

Review: Draftmark Tap System - Fresh Draught Beer at Home

Click me to get to DRAFTMARK.COM

A_TiffyFit's Review

Ever notice how draught beer at a bar/pub tastes much better than that same brand at home in a can/bottle? It's probably in the packaging, don't you think? I, for one, cannot stand beer in a can. I prefer bottled. Well...I did. Now, I have this Draftmark thing and enjoying it this way!

Disclaimer Repeat: I'm a BzzAgent (named Algaliarept, yes, I used Kim Harrison's demon as my bzzagent name. I love Big Al, so shoot me) and was offered a chance to try the tap system for free. BzzAgent and Draftmark sent me the system and I went out and hunted down refills.

My first note of advice to you: Check your local liquor stores. We went by the store locator and had to drive three towns over. Then I went to my grocery store's alcohol center and they had a display of Draftmark and the beers! WOO! (I'm in metro-west Massachusetts, FYI. Go to Wegman's!)

My dad and my brother are more beer aficionados than I am. I just know what I tend to order and like: Sam Adams Light, Caffrey's Irish Ale (which you can no longer get in the US, dammit), Killian's Irish Red, Sam Adam Cherrywheat, Summerwheat. Are you seeing a theme?

But like most people, I enjoy a good tasting beer with friends, with food, with barbeques, etc., so I was really excited to try this thing out. Cold, draught beer at home without having a bar! One refill is about 11 12 ounce servings with a lot less waste and I can have a small glass instead of a tall, if that's what I prefer!

So far, I've tried Shock Top's Belgian White (nice, citrusy ale!), Budweiser (not for me, but others enjoy it), and now the Goose Island Honker's Ale (my favorite so far!). Refilling the machine is easy. Taking it out is easy. Charging the battery is easy. If you aren't a big drinker, but still want a fresh beer, this thing is fresh in the fridge for 30 days!

I like it a lot and would totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys beer!

What do the refills look like?

I made my first ever youtube video to show you! This is an empty, I should have recorded us refilling the actual system, but hindsight blah blah. Sorry, I was too eager to get to the Goose Island Honker's Ale. Budweiser is not my thing, although others enjoyed it! 

Want to see me not get a good pull? Haha

I always have a little too much foam or head on my beer. It does settle into the perfect amount, but it never fails that I keep messing it up with a little too much! Here's my vid...and yes, I know, my fridge is pathetically empty. NEED TO GO SHOPPING! 

Draftmark's Advice, which I need more practice on is:

THE PERFECTLY POURED DRAUGHT BEER

Sure, the perfect pour takes a skilled hand, but it’s actually much easier than it looks — follow these simple steps and pour like a pro every time:

• Hold the glass at a 60 degree angle
• The spout should begin about one inch from the inside of the beer glass, and shouldn’t touch the glass or beer
• If beer in the glass touches the spout while pouring, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth
• Pull the tap open completely in one smooth, quick motion (this keeps Draftmark from pouring foamy)
• Tilt the glass to straight as it fills
• Close the tap in one smooth, quick motion to prevent excess foam

Beers Offered:

Directly pulling from the draftmark.com website, the beers offered for this at home system are -

Budweiser : A crisp, refreshing lager

Michelob Amberbock : A crisp, refreshing lager

Shock Top Belgian White: A Belgian-style unfiltered wheat ale

Shock Top Wheat IPA : A refreshing wheat beer combined with a crisp IPA

Bass : An English pale ale

But, I also picked up Goose Island Honker's Ale, and I'm sure more are to come! (I keep sending them emails to add a cider! COME ON! A CIDER!)