The GoVoxBox from Influenster

I often get complimentary products to try from Influenster. Recently I was a recipient of the GoVoxBox. It came with some awesome products for women on-the-go.

There are products to keep my feet happy, protein shakes, yogurt, flavored almonds, feminine protection, and relaxing bath soak.  Looks like fun and I can't wait to try all of it.

Vitamin Shoppe Next Step Fit N Full Shake
The Vitamin Shoppe Next Step is a weight management system. Their Fit N Full Shake is full of protein and is easy to mix in their shaker cup. The shake is great for being on the go, when you don't have time to fix something to eat. It's also good after a workout. There's Swiss Chocolate,
Fresh Berries, and French Vanilla.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance allows women to play on, so they can keep going all month long without worries. They have Odor Shield to neutralize odors, and are lightly scented. The 360 degree design offers sport level protection. 

Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds

 I love almonds, especially Blue Diamond flavored almonds. Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds have enough sweetness to satisfy a sweet craving, and they provide a break from the mundane.

Aqua Spa Bath Soak

This bath soak uses the scent of lavender and chamomile to help relax you in the tub. I usually don't want to take the time to soak in the tub and prefer a quick shower. Aqua Spa Bath Soak makes soaking in a bath such a luxurious experience that I'm going to have to do more often.

ProFoot Triad Orthotic Insoles and ProFoot Pedi-Rock

These comfy shoe inserts and unique foot file make my feet comfortable and happy. The Pedi-Rock also gets rid of the rough spots to help my feet look pretty for the summer. Read my ProFoot review here.

Muller Yogurt
Muller Yogurt, made by Quaker, is a good source of protein without artificial flavors, sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup. There are many different flavors and varieties.

ProFoot Products to Make Feet Happy and Comfortable

ProFoot brings comort and pampering to feet with an inexpensive price tag. Feet put up with lots of abuse, standing, running, and supporting us in all we do. ProFoot products can help. Through Influenster and the GoVoxBox (#GoPROFOOT) I got to try the Triad Orthotic Insoles and the Pedi-Rock.

Exercise is good for your body and general health, but your feet bear the brunt of a workout. Many of us also must stay on our feet all day for work. No one wants to go around in discomfort or pain. Orthoitc shoe inserts can help give feet support and cushion.

ProFoot Triad Orthotic Insoles

I have old shoes that I use for most of my daily activities and exercising. With that being said, I love using new insoles. I have to put inserts in my shoes because my feet need more support than my shoes provide. I have higher arches that require support, or else my feet and lower back ache.

I’ve been using the Triad Orhotic shoe inserts for a few weeks and love them. My feet feel so comfortable. I’ve tried several brands of shoe inserts, some being quite costly. ProFoot’s orthotic insoles are inexpensive and do a great job.  The ProFoot Triad Orthotic insoles are great for preventing feet from getting fatigued and decreasing knee, leg, and back pain from poor foot alignment. They have a triple action design to support arches, heels, and balls of the feet. They also provide shock absorption.

Although I received this pair free, I will be buying future pairs of insoles from ProFoot.

ProFoot Pedi-Rock

Dry, cracked, callused feet aren’t attractive. Besides being unsightly they can snag socks and hosiery, as well as scratch your honey if you play footsie. The unique Pedi-Rock by ProFoot is a neat way to get rid of calluses and rough skin. It is made with a foam base that gives it softness, like a sponge, but it has a rough textured exterior, for filing to slough off dry, rough skin. The Pedi-Rock uses silicon carbide crystals to provide its roughness for filing.

The Pedi-Rock uses a unique design that has three times the surface area of other brands, and it conforms to the curve of your heel. It’s easy to use, and can be used either wet or dry.
It’s summer now and time for sandals and going barefoot. It’s great to have something to gently remove calluses and dry skin to keep my feet looking nice.

The ProFoot products can be purchased at Walmart, Amazon.com, and other retailers without spending lots of money. At the time of this writing, Profoot’s website has 1$ off coupon available. Your feet can get a little feeling of luxury easily.

Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-in Whitening Pen Review

White teeth are attractive, and with spring here there’s no better time to try to get whiter teeth for your new spring look. An economical and easy way to get whiter teeth is with Colgate’s new Optic White Toothbrush + Whitening Pen. Spring is the time for lighter, brighter colors for clothes, makeup and hair. So, it’s only right that teeth should get in on some of the lightening action.

I was given the opportunity by Influenster to try Colgate’s new whiting product that combines a toothbrush and whitening pen. It looks quick and easy: Brush, Whiten and Go. 

Toothbrush

The toothbrush included in the package is made to help remove surface stains and has a firm feel to it. It took me a while to get used to the brush. It has a bigger tip than the other Colgate brush that I normally use. I found it hard to reach the back teeth for a thorough cleaning. The handle feels good and has a good grip.

You can use your regular, favorite toothpaste, but for optimum results use the whitening pen with Colgate’s Optic White toothpaste.

Pen

The pen is used by turning the dial at the bottom to get the whitening gel to the surface. Paint the gel on your teeth. The gel adheres to your teeth and dries quickly. There is no need to rinse. Colgate says results can be seen in as little as two days.

One plus is that you can control where the gel goes, as compared to whitening strips or a tray of goo that you put over your teeth. I like the fact that the gel doesn’t end up all over my gums, and I can put the whitening product only on the areas that need it.

The pen fits in the handle of the brush for easy storage. There are three simple steps: brush, whiten and go.

My opinion

 I did get whiter teeth, finding moderate results. They weren’t bright, luminescent white like you would get from a costly in-office procedure from a dentist, but Colgate’s whitening pen does make teeth whiter. I think it’s great for me because I love coffee and tea, which are awful culprits of yellowing and staining teeth. Colgate’s whitening pen is convenient and easy to use because it only takes a minute to use, and there is no waiting around after using.

There are lots of teeth whitening kits available, both over-the-counter and ones available from dentists, and some are quite expensive. Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-in Whitening Pen is inexpensive, with prices ranging from $13 to $18. It is available at most drugstores and online, including Amazon.

Dr. Scholl's Active Series Review

If you spend a lot of time on your feet or are involved in athletics, the right foot wear and support is very important.  Aerobic exercise puts plenty of impact on feet, 2-3 times body weight with each step.

I don’t buy expensive running shoes, nor do I buy new shoes often. Hey, I’m on a budget, after all! I usually wear inserts in my shoes to make them more comfortable.

Influenster gave me the opportunity to try a complimentary pair of Dr. Scholl’s Active Series Insoles. I’ve been wearing them for about two weeks, and I can honestly say that these are among the most comfortable that I have worn.

What They Do

Dr. Scholl’s Active Series is designed with athletes in mind. They reduce the shock by 40%. The help to prevent and relieve pain from shin splints, runner’s knee, and plantar fasciitis.

Each insole provides ball of foot, arch, and heel protection. The ball of the foot gets a soft cushion, for extra padding and to distribute pressure. The heel has a deep cup to absorb impact. The insole also has an arch support, which my feet really like.

One thing that I hate about exercise is getting pain afterwards. Sometimes I get shin splints and plant fasciitis. So anything that I can do to reduce stress and the chance of getting pain, is a plus.

Sizes

Dr. Scholl’s Active Series is available in two sizes for men 7 1/2-10 and 10 1/2-13 and two sizes for women 5 1/2-8 and 8 1/2-11. Each insole is trimmable to the appropriate size needed. Just take out the original insole from your shoe and match it up and trim the Active Series insole to the correct size.

They vary in price from $19.99 to $24.99. They have an expected lifetime of about six months, and will need replacing at the first signs of wear.
Now on the Dr. Scholl's website, there is a coupon offer to save $4 on Active Series Insoles.



I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Palmolive Soft Touch Review

I got the opportunity from Influenster to try Palmolive SoftTouch dish washing liquid. I’ll admit that I’ve never gotten very excited about doing the dishes — that is until I got Soft Touch. My hands get very dry and even washing them with moisturizing hand soap makes them feel dry and irritated. I’m constantly using hand cream and lotion to soothe my thirsty skin.

Often I find myself in a hurry and forget to put on some rubber dish gloves or find my gloves have gotten to be unusable.  Hands put up with lots of abuse and exposure, and they need to get a little TLC once in a while. So, I was eager to try this dish washing liquid to see if it was “softer on hands” and effectively cleaned dishes.

The cleaning ability is on par with the other leading dish washing liquid that I had been using. Palmolive Soft Touch makes some good suds and cuts grease.

My personal favorite is the Vitamin E because it smells good, and I like the pretty pink color. Another good thing about Soft Touch is that it is ultra concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way.

My hands did feel less tight and dry after washing. I didn’t feel the urgency to run to the nearest bottle of lotion as soon I was finished with the dishes. It can even be used in a pinch if you run out of hand soap.

Palmolive Soft Touch comes in three formulas — Vitamin E, Coconut Butter, and Aloe. "Tough of grease, Soft on Hands" 

It is available at most major retailers that sell dish washing liquid, including Wal-Mart.

Disclosure: I received complimentary Palmolive Soft Touch from Influenster for testing purposes.

Nectresse Sweetener Review

 Nectresse is a no calorie sweetener that is naturally derived. It is made by the maker of SPLENDA. It is derived from the monk fruit, which I had never heard of prior to getting this product. Monk fruit is a member of the melon family that grows in Asia.

What's in it? Monk fruit extract, a touch of sugar, erythritol (a natural sugar alcohol), and molasses.

It's got endless possibilities. There are packets for sprinkling in tea, coffee, or over anything else. It also comes in a canister to easily scoop out for recipes. It's actually great in baking, cutting calories so you don't have to feel guilty. The Nectresse website has great recipes to try.

Nectresse sweetener tastes good. There is no bitter aftertaste, as occurs with other sugar substitutes. I also like that there are no chemicals, like are found in artificial sweeteners, that may have negative health effects.

A little goes a long way because it is more concentrated than regular cane sugar. So it helps to just sprinkle in a little at a time until you get the sweetness you want, otherwise it's easy to get a surprise. I use it in my coffee, tea, and sprinkled on berries. 


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

Colgate Optic White Regimen Review

White teeth are important. After all, who wants stained teeth? Many people will go to great lengths to get sparkling, white teeth. There are lots of over-the-counter whitening treatments and expensive in-office procedures to get teeth whitened. Colgate’s solution for whitening stained teeth is OpticWhite.

The Colgate Optic White Regimen’s goal is to help you get white teeth without spending a ton of money on costly whitening treatments and extra time on treatments. This system incorporates whitening in with your regular brushing and rinsing.

Brush

The Colgate 360° Optic White Toothbrush is an innovative brush to help you teeth be whiter. It helps to clean teeth and gums, while whitening teeth with “whitening cups” and polishing bristles. The whitening cups are soft rubber cups that hold toothpaste better to remove surface stains.  It also has a tongue and cheek cleaner. The soft bristles effectively clean and aren’t too rough. The brush seems easy to reach in normally hard-to-reach places. It also has a good handle with gel pads.

Toothpaste

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste is not just any regular toothpaste. It claims to have the ability to whiten more than three shades (based on twice daily use for four weeks), with results starting in one week. It also has the usual makings of toothpaste with fluoride, anti-cavity protection, breath freshening, and it helps to reduce plaque with regular brushing.

 I drink lots of coffee, so I have a problem with keeping my teeth white. So this toothpaste piqued my interest. I’m also picky about my toothpaste. I like having clean feeling teeth without any fuzz left after brushing. Optic White does thoroughly clean my teeth, without leaving any trace of plaque residue.

I’m also paranoid about my enamel and gums, so I don’t like gritty toothpaste with sandy granules that feel like they are harsh. It does have silica, but it doesn’t feel too abrasive or gritty.

Optic White leaves my teeth feeling clean and makes them whiter over the course of about a week. It does have a strong flavor, which doesn’t bother me. I was impressed with the toothpaste’s performance. However, I will use the toothpaste in rotation with a couple of others that I like due to some tooth sensitivity. After about two weeks of use, I developed sensitivity in all my teeth and sore gums. In the past I have had sensitivity, but it was specific to one particular area. After I discontinued using it, my mouth felt much better. According to the Colgate Company, “When used as directed, Colgate Optic White has not been shown to increase sensitivity in consumers.”  So, coincidence?

Mouthwash

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash removes surface stains and has polyphosphates to prevent future stains. It has foaming action to reach hard-to-brush spots. It also freshens breath.

There is one drawback, for me. The mouth rinse has a very strong taste, and I was unable to hold it in my mouth to swish it around for the 60 seconds stated on the instructions. The taste is that of hydrogen peroxide and strong mint flavor that is very overpowering for me. I did figure out one trick — dip a cotton swab in it and paint my teeth with it. This did help me to get shiny, white teeth. This trick worked better, since I do want whiter teeth.

My favorite of the three is the toothbrush, followed by the toothpaste. For me the toothpaste was good for occasional use.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

 

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer Review

Vaseline Spray and Go is a novel idea — lotion that sprays on. The lotion comes out in a fine mist that is lightly moisturizes and absorbs quickly. It isn’t greasy or sticky, allowing for getting dressed quickly after use.

It comes in three varieties: Total Moisture — made with oat extract, Cocoa Radiant —infused with cocoa butter, and Aloe Fresh — infused with aloe.

To use Spray and Go hold the can about four to six inches from your skin and spray it on. Give it a few quick rubs.

My Opinion

At first I was wondered how is a spray container better? It can be a little messy with over spray. If it gets on the floor, it can be slippery or get on clothing that could be lying nearby. Make sure the area is clear and don’t hold the can more than four inches away from the target area. If you have non-stick grips in your shower, try standing in there to use

It left my skin light and silky. On days that I go to work I wear compression stockings that put on after bathing.With Spray and Go I don’t have to wait to get dressed. Normally I have to wait about 20 minutes before I can put get dressed because I have to wait for my other lotion to absorb and get less oily. It does smell really good, and it is simple to use.

It does give skin moisture and hydration, but if your skin is very dry and needs more moisturizing it could leave you wanting. It does lack thicker emollients. As I gear up for warmer weather, it will be useful because I normally lighten my moisturizing routine in the summer months.

The suggested retail for Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer is $7.99 for a 6.5oz can.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox

I recently joined Influenster. Influenster is a community of “trendsetters” that provide reviews and opinions — through the influenster.com website, YouTube videos, and personal blogs. Members are active in Social Media. One of the benefits is occasional free items for testing and reviewing.

Last week I traveled across the country to attend my brother’s wedding. When I got home my VoxBox was waiting for me. 

 I don’t travel much, and didn’t pay much attention to my packing, as it relates to TSA rules. I inadvertently packed a half used 4oz tube of toothpaste. Consequently a TSA agent confiscated it, as I was going through the security checkpoint. The box contained some Colgate toothpaste, which was a very welcome sight, since I was now only living on an almost gone small tube of travel toothpaste that I gotten to replace the one that TSA took from me. 

I digress. More about the VoxBox:

What is VoxBox?

The VoxBox program from Influenster is a great program that brings great items to “Influensters” to try and review. Influensters are bloggers and vloggers who love to share their experiences and write reviews or make YouTube videos.  If you are interested visit the Influenster website or email me. I have a couple of invites available that I will gladly share on a first come basis.

Contents of the Sugar ‘n Spice VoxBox

The box contained the Colgate Optic White Regimen:  4oz tube of Colgate Optic White toothpaste, 8oz bottle of Optic White Mouthwash, and a 360° Optic White toothbrush.

Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Oil Control Towelettes - read my review here

Nectresse natural no calorie sweetener

Belvita Breakfast Biscuits

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer - read my review here

I will write reviews for each of the mentioned products, which I will post soon.

Thanks to all of the sponsors and Influenster for providing all of the products.


 "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."