I've Got Influence

Well, someone thinks so, and she signed me up to Influenster just before Christmas.  I'd seen other bloggers post reviews of sample products - to be honest, it wasn't really ever something I was interested in doing, but who can turn a box of free goodies during the holidays?  Of course, I didn't get the package until after I'd returned from England, and then it took another week for me to try everything out...

NYC New York Color - Liquid Lipshine in Nude
If I apply anything other than chapstick, it'll either be a serious lipstick (red, because you might as well go all the way if you're going to make the effort) or a natural gloss with a hint of shine.  This lipgloss was perfect; the nude didn't wash me out, which some can, and it shimmered without being glittery.  And - bonus - it wasn't that sticky!  This is definitely going to live in my make-up bag.

Kiss Nail Dress
I only wear classic nailpolish, if any, and almost always stick to light colors.  (The trend of dark fingernails still freaks me out, actually.)  These stickers looked like fun, but they weren't me!  I've sent them to my sister to try on.

Quaker Real Medleys - Summer Berry Oatmeal
I love oatmeal, especially the instant kind.  Give me a packet of Quaker Apples & Cinnamon for breakfast and I'll be yours for the rest of the day.  But I found their Summer Berry version to be way too sweet.  Even when I picked out the dried fruit, the oatmeal seemed to be saturated with a saccharine taste.  It might be because I wasn't allowed to eat sugary cereal when I was a child and still haven't developed my early-morning sweet tooth, but this did not taste like a breakfast food at all.  It might be better as a late-night treat.

Eboost Natural Energy - Pink Lemonade
My go-to non-caffeinated drink is water; I only ever have flavored water after a run when I add Nuun tablets to help me recover.  However, though I hated the one sip of flavored bottled water I tried, I was enthusiastic about the Eboost powder - I guess I was sold on the "energy" language on the packet.  But, like with the oatmeal, I found it much sweeter than I can stand.  My mother, who loves Crystal Light, tried a sip, but she agreed it tasted too sugary to drink the whole glass.  I know the packet is only 10 calories, but what's the point if it doesn't taste good?

This wasn't achieved with the Goody Quikstyle Brush,
but it's the only good picture I have of my hair! #confession

Goody Quikstyle Brush
Oh man. I love this.  It's possible that girls with hair like mine will be the only people in the world to love this strange object, but it's exactly what I've been looking for all my life.  I have curly hair, you know, and don't style it at all.  I comb out all the tangles in the shower, when my hair is full of conditioner, and then, when I hop out, I squeeze - never rub! - the ponytail dry with a towel.  Then I brush it with a paddle brush that has nylon bristles.  The last step is to flip my head over scrunch - never rub! - my curls towards my scalp with the towel, and then straighten back up.  Until my hair is completely dry, which can take over an hour, I don't touch it again.  The worst thing I could do would be to create friction between my hair and something else.  So the Goody Quikstyle Brush is ideal because the towel within the bristles help dry my hair within my normal routine without causing it to frizz at all.  Im fact, it cut my dying time in half while maintaining my usual bounce, which meant that I was able to style my curls in the way I wanted in front of my mirror at home instead of in the bathroom at work.  Bonus!

I was also sent a Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask and a discount for Sole Society, but I misplaced the mask in the chaos of unpacking from London (which makes me sad because I love masks) and I can't spend money on new shoes now even if they are cheap.

So that's lowdown on my first box o' treats!  To be honest, I don't think I'll sign up for another one - I've loved partnering with stores and brands in the past and will continue to do so, but this isn't quite my style.  It's been interesting to read other bloggers' reviews, though!  And let me know if you've tried any of these products - agree/disagree?