Beauty Review // Marc Jacobs Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon

As I try to move to cruelty free this year I'm re-evaluating the products I review and am thinking about adding a disclaimer on past (and future) beauty reviews as to whether something is cruelty free.  These two Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayons were sent to me by Influesnter to review and after a little bit of research I discovered that the Marc Jacobs beauty line is cruelty free while the fragrance brand isn't.  (source)

So I wanted to bring to you today this review because I was pleasantly surprised with this lip crayon.  Two colors of the Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon were sent to me - the first was Send Nudes a 90's inspired brown/nude and Flaming-Oh! a bright, bright pink with a little bit of a duochrome going on.  What surprised me about these is that they are little bit metallic and that is something I never thought that I would like! Here's the lo-down:

Cruelty free? 

yes (source, source)

From the Website

A creamy, 16-hour long wear lip crayon that has the look, feel, and wear of a liquid lipstick in range of bold, covetable shades.  

Rewrite the (lipstick) rules: Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon is everything you love about a liquid lipstick in the form of a creamy crayon.

It melts into lips with a lightweight liquid sensation, providing powerful one-swipe color with bold impact. A dose of innovative "ghost pearl" gives the matte look a dimensional sheen, which becomes more visible at certain angles to give lips a modern, never-before-seen finish.

With the perfect amount of playtime, you get the best of both worlds: instant color that lasts for up to 16 luxurious hours of long-wear. The bold, high-pigment shades feel creamy and comfortable and won’t dry or settle into lines.

The crayon offers total control for effortless application. It's easier than ever to shape and fill your lips. Have it both ways: You never need to choose between a traditional lipstick or a liquid again with this new lip innovation.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Phthalates

taken from the Sephora website here.

First Impressions & Application

This lip crayon applies super smoothly.  It is supposed to mimic the coverage & smoothness of a liquid lip color with the ease of a lip crayon...and it does.  The application is precise because of the point however I'm not sure if point will dull over time.  It applies evenly and you really only need on swipe!

I first applied the nude color and didn't notice what they call the 'ghost pearl' until a little bit later.  Since I was sent this by Influenster I just put it on my lips!  I didn't read anything about it! So a little while later while I was at work I noticed in the mirror it was a sort of metallic finish.  This was a surprise because I didn't think metallic finishes would look good on me.  I do have to say I did not really care for the extreme brown 90's look....but it was alright.  I still do wear this color when I'm looking for something fun yet toned down.

The other color, Flaming-Oh! is pretty cool because this ghost pearl is more of a blue-ish duochrome which really throws something fun in the mix!  It applies just as smoothly as Send Nudes (clever name right?) but I think it suits me better.  It reminds me of my favorite pink lip color from Too Faced.  I should do a favorite bright pink lipsticks post....hmmmmmm.....  The ghost pearl on this one is even harder to capture! But there's a blue hint there, I promise!

Wear Time

The claim is 16 hours and I wear my make up for about 10 hours and I can say this is the truth!  I don't take my lipstick off when I eat (nor do I try to touch up!) so this makes it through.  I haven't tried with a really oily salad dressing though.  It is important to me for a lipstick to stay put and I think that matte lip colors are the best for longevity.

Overall Impressions & Recommendations

Over on the Sephora site I gave these bad boys a 4 out of 5 stars.  The only problem I have with them is that they really, really show dry lips.  It is winter time right now so my lips are incredibly dry no matter how much I hydrate so its important for my lip color not to accentuate this!!  BUT with that said I'd totally recommend these liquid lip crayons.

Because of their long wear and ease of application I can see myself wearing these on the regular.  Especially when I need something quick.  I was so glad I got a nude and a bright color so I could see which end of the spectrum I loved!

I am so happy I was pleasantly surprised with the finish of these.  I never would have thought that metallic was something I could get behind.  The price of these guys is $26 on the Sephora site so it might be worth it to stop in a store to see if there are any colors you absolutely love.  The Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayons come in 10 shades - a few nudes, a bright pink, a red, a few mauves, and even a black!  I'd love to try the black one!

What is your favorite lip color brand/formula?  Are you a lip crayon or liquid lip color person?

xoxo, Moe

3 Reasons why a Skincare Regime is the Best Mindfulness Routine

Self care has become something very important to me in the recent months.  I guess I never realized just what a mindful routine self care could be.  I've also discovered something else - my skincare routine has really become sacred time for me.  My skincare routine has become mindful.

We've just passed the New Moon for this lunar cycle.  In case you didn't know....it was also a Solar Eclipse! (/sarcasm)  With Mercury Retrograde, a New Moon, and a Solar Eclipse there has been a lot of energy surrounding the last few days.  This time is really asking us to reflect on ourselves & take care of ourselves, so that we can stand up and be who we need to be.  It is a time to seriously release that which is not serving us.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

So, let's talk about skincare.  If you're looking to start a mindful routine to help you gain awareness of the present, help with your self care, and aid you in calming your mind a skincare regime may be the best answer for you.  I'm currently testing out a skin care line called Lancer sent to me by Influenster and actively participating in & studying the way this regime is affecting me allows me to be mindful.  (Read more mindfulness posts here.)  Here are a few reasons why your skincare routine can become your best tool for mindfulness:

Mindfulness is Self Care

Since a mindfulness routine falls under the category of self care & skincare falls under the category of self care, you're kinda hitting two birds with one stone.  You're dedicating time to yourself, for yourself, that benefits yourself.  Often you're using a routine that is supposed to have an end result.  It is something you're doing to serve you.  While you don't have to be seeking some sort of skin benefit - reduce acne, reduce wrinkles, etc - sometimes this type of outcome is important to your dedication.  I do believe that your skincare routine should serve you.  I used to tear at my skin, treat it horribly with acne treatments, drying treatments, etc.  Once I started to love on my skin - hydrate it, nurture it, respect it, - my skin got better.  You can read a bit about previous skin care routines here & learn how I used to do harm to my skin!  Up until a little bit ago my whole skincare routine was a gentle cleanser & moisturizer at night then warm water & moisturizer in the morning.  By not stripping my skin I was really caring for myself.

The Routine is Already Established

If you've got a whole skincare system going there is really nothing to think or stress about.  The routine is already established, especially if you're going for a certain benefit, so you don't have to form your own.  Trying to form your own can cause added stress to your life (honestly) and you may get frustrated with the time it is taking you to do a simple self care routine.  Skincare can be deeply involved or just a few steps.  I'd suggest starting out with a 3-4 step system.  You can find a ton of premade systems - like the Lancer system I'm trying out from Influsenter (sign up for ebates to save $$ from Sephora!) - in various stores.  Even going to a place like Ulta where they have licensed estheticians will help get you in the right direction.  A good skincare routine often has a cleanser, exfoliant, & moisturizer.  Throw in an eye cream, treatment or serum (like for acne), and a mask and you have a complete system.

Personal Hygiene is a Requirement

It is kind of a requirement to wash yourself, amirite? So why not turn that into something that serves you!  I know that the shower, brushing your teeth, shaving your legs, etc can become a chore...and really shower time is one of three things:

1. A time to come up with better arguments for previous disagreements.
2. A time to devise worse case scenarios for the thing you're going to do right after the shower.
3. A time to stress over all the things you don't have control over because this is the only time you've had to yourself all day.

Literally, shower time can be one of the only times you get a second to yourself.  Make this second serve you!  Washing yourself is a requirement, the mindfulness of the process is a perk!  It really pays to pay attention to yourself!

Incorporating mindfulness into your daily life doesn't have to be some long drawn out process or sacred, specific ritual.  Washing your face is the perfect way to embrace a routine that nurtures your skin & your soul.

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For me, this lunar cycle is going to be about self care.  At the end of last cycle I was at the point where I really needed to nurture myself after the work of pushing forward with my heart.  If you'd like to know more about working with the Lunar cycles, mindfulness, and living a creative life, consider signing up for the newsletter.  You'll get a New Moon, Full Moon, and monthly email + any other important cosmic or blog related things directly to your inbox!  Plus I'm gonna tell you how to love yourself & realize your awesomeness!!

How are you loving on yourself this cycle? What skincare will you implement to nurture your skin & your soul?

xoxo, Moe

Trend Tuesday // 5 at Home Spa Day Necessities with Montagne Jeunesse

If there's one thing I miss about my old job, it's the spontaneous spa days that could pop up at any moment.  I'd say it was pretty sweet working at a place that trained aestheticians - facials, spa wraps, etc any time they needed someone to practice on?  I'll take it!  I loved working there because I picked up a thing or two about skin care - not enough to consider myself an expert - but enough to enjoy my own spa days a bit better.  Here' how I have a spa day for myself in 5 simple ways:

at home spa day by fivesixteenthsblog featuring flameless pillar candles

A Mini Facial - Most recently I've been loving the Montagne Jeunesse Clay Spa fabric masques (specifically the Red Earth Clay Spa masque).  I think they are super neat because they are just a fabric sheet masque you lay on your face so there's no need for brushes or to dirty up your hands too much.  I also like to include a nice, pampering cleansing method when it comes to masks.  I make sure my face is clean so I cleanse with a gentle cleanser & then apply the mask.  From what I've read around here (here being the great internet) it seems that cinnamon is great for acne - it increases blood flow while also drying out oils & break outs - and cinnamon is one of the ingredients in the first masque I tried from Motagne Jeunesse.  I think the increase in blood flow is true because letting this Red Earth Clay Spa masque sit on my face felt invigorating.  After I've let the masque sit for as long as it's supposed to, I remove it by the directions or with a warm cloth.  A warm cloth or towel opens up the pores on you face, something I love.  Make sure you use a toner after this to restore the PH balance of your skin.  I love using witch hazel because it's natural & gentle.  Then finish with a gentle moisturizer.

Relaxing Bath - Filling a relaxing bath with either bubbles or a scented salt can make all the difference.  The warmth of the water just brings me to a different world!  Especially if there are a few candles around.  I love using different, yet complimentary products to create a relaxin environment.  If I've got a bath salt or other product in the water I often use a lightly scented bar soap to massage my arms, legs, and neck with.  Currently my favorite is a sample from Temple Spa that Zach brought back from a hotel for me.  Ooooh, it's so luxurious!

Fresh Fruit Snack - If you're looking for a light, refreshing, & cooling snack fresh berries are the way to go.  I love the fresh crispness of blueberries and raspberries.  Straight from the fridge adds a cooling sweetness to the warmth of the water.  Again, taking you to another place!

Take a Nap - I'm not a reader-in-the-tub type of person when it comes to my spa days.  I want to be immersed in the warmth of the room & of the water so often I'll close my eyes and enjoy the sounds of the music I have playing.  Be careful when napping in the tub for obvious reasons!  I'm not a deep sleeper when it comes to these naps, just a relaxing cat nap.

Comfy Place to Retire to - After I get out of the tub, I make sure I have my fluffy robe near me & that the bed has been prepared for me to relax more in.  Sometimes that involved turning on the heated blanket to keep the bed a bit warm for me.  Dim the lights, bring in a few lotions, massage my hands (loving this hand cream I got in a Birchbox one month!), maybe do a manicure, anything to just keep the relaxing vibe going.  

Wow, now I just want to get up & relax in the tub!  I love taking time to pamper myself & getting a fabric masque from Montagne Jeunesse in my Violet VoxBox courtesy of Influenster really made me take the time to take care of myself!  If you want more fun pampering ideas check out my MJ at Home Spa Day pin board here & definitely follow Montagne Jeunesse on Twitter, Facebook & Pinterest

How do you pamper yourself?  Have you added anything new to your pampering routine?

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**I was provided with a single Red Earth Clay Spa Masque from Montagne Jeunesse from Influesnter for review.  All opinions are my own & I really like this product.  I went out & bought a few more!  Read my full disclosure policy here.

Influesnter #VioletVoxBox Review

With my travels last week & my just plain laziness I'm catching up on my review posts for the Violet Vox Box from Influenster so there are going to be quite a few review posts & posts featuring products from the box this week.  So I hope you'll enjoy a few of my thoughts & don't mind the bombardment of it this week.  I love participating in Influenster campaigns & usually just do the single required task of checking in my box.  Rarely do I do all the challenges associated with the campaign but this time I thought I'd give it a try.  I'd hoped to space them out a bit more so it didn't seem like I'm shoving things in your face - I'm all for honesty.

I recently found a love of reviewing things & just sharing my two cents on products.  Whether I've received it from a place a like Influenster or purchased myself.  And actually, from this box, I've purchased two of the items I received already!  So I'll never tell you guys something is amazing when it's not & I'll never write a good review just to get a badge from Influesnter.  It's not honest & it's not fun.  So in this post I'm just going to do a little overview of the products from my Violet Vox Box - if you want to see the unboxing video click here!

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo (won't buy it)

Now the greatest thing about this box is that it came just in time for holiday travels - seriously this box couldn't have come at a better time!  My favorite item for travel was this small size of Dry Shampoo from Not Your Mother's.  While I thought this product was awesome for travel - it's not my favorite product.  First with the pros - I loved that it didn't leave a white cast unlike other dry shampoos, it also made my hair look like hair.  I was pleased that it didn't look like I sprayed dry shampoo in my hair & just looked like style hair.  The cons - it smells weird & it was brought to my attention that the second ingredient in the dry shampoo is propane.  Why? No idea.  But it's a lesson learned about reading ingredients - I never would have read it if it weren't for a picture pointing it out.  There's no propane in my favorite Tresseme Dry Shampoo (though, I'm not 100% sure about the ingredients in that either).  So I'm torn.  The size was great for travel but why is there propane in my dry shampoo?  Someone help me out here.

Montage Jeunesse Red Earth Clay Spa Fabric Masque (already bought it)

Tomorrow there will be a big Spa Day post featuring the Montage Jeunesse Fabric Masques.  These are super cool because you don't have to get too messy since it's just a fabric soaked in the masque.  You lay it gently on your face, let it dry, peel it away, finish cleansing & your done.  I got one infused with cinnamon & pomegranate which was very invigorating!  There are quite a few different fabric masques so it's perfect for many different skin types, problems, & needs.  This is one of the products I've actually purchased after receiving these.  They are pretty affordable & I found mine at Walmart.

Sally Hansen Triple Shine Nail Polish (recommended it, might buy it)

I received a really nice glittery polish great for the holidays!  This was my go to manicure for the holiday last week since it comes off as pure silver glitter on your nails.  The color I got looks like it's a bit blue but the glitter is silver & you can hardly tell the blue when you apply it.  I wish I'd gotten a solid color though because I can't tell you the lasting power since this was just a clear polish.  I did top my manicure with a clear top coat like always just in case.  While I was in Virginia for the holidays my sister picked up a shade to try & was pretty satisfied with it as well.  Influesnter is great for finding new favorite products!

Cranberry SoyJoy Bar (already bought it)

This is a yummy treat!  I've also picked up another one of these since it was so delish the first time.  They are more cakey & more dense than I expected them to be.  More of a hold over until your next meal snack than a light snack.  Perfect for breakfast though with another piece of fruit - that's how I enjoy them!  I have only tried the cranberry flavor because it was so holiday-ish I just couldn't help it!

Goody Atheltique Headband (won't buy it)

This is just a standard headband for me.  It is reversible & the material is quick drying - so it's great if your sweating your butt off!  Right now it helps me keep my hair out of my face when I'm putting on my make up - yep, intended purpose I know.  I'm not a headband fan as they tend to slip off of my head no matter how grippy they claim to be.  I like the fabric though & this one stays tight a bit longer but it still falls off my head.  If I were to be working out or being active with this headband on I'd get frustrated quickly if I had to keep putting it back on.  I'd much rather clip my hair back that use a headband.

So there you have it, a little review of the products in my Violet Vox Box.  Influenster is a fun way to share your opinions & get free stuff!  It's also been pretty fun to earn the badges for this campaign & for the next one I promise I'll space them out more!  It was an after thought to even try to complete the tasks.  If you're interested in Influenster - sign up here!

xoxo, Moe

**I was sent these products courtesy of Influenster.  All opinions are my own.  For more info on my disclosure policy, please click here.

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Influenster Violet Vox Box Unboxing

Hooray! I got another Vox Box from Influenster!  I love reviewing products on Influenster because it qualifies me for these complimentary boxes of awesomeness.  I've found some of my favorite things from these boxes & this one is no exception - found a pretty cool face mask in this one!  If you want to see me looking like a luchador or like I'm wearing a ham on my face, watch the video below:

If you're interested in Influenster, I encourage you to sign up & if you want to see some tips for writing product reviews, check that post here.

xoxo, Moe

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How to Write A Helpful Product Review

Lately I've be loving writing reviews on products I've been using on websites such as Influenster, Birchbox, Ipsy, & this blog.  While I'm by no means a professional critic I've found there are something that make a review more successful than others.  For example, when I'm looking to know if I should buy a certain product I like reviews that give me the most information about the product & information about the user in the briefest way possible.  The nine word this product is so great, I just love it! reviews are not helpful.  So since I've been reviewing my butt off on these sites - did you know you get points for reviewing the items in your Birchbox?  And that those points can give you credit to purchase things!?! - I thought I'd share with you how to give helpful reviews if you're looking to get into that sort of thing.

Title with Key Words - Just like with writing a blog post, you're review title should be descriptive & give an indication whether you liked the product or not.  You can touch on the performance, the price, the quality, the way it affected you, etc.  For example below is a screen shot of the review I was writing on my current favorite shampoo - Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Shampoo (I also love the conditioner, the mask, & the styling oil!).  You can see in the title I've used key words to sum up the gist of the review - it's affordable, feels luxurious, & does give shine.  This is the review in itself & will have people reading your review since it's very descriptive.  You can also use this technique if you're writing a review on your blog.  Having a descriptive title gives readers a reason to click & also appeals to search engines when others are searching for products.

Informational yet Brief Review - The body of your review should give a lot of information but doesn't (necessarily) need to be five paragraphs.  In the example above, I used two short paragraphs to describe the product.  First, I started off with information about myself - I have oily hair & this product isn't targeted towards oily hair, but it works on this hair type as well.  This is helpful for others who might shy away from the product since it's not necessarily targeted towards them.  Then I elaborated on the product & it's affect on my hair type.  I once learned in an english class that the best way to write an essay is to create the previous sentence into a question & then answer it in the next sentence.  This is sort of hard to describe but has really helped me take writing seriously.

It might be small to read, but the first sentence is: Even though this shampoo is targeted towards normal to dry hair, it works great for oily hair as well. If we turn that into a question Why does this shampoo work great for oily hair as well? then you'll see that next sentence answers the question: This shampoo (and the whole Moroccan Infusion line) works wonders for adding shine while not adding greasy-ness.  Shine with out turning your hair into a greasy mess is a challenge for those with oily hair.  Keep turning your sentences to questions to elaborate.

Continue to answer these questions, briefly, and expand on the title.  You might find it helpful to write the review first then pick the most relevant words to create your title.

Consider the Cons (or the Pros) - If you're in love with a product you might want to consider the cons, just in case.  (Or vice versa).  In this particular review I noted that the moroccan oil scent is strong so if you're sensitive to smells, you might not like this product.  Influenster has a section to list the pros & cons of a product.  These pros & cons go at the top of the review to help readers get the overview of your review.

I think that product reviews are very helpful - if your writing on your blog or as a part of a subscribtion service or you just plain like a product - others get to know what might be right for them.  A helpful review gets more credit than an OMG this is great! review, if you know what I mean!

xoxo, Moe

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Colgate SlimSoft Brush Review // Influenster VoxBox

I recently got in the mail a fun VoxBox from Influenster.  It was a new toothbrush!  Now, when I heard I was eligible for this VoxBox I was like 'um, aren't all toothbrushes sort of the same?'  But when I got it in the mail I was pleasantly surprised!  Here's my review of this great toothbrush, and don't mind the heaving breathing in the background - Emrys & I just finished playing fetch.
So, if you're a medium bristle lover like me you might be pleasantly surprised with this little toothbrush.  I really like the way it cleans my teeth.  They feel fresh from the dentist everyday now!

xoxo, Moe

**I was sent this product for review from Influesnter, however all opinions (as always) are my own.  For more on my disclosure policy click here.**

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So Fresh & So Clean // More from my Sweet Heart Vox Box

I'm so in love with my Sweet Heart Vox Box from Influenster.  Nearly all of the products really applied to my life right now (catch the intro video here), how spot on was that?  After trying out all of the products for a week or so I have to say I amend what I say in the video: I will most definitely buy the Olay Fresh Effects Shine Shine Go Away Cleanser again & will probably get the Secret Clinical Strength Stress Sweat Deodorant too!  And I'd recommend them to you too!

This review was sort of weird to do.  This box involved working something new into my routine.....I love my products so setting them aside for this was really hard.  I also thought it was only fair to give these products a good, fair try and now I have to say, these are the products I go to each morning.  It's so amazing that just the simple offer to try something new can make you fall in love!  

When I first started using the Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid!} Powered Contour Cleansing System, I thought it might not be good to use everyday because of the brush.  I thought it might be too much exfoliation & might dry my skin out too much.  I've never had luck with these shine free/oil free cleansers.  I used them, but they still left my face oily at the end of the day.  I tried it once in the evening & once in the morning over a few days.  I looooovvveed the way it made my skin feel.  I feel so fresh, it feels so soft, & it really is shine free all day!  I've wanted one of these little brushes for a while but what I love about this is that the bristles are long but aren't harsh.  They are all made of rubber so they glide over your skin for a good clean.  I als love that it fits a long the creases of your nose.  Round brushes tend not to fit around in there!  My skin feels just wonderful, I can definitely see that my pores are clearer and at the end of the day, there is still no shine.  I am amazed at how my make up stays on through the day.

I talked a little bit about the stress of finding a new job in this post & want to let you know that my job is awesome!  I think I nearly have to go to the Secret Clinical Stress Sweat Deodorant everyday because my new job is so fast paced!  I love it but it can get a little stressful.  All day answering calls, yelling to others that the line is for them, learning the things, running around, extreme multi tasking...it's a lot!  I'm so excited for this job & excited that in the morning, my underarms are covered.  I think the thing that draws me to this deodorant too is the fresh scent.  When I first saw Clinical I thought it was going to be very steril like - no scent & went on really wet.  But it's really nice - especially in this horrible, cold winter - and I can tell it's there by the end of the day.

I ran out of my own texturizing spray sometime last year & was too lazy to pick up some more - especially as expensive as the salon brand was.  Getting the Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Spray was a great surprise.  The best part for me is the scent, but I was a little saddened as it didn't seem to dirty my hair up in the right way to hold a curl.  I might have to do some more experimenting, but my usually awesome curls fell very flat the first day of work! So sad, I'd also sprayed in some dry shampoo, so that could have affected it.  Using it on wet hair as I was blowdrying added a lot of texture & a volume.  I just love the feeling of beach hair - living close to huge fresh water lakes is nothing compared to a salty, sandy beach!  When I wear my hair straight - which, let's be honest is probably going to be often because I have to get up early now & I love sleep! - it really adds texture & dimension.  The little bit of fullness is great.  When I need a quick style to straight hair, I pull this out.

Getting back into a morning routine has been hard & it's only been four days.  I'm glad I can do things  I want now with out the worry of stability & as much as I loved working on my brand, I'm happy with the stability that a full time job holds.  I can't wait to get into a groove & keep things growing! I'm working on a few blog designs currently, working on updating the shop(s), & just working on enjoying my hobbies.  Starting off with such a fun morning routine that actually works has me ready to face the day & everything the day holds.

xoxo, Moe

**I was given these products to try out through Influenster.  These opportunities are fun because I get to try new things that I may not buy myself.  (I'm always up for something new!)  I only support products I love & everything expressed above is 100% me**

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How I Beat the Interview Blues // A Little Secret (Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response)

So I've been introduced to this site called Influenster.  It's pretty cool & I seriously need to devote more time to it!  The break down is this: you post about what you know, give reviews, unlock badges, & apply for these things called Vox Boxes.  Every so often Influenster will offer you a chance to be a recipient of a Vox Box.  You fill out a survey to be considered for selection.  And I got picked!  You can see my little intro video here. This is the first part of a few little reviews on the products I was sent.  This box couldn't have been more perfect for me!  So, onto the post:

* * * *

I've been talking a little bit lately about my quest to find a full time job.  Most notedly, my post on Tuesday of reasons why you should hire someone with a creative degree in to your company.  I must admit, I'm a little bit rusty on the interview process.  What is your greatest weakness? I mean come on!  How fair of a question is that!?!?! Another one I don't care for is What are your salary requirements? I also don't like when that question is followed by just so we can make sure we're on the same page.  Well, tell me what page you're on so I can at least know if I'm walking into a trap!

After applying & applying (and applying, applying, applying) I've finally gotten a few calls back.  Only to be confronted with the daunting idea of an interview.  What is my greatest weakness? What are my salary requirements? It's best not to go unprepared - mentally & physically - into an interview.  When I got these calls the butterflies immediately hit me & the stress kicked in.  Here's how I try to beat the interview blues:

Know what they mean when they ask you those questions - I'm serious.  If you haven't already done so do a quick search of interview questions & etiquette.  Figure out what they are really trying to glean from your answer when they want to know your greatest weakness.  You'll have a better idea of what they may ask & a better idea of what you might say.  Of course, go into the interview as yourself, but doing this research will help you better communicate your best self.  Communication is always a plus.

Get a good night's sleep & start the morning off right - Usually I like to see if I can schedule mid-morning interviews.  I like to get up & get them over with!  Going to bed at a decent hour & waking up with enough time is always a stress reliever.  If you can't follow my lead, then just make sure you're rested.  Don't rush around trying to get to your interview.  It will only make the nerves worse!  I like to wake up, unwind, get a few things done, get ready, & go.  Fitting it into my natural routine makes it seem less like a daunting task.

Don't Sweat it - It's inevitable that you'll worry about this interview.  It's inevitable that you'll be nervous.  Those tips up there knock off half the battle but the other half is going in there confident.  I can't think of a better way to feel confident that when I know I look & smell good.  Nervousness = sweat and that can give you away.  Here's my Secret: Secret Clinical Strength.  After getting this little box to try out & being totally skeptical of it's stress response ability, I thought I'd give it a shot.  Deodorant is deodorant right? Well the serene citrus scent I had made me feel fresh, calmed me down, & made me feel ready to walk into any interview.  The scent isn't overpowering - no one can sniff you a mile away - & it keeps you fresh in these tough interview times.

Here's some more longwinded & sorta sappy advice for the road:

When it comes down to it whether you get the job or you don't get the job, the hardest part is knowing you are enough.  Yes, we need financial stability. Yes, we need to feel successful  Yes, we need to provide.  But in this time where interviews are few & far between, where you never see a face & only submit a resume, where it seems as if it's a dangerous game of chance, you are enough.  Count your blessings, think of what you have, consider how you've gotten where you are.  Seriously, at the end of it all...when I don't hear back, when I apply but never get a call, when I know my resume is being parsed by some company generated software I think of all the accomplishments in my life.  I think of all the laughs I've had, all the times I've made others laugh.  All the smiles, all the moments of happiness, & I know that I am enough.  The stress is knowing whether or not your interviewer can see what you bring to the table.  So be confident in yourself, know you are enough!

xoxo, Moe

ps.  Here are some great articles on stress relief sponsored by Secret.

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My VoxBox Vlog // an Intro & a Little Review

I got my Sweetheart VoxBox from Influenster the other day & thought it was time to do a little vlog!  If you want to hear me ramble on, see our couch & blank walls, and learn a bit more about the products, check it out!

Hope you enjoy hearing me ramble!  I really liked this box!

Products:

Olay Fresh Effects

Secret Clinical Strength

Skinny Girl Bars

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe spray - the bottle is huge!

xoxo, Moe

ps. Alycia from the Curious Pug & Kristin of Tales form the Nook.  Click the links, check 'em out!

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