Attention anyone who loves freebies and receiving mail: You can get free stuff in the mail just by using social media sometimes. For real. You don’t need to be a blogger or Insta-famous to do so, either.
Have you heard of Influenster? I figured I’d share my Influenster experience along with my latest VoxBox of free goodies along with some swatches and reviews of those things.
It’s not a subscription box. It’s not solely for beauty products. It’s free. This isn’t sponsored–I’m telling you this because I like to share cool things and this is, in fact, a cool thing. Now let me tell you about my Influenster experience and my The Estée Edit goodies.
How Influenster works
So this is based on my Influenster experience mixed with the things I’ve learned and info I’ve picked up along the way. If you want the whole scripted and detailed spiel, head on over to the Influenster website, friend.
You don’t really have to do anything you don’t want to do when it comes to Influenster other than completing a survey at the end of the campaign for whatever box you received. The boxes you receive are called VoxBoxes and they contain goodies centered around whatever specific theme the box is for.
By completing tasks that usually include writing reviews or sharing on social media, you’re more likely to get more VoxBoxes in the future, which is pretty sweet. You also can supposedly be qualified based on your social impact score, which tracks how many followers, subscribers and page views and whatnot you have. This is great if you are a blogger because it gives you an extra chance solely for having a following. Don’t be disheartened though–a lot of people get VoxBoxes even though they have barely any followers so I do think luck plays a part.
In order to be qualified for these VoxBoxes you fill out your profile and you’ll be e-mailed a qualifier survey when a box might be a match for you. If you complete the survey and it seems like you fit the bill, you’ll receive an e-mail later on saying your box is on its way! I’ve been a member for less than a year and I’ve received three boxes from Influenster: The Estée Edit VoxBox (the one I’m discussing today), The Glam VoxBox and my first one, The Bloom VoxBox.
Oh, there’s also a thing called “VirtualVoxes” but I don’t bother with those and you don’t get anything unless you complete tasks to be entered into raffles and lotteries and blah blah, I explained that very poorly but I’m digressing from my point anyway. They also have an app, which is pretty handy.
Why should I join?
When it comes to Influenster my biggest argument for joining is “Why not?” There’s literally nothing to lose and only some free stuff to gain. It’s also really great for finding reviews and asking questions about products, like how long a lipstick lasts and whatnot.
Here’s my Influenster profile if you’re curious!
Now onto the Estée Edit VoxBox & Reviews…
Typically VoxBoxes contain samples of products, one full size product, or full sizes that aren’t as pricey. This box had four full sized (!!!) high-end products and the total value of this box was around $120. To say I was hyped is a gross understatement.
I’ve never used any Estée Edit products and to be quite honest if I hadn’t received them for free I probably never would have because I’m cheap frugal when it comes to makeup and beauty products and I usually only splurge on eye shadow or lipstick.
The four products I received were: Estée Edit Pore Vanishing Stick, Estée Edit Beam Team Bronze Hydrate + Glow, Estée Edit Flash Illuminator & Estée Edit The Barest Lip Color.
Swatches: (L to R) Estée Edit Beam Team Bronze Hydrate + Glow, Estée Edit Flash Illuminator (Day Light) & Estée Edit The Barest Lip Color (06 Nude Scene)
Estée Edit Pore Vanishing Stick
I’m kind of a dumb ass sometimes so I actually tried to swatch the CLEAR Estée Edit Pore Vanishing Stick. So, yeah, it is clear and goes on clear in case you were curious and lack the same strain of common sense that I lack. Anyway, I like using this product as a primer on my nose because it makes my foundation go on much smoother, I’m a fan. I wish it wasn’t in stick form because I generally don’t really love when face products come in a stick form.
Final Verdict: I like it. I use it on a daily basis under my makeup now and it keeps my nose looking extra smooth and matte.
Estée Edit Beam Team Bronze Hydrate + Glow
On Sephora this product says it’s for normal skin–which is what I have. The top of this product opens and there’s a small, shallow pot of lip gloss looking stuff which is a highlighter. I tried to swatch it but I couldn’t get any out of the top to swatch sooo there’s that. It’s impossible to get out and actually use–if it had twisted up from the top as I thought it would it would have been much nicer. The hydrating part (the cream?) I mixed into my foundation for a more dewy look. I don’t feel very strongly about it either way. The top part made me really annoyed but the bottom cream part was nice.
Final Verdict: I could do without it. The top part makes me so angry that it overpowers any love I could have had for the bottom part. The bottom part would be nice if you had dry skin and wanted a dewy glow, though.
Estée Edit Flash Illuminator (Day Light)
This is SO pigmented. It is SO sparkly and shiny and amazing. This product, unfortunately, was a shade too dark for me to use as a highlight, but it’s absolutely stunning. It blends out really nicely and it’s just really pretty. This was my favorite product of the bunch.
Final Verdict: This is amazing and I wish I had gotten a lighter shade but I’m determined to make this shade work for me because I love the product and pigmentation so much.
Estée Edit The Barest Lip Color (06 Nude Scene)
This is described as a “blackberry nude” which doesn’t make that much sense to me and seems like a paradoxical color name, but let’s go on. This lipstick applies very sheer but can be built up to have more coverage. Every post I make about makeup includes something about me going heart-eyes for matte lip colors so it’s not surprising that this lip color won’t be getting too much love from me.
Final Verdict: It is a very nice formula and a pretty (not very nude) blackberry color, but I’m not crazy about the balm-y finish it gives off for aesthetic purposes if nothing else. It’s nice, but not something I’d pick for myself.
So that was my Influenster experience. Have you tried Influenster? Did you like it?
