One of the best parts about blogging is getting to receive some wonderful "surprises" in the mail quite often... aka PR packages! In today's post I'll be reviewing some of my favorite ones from this spring!
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I've been blogging for five years come September, and it was in my second year of blogging that I first began working with companies (mostly Etsy shops or start-ups) for collaborations. I had a slow start to get into blogging- my whole freshman year of college I really did it only as a hobby outside of classes since I loved fashion! 😊 So when I first began to work with brands, receiving a product was the payment for me writing the blog and social media posts about the item and company.
Now things have changed a bit- I really only accept sponsored blog posts that include monetary compensation (or a significant amount of product from a brand that I love) since by now I'm running Southern Belle in Training as a business, and not a hobby! BUT there still are some freebie gifts that come my way in the form of PR packages! (A PR package means that a brand solely wants to gift you some product because they like your blog and content, and you aren't in a sponsored relationship with the company where you're obligated to post about it or being paid to post about it!) If you follow a lot of bloggers on Snapchat or Instagram stories, you'll often see bloggers sharing snaps of these fun gifts arriving, but rarely I find to bloggers actually take the time to review everything. I have started getting so many that I also don't have time to review everything that comes my way, but from time to time I do like to review some favorite packages for y'all, especially the beauty ones! Here are some of my favorites that I've received this spring:
This is probably one of the best PR packages that I've ever received, no lie! When Avon reached out to me and said they wanted to send me a gift, I assumed it would be skincare samples. Not sure why I assumed that, but I did. 😉 Boy was I wrong when I opened this! Avon ended up sending me the entire new True Color Lipsticks line, plus some bonus colors as well! And the best part was it arrived in the most darling makeup holder, that they personalized for me with my Instagram name on top. I was so touched!
The True Color lipstick line has 40 colors in all shades of the lipstick rainbow, and two finishes, satin and shimmer. I actually don't wear lipstick to work too often- partly because I dress down for work so many days of the week, and partly because in a job where I talk all day long most lip products just fade right off. Getting all of these pretty things in the mail has definitely inspired me to start making my work lip routine a little more fun again though! So far I've tried two of them. The color pigmentation on both was amazing, and they didn't dry out my lips which was great! The only downside was that neither lasted more than a couple hours before needing to reapply, but I would rather have that happen than a product that made my lips really dry.
I've been receiving packages from Aveda for about a year now, and this was one of my favorites that they've sent! These two products are specifically designed for scalp care. I have very thick hair which naturally can hold heat styles well for a couple days, however my scalp is prone to grease very easily, so at the same time I'm also best if I wash my hair daily (and I almost always use clarifying shampoo to combat my scalp's greasiness!). I've been using each of these products about 1-2 days a week. I wash my hair at night and then style it in the mornings. I don't usually use these at the same time, so I'll use one of them one night before heat styling, and the other on another night. So far I've been seeing great results with both! My scalp has definitely been less greasy since I've used them, and they also smell great.
My one tip is that if using the Scalp Concentrate, be careful if applying it near your part line! I did so the first time I used it (instead of applying it under sections of hair)... and when I woke up the next day the way that it dried on my part I thought it was lice eggs. I have had head lice twice before (both times, including once in college, from babysitting!) so I know what it looks like and I got SO scared there for a second, haha!! After confirming that it was NOT lice and just the product that had dried weird, I realized it's best not to apply this on your part line for best results. 😉
I'm a much bigger perfume gal than I am a lotion fan actually! I've had bad experiences with some lotions in the past giving me horrible eczema/rashes. (Really the only lotions that I use now are the boring anti-eczema ones, lol!) Vaseline sent me some of their Advanced Repair Lotion to try a couple of months ago, with a beautiful bedazzled lid, which of course made me excited to try it. I still haven't used a ton of this lotion since overall I'm not a big lotion person, but the times I have used it I haven't had a bad reaction to it! It doesn't really have much of a scent, similar to the anti-eczema lotion that I used before. I'm just still on the hunt of course for a great smelling lotion that wont' irritate my skin.
The last product that I received to review I wasn't able to get a good close up photo of (My dad took these photos for me when he was visiting- I think he did a great job overall but the last couple photos in which I was holding this item didn't come out so well. 😉), but you can see it featured in the first few photos of the post where all the products are featured! It's the Colorscience Bronzing Perfector, which is like a liquid bronzing moisterizer that also has SPF! Talk about a 3-in-1 product. This product looks very orange when it first comes out, but as soon as I started putting it onto my face it blended perfectly with my pale skin tone, and left me with a gorgeous and natural (not orange) glow. So far I like this product!
I'm linking what I liked and a similar bathrobe to mine below! My robe was a bridesmaids' gift from the wedding that I was in a couple months ago, but I found a very similar one.
P.S. There is a HUGE online sale going on today at one of my favorite retailers, Lauren James! Their clothing and accessories don't often go on sale, so take advantage of this today. It starts at 12 pm CST today.
God Bless,
xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)
I love your honesty with the reviews (especially the funny "lice" episode with the Aveda product!) Getting PR is definitely a fun perk to having a blog ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo, SS
www.SouthernAndStyle.com
That lid looks AMAZING!!! I am absolutely obsessed & married to using Vaseline's lotion. I have yet to have been disappointed. It is the bom diggity during times where my skin is super dry...so, especially in the winter. My go to is Vaseline Lotion Cocoa Radiant!!!
ReplyDeleteThose lipsticks look amazing! Can't wait to see all the shades
ReplyDelete- xo, Azanique | www.lotsofsass.com
That is a LOT of lipstick! Like... I own a lot of lipstick, but I'm pretty sure that PR package has more than I have owned in my lifetime
ReplyDeleteThat is so much lipstick! I wouldn't even know what to do with it! I do love those Aveda products though!
ReplyDeletexo Jessica
www.whatsfordinneresq.com
Aveda products are my favorite!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun post! I need to try them out!
ReplyDeleteSo many goodies!! I always love getting these surprises in the mail!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fun collab, I can't wait to see more posts with all of the colors! :D
ReplyDeleteExcuse me over here with a dropped jaw thanks to all that lip stick! Dang girl! You have the perfect completion to rock a bold lip. Love that robe, perfect for bridesmaids:)!
ReplyDeleteEmily
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStruggling with my comments today! Here's what I'm trying to say:
DeleteOMG lipstick jackpot! I love the case it came in too!
www.andthenwetried.com
i love PR packages!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm not sure if you've ever thought about this or not but doing videos of opening this type of thing are HUGE on YouTube. I watch at least one every day. Those lipsticks look amazing. Love the robe! I've been trying to find the perfect one for my girls but unsure if I should do robes or just like a cute PJ set or even a chambray shirt. How did you feel about getting the robe?
ReplyDeleteDarrian
www.darrianmichelle.com
So jealous of your lipsticks!! they look amazing! And your dad did a great job with the pictures :)
ReplyDeletexx, Melissa
https://elephantontheroad.com
You've gotten some great packages!
ReplyDeleteI love that you explained the difference in PR packages and sponsorships...not everyone understands that. Even some bloggers don't get it.
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
That lipstick case sounds adorable and what an awesome PR gift!
ReplyDeleteThose lip colors look pretty amazing! Might have to check them out.
ReplyDeletexo,
Steph
@trendyinindy || trendyinindy.com
All that lipstick is giving me all the heart eyes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, babe!
xoxo, Jenna
Bostonchicparty.com
Omg, that vaseline has such an amazing blingy lid! And I also have super thick hair, so the Scalp Concentrate is something I'll have to check out!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of that lipstick collection!!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post! This is so nice that you got so many lipsticks! And I love Aveda products too!
ReplyDeleteApril | http://thebluehydrangeas.com
ahhh so many lipsticks! Your robe is so cute, great gift to have gotten!
ReplyDeleteThe Vaseline lotion looks good! I want everything Lauren James lol.
ReplyDeleteThat robe is so cute! And it's so rad how you've been getting so many cool PR packages!
ReplyDeleteSo many fun PR goodies!! Aveda always has the best products
ReplyDeleteThis is a great package!!!! I need to try that Vaseline lotion!
ReplyDeleteThese products all sound so great. I think I'd actually jump for joy if I received that many lip colors in one package haha! And the bedazzled Vaseline lid is too cute!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome package! I love vaseline it is the best!
ReplyDeleteThat lipstick set is everything! Congrats on 5 years...I love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI got those Aveda scalp care products too, and I've been meaning to try them out since I've heard so many amazing things! That Avon lip package sounds like the best gift ever!
ReplyDelete- Katherine
www.engineering-in-style.com
I loove Aveeda products! They're my favorite! I love those lip shades too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recos! I am needing some scalp lovin this summer. I will check out these Aveda products!
ReplyDeleteI received the Aveda products too. I love them!
ReplyDeleteWhat awesome goodies you got girl!!
ReplyDeleteLove all the reviews!
ReplyDeleteLove these reviews! I am more into lotion than perfume too. I always find the lotion to be cold and feel a little sticky on my skin but I feel like I'd buy that Vaseline just for the bedazzled top haha
ReplyDeleteI'm obsessed with your floral robe! You look amazing!
ReplyDeleteomg so jealous of your new lipstick collection! Vaseline lotion is actually a godsend if you have dry skin (I do), love it. and also love your robe, ya look fab bb xx
ReplyDelete