Southern Belle in Training

Fashion, Travel & Lifestyle Blog || Est. 2012 || Virginia Beach, VA

September 8, 2017

Late Summer PR Packages Review.

      One of the best perks about blogging is the fun surprise PR packages that I receive from brands, and I love sharing reviews of the items with y'all! The last time that I did a post like this was in June, and it got a lot of great feedback, so I'm bringing back the PR package reviews today by sharing some of my favorite late summer beauty and haircare packages. Just a quick FYI for anyone who might be unfamiliar- PR packages are "gifts" sent to bloggers from brands- there is no sponsored obligation in myself or any other blogger sharing about these packages, so all reviews are 100% honest. 😊





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    Avon has been sending me some fantastic blogger PR packages this summer! They recently launched a new cosmetics line called mark. by Avon, which is a youthful line with very chic packaging! The first mark. by Avon products that I tested are pictured above. They're the Touch and Glow Shimmer Cube palettes, in shades Coral Glow and Pearly Glow. Coral Glow is a blush palette, and Pearly Glow has great colors to use as a highlighter. I loved the packaging and presentation on these products!! The compacts themselves are so chic, and I love how the Shimmer Cubes really do look like cubes! 10/10 in the presentation department. However, I did find both of these to be a little bit hard and powdery and not as pigmented as I expected. They aren't the worst blush and highlighter (and I am still using/testing them), but not my all-time favorite either. 




   


     Avon also sent me their Big and Darling volume mascara to try, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I LOVED this product!! I use three mascaras for everyday wear (let me know if you'd like to see a blog post sometime about my mascara routine!), and two of them are usually volume based. I've found a few volumizing mascaras that I'm pretty loyal to, but this one was fantastic and met all the criteria that I look for in a volumizing mascara: a plump and thick brush, a clumpy thickening formula (I like very bold lashes as opposed to a natural look), and long staying power. It retails for under $10 from Avon, so I might have to buy more for myself when this runs out!





      Beauty subscription boxes are all the rage right now! I personally have never hopped on the trend, but Avon just launched their own subscription box called The A Box, and they sent me a box to review and sample from. The theme of the one I received was all things fall beauty, and I wanted to share what I thought of the Avon True Color Multi-Finish Eyeshadow Quad and the Avon True Color Glimmersticks eyeliner. I loved the gorgeous purple tones of both of these items and thought initially that they would be perfect additions to my fall makeup! After testing the Glimmersticks eyeliner, I thought it was a bit hard to apply and get a defined line with, so I think it would be a better product for lining my under eye with then my eyelid. But I will say I was impressed with the fact it lasted all day! The eyeshadow quad wasn't my favorite... I loved the pretty shadow colors, but found them to be chalky and not very pigmented.




   

     Last Avon item for today's review! I've been getting really into using masks on my face in the past few months, so I was especially excited to try this. I was sent the Avon Anew Brightening Sheet Mask. This is a very wet sheet mask- so be sure if you try this to apply it over the bathroom sink. 😊 It's super moisturizing though, and feels very comfortable on your skin! I liked this mask and definitely want to try it again.






      I have a pretty low maintenance, yet also very loyal haircare routine. About a year and a half ago, I wrote a blog post sharing my favorite shampoo, conditioner and hair styling products.... and pretty much nothing has changed since I wrote that post, haha! I'm much more likely to experiment with new makeup than I am shampoos. Anyways- Dove recently sent me a shampoo and conditioner duo from their Intensive Repair line, and I couldn't believe how much I liked these! They shampoos smell wonderfully, and leave my hair feeling clean and not at all greasy. I might definitely be repurchasing these when I want to alternate out from my beloved Suave shampoo!





      Aveda also spoiled me with some new haircare products to try recently!! They sent a box of some of their new and old favorites, and quite honestly I haven't had a chance to try everything yet, so that's why I'm not reviewing it all! One item that I have been loving though is the Air Control light hold hairspray. This hairspray doesn't have the "crunchy" feeling at all, and is perfect when you need just a touch of hairspray to set a style, but not a heavy spray. It also has a nice scent!






     Last beauty item for today's post!! Vaseline has sent me some nice PR gifts of their products this year, and the latest one featured this little Intensive Care Aloe Soothe lotion. I don't wear a lot of lotion in the warmer months, but I'm sure this will come in handy this winter when skin can get very dry! 


     And finally- a couple adorable home items! I recently received the most adorable box of goodies from Pier One. One of my favorite things in the box was a cute little animal plate, and they also included a gift card, so I went to my local Pier One here in Vermont and picked out another one (which had a Boston Terrier on it of course, my favorite type of dog!). These plates will make meals in my kitchen so fun to eat- now I just need to have a friend over for dinner so I can use both! 😊






      Thanks so much for reading today's post! I love hearing your feedback- so please let me know if you enjoy reading these PR package review posts! 


      Does anyone have any fun plans for the weekend? Tonight I am babysitting for one of my coworkers... I was a babysitter and after-school nanny for three years in college (and part of last year also!), so I still enjoy babysitting from time to time when I have a free weekend night here in Vermont! Brings back some precious college and Charlotte memories. 




     God Bless,



      xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)

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17 comments

  1. OMG! Those plates are amazing! I need some cute plates like that!

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  2. The mark. by Avon cubed palettes are so different! I agree that PR packages are one of the best blogging perks!

    xo Courtney Drew

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  3. I totally forgot about Avon! The mascara in particular sounds like it's worth a try.

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  4. I haven't heard much about Avon lately so I appreciate your reviews! My grandmother sold it for years and I loved their Mark line in Middle school and high school!

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  5. Avon was my go to eyeshadow when I was a freshman in high school
    Kate || KATE KOUTURES

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  6. I haven't heard the name Avon in a long time!!!

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  7. These seem like great products! I used to love the Mark line! I need to check it out again!

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  8. I love posts like this! I might need to try out that hairspray; I like my hair to stay in place, but I hate any kind of spray that makes my hair feel stiff.

    Kristin
    stripesandsangria.blogspot.com

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  9. I love face masks. I love the products that Avon sent. They seem so good!

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  10. I'm the opposite when it comes to shampoo! Give me whatever smells good! I'll be looking for the Dove shampoo next time I shop

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  11. I love love love the Dove shampoo & conditioner. I've been using it for 4 years faithfully!

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  12. Looks like you've gotten some good stuff this summer! Those plates are so cute!

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  13. I love volumizing mascara! It's the best! I don't do falsies, so I need a good mascara to build my natural lashes!

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  14. Those plates are the cutest things! I love the little raccoon!

    xoxo, SS


    Southern and Style

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  15. Oh, how fun! Love all of your goodies!

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